Page 21 of She's a Mad Hatter
Her left eye twitches when she lies. It’s twitching now. “Yeah, we need to get you to the hospital. Has it been recently?”
She looks at me with wide eyes. “No, I’m alright. Nothing else is happening, I swear.” Maddie is too frantic for my liking. She’s trying to cover up what they are doing to her.
What the fuck?She wants to let this slide. She’s not alright. The idea of not getting her help makes my stomach turn sour.
Panic.Fucking panic at the thought of going to the hospital overtakes me. I grab hold of Drew, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“No. No. No. No hospitals, Drew. Please.” Fear runs deep within me as I think about going to the hospital. The memory of what happened the last time I tried to seek help.
“Shh, Maddie. I’ve got you angel. It’s all right.”
I try to let his words soothe me but it’s not working. Anxiety is seeping into every fiber of my being. My breath comes out labored as I try to control it. I’m spiraling as Drew pulls my arms away from him, and he lies me on the bed. I frantically try to get up, but my wits aren’t about me.
“Maddie, stay on the bed. I’m getting you some clothes. We are going to the hospital. This isn’t optional, Maddie.”
I almost gasp at his tone. He’s … he’s so demanding. I like that. I am stunned and my fear subsides. I lie there as he grabs a shirt and puts it over my head. I slip my arms through it as he puts a pair of shorts on my legs. I lift my hips and he slides them up. I hear the moan he makes, and I want to make him moan in other ways. I blush at the thought as he pulls the knee-highs off my feet and slips flip flops onto them.
Emotion wells inside of me as I think about how caring he is. I haven’t had anyone to show me this kind of kindness since my momma. I tremble and a tear falls down my right cheek.
“Now, let’s go. You can’t get an infection in your back. Don’t worry, I will not let your family get away with this.”
He holds me for a moment, stroking my hair. “I’ve got you angel. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you ever again.”
I almost believe him. But all I can think about is how careless I’ve been. How could I not remember my back wounds? My need for Drew is the reason. I didn’t think he’d react this way. I should have known. He’s one of the good guys. He tries to get me off the bed, but I refuse.
He’s one of the good guys. But he’s not listening to me. He gets me off the bed and we walk into the living room. I sigh, exasperated. “Drew, no one ever believes me. We can’t go to the hospital. The first thing they will do is call social services. Then they will contact my father. They will notify him, and you know what happens to me? He tells them I’m delusional, and that the scars from my back are from a car accident or some other bullshit story.”
I pull away from him and get on the couch. I’m sitting on my knees and the panic is back. It’s as if the only thing that keeps the fear and uncertainty away is Drew.
“Angel…”
A frantic need for him to understand has me crossing my arms under my breasts and looking at him. “You have to call this off. I can’t go.”
He’s standing in front of me. His hands touch my shoulders. “Calm down, sweet angel.”
The feeling of happiness when he touches me is back. I take a deep breath and try my hardest to relax. “I’ve got you. Remember?”
I nod my head, and he smiles. “I need to get you help, Maddie.” He holds me to him, stroking my hair. I know he is trying to help. But it won’t work. It never works.
“No. Please, I will turn eighteen in two days. After that, I can move out. I’ve got money saved up that they don’t know about.” He’s so comfortable, the raging emotions seem to settle within me. I can finally breathe, knowing he has me.
His hand stroking my hair calms me and his heart rate that was speeding like a race car slows down. I peek up at him and he kisses my forehead again. “I’m doctoring your back, then. But if it gets worse, you are going straight to the hospital. Do you understand me?”
That commanding tone of his. Fuck, it’s hot. I want more of this. I have no idea how to tell him that I would do anything for him. Especially if he used that tone. His growl when I unbutton the shirt again makes me blush.
“Let’s get you to the bedroom. That way you can be comfortable.” I don’t care where we are as long as he’s beside me. But I don’t argue. We walk hand in hand back to the bedroom, and I want to beg him to take me. I don’t. I know it’s not right to make things harder for him.
“Here sweet angel, let me take it off for you.” I drop my hands as he gingerly unbuttons my shirt and pushes it off my body.Enchanting.That’s how it feels to be in his presence. I tremble as he helps me lie down on the bed.
I’m face down, back up, when he walks away. The cool air in the house sweeps across my flushed skin. I shiver as he opens the bathroom door. He’s rummaging through his cabinet as I think about how he wants to help me. Not even my best friend truly knows my home life. Why is he helping me?
“You are going to tell me why you aren't going to the hospital.” His words sound measured. It’s like he is trying to hold in his anger. Cold cream hits my back, and I arch into the bed.
“Fuck, it stings Drew.” I whimper, but he doesn’t stop rubbing it into my skin.
“I know, sweet angel. We have to get this onto your back to heal the wounds.” The way Drew is rubbing the cream into my back shouldn’t hurt, but it does. The sting is almost unbearable, but I know I need to let him continue. His slow and steady stroking is to calm me. All it does is remind me how he wants to take care of me. I hate knowing I’ve ruined his friendship with my brother and that he now knows one of my many secrets.
I blush even more at how gentle he is. “Start talking, Maddie.”
