Chapter 6

Paige’s POV

Callan’s guards held Hank by his arms and he punched one hard, leaving his lips bleeding. The other bodyguard took a swing and hit Hank by the stomach making him angrier. 

“Stop it. Make them stop, Callan. Please.” I cried and Callan told his bodyguards to stand back.

“Please, Hank. Just leave. Don’t wake Gwen up. She’s been through enough today. Please. If you truly love us, just go.” Wincing as I tried to sit up on the bed. 

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me, Paige.” he came closer to me and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Besides, Gwen sleeps through a tornado.” he added more calmly.

“Talk about what? How are you even here? Did you escape prison?”

“Prison?” Callan butted in, putting Hank’s attention on him again.

“Who the fuck is this asshole, Paige?”

“Do you want me to throw him out?” Callan asked me calmly.

“No. There’s no need for that. Hank will go.” I looked at him and pleaded with my eyes.

“I told you I was sorry, Paige. Please.”

“And I told you I can’t forgive you. You fucked a waitress and then you beat her up just so she wouldn’t tell me? I don’t even know who you are anymore, Hank. Gwen and I are doing better here now. So, please, just go.”

“I bet you’re doing better, alright. Found yourself another rich idiot to squeeze dry, huh? Careful with this one, man. She’s a real gold digging cocksucking bi—.!”

Hank fell backwards after Callan hit him on his eye. The moment he regained his balance, he charged toward Callan, but his two bodyguards were quick to pull Hank back. Callan’s hand moved so quickly that it hit both sides of Hank’s neck in a matter of seconds and instantly knocked him out. His two bodyguards dragged Hank’s limp body out the room after he told them to bring him to the station. I wiped my tears as much as I could with my only free hand. 

Two nurses and a doctor came in  a few seconds after Callan pressed a button on the wall. They examined my blood pressure and temperature and the doctor asked me how I was feeling. Before they left, he told me I needed to stay for 2 to 3 days more just to be sure I would heal properly and to finish the antibiotics. We thanked them and I looked at Callan who was looking so serious the whole time. 

“It’s okay. He’ll never bother you or Gwen again. My friend’s dad is the chief of police.”

“Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” I held Callan’s hand to stop mine from shaking. To distract myself from thinking about Hank, I looked around and couldn’t believe the size of the hospital room he got me. I was about to ask him how much the cost was per night when he squeezed my hand and asked,

“Did he ever physically hurt you or Gwen?” 

“He slapped me once when he was so drunk and we had an argument.” I sighed remembering the day like it was yesterday.

“Hank was a good guy. I met him when Gwen was just 4. He was my knight and shining armor. I’m sorry. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.” 

“I want to hear it.” Callan said, but Gwen suddenly sat up on her bed. 

“Mom? I had a nightmare.” 

“Hi, baby. Come here.”

“Hey. You want me to leave?” Callan whispered after he helped Gwen climb up on the bed beside me. I shook my head and he sat back down. My tears started falling when Gwen curled up and went right back to sleep. Ever since she was a little girl nothing could easily wake her up except for a nightmare. My heart tightened thinking about how she must’ve felt seeing me fall down earlier. I sobbed quietly.

“I need to figure my life out. If I suddenly die she needs somebody who’s willing to love her as I do. I’ve never felt so alone until now.” I cried.

“Don’t say that. You’re fine. She’s fine. I took her to the trauma specialist up in psych and the doctor explained to her how that man who stabbed you was mentally challenged and that nothing like that would ever happen again. I personally called everyone involved in the investigation to never let that man out. Gwen and I actually had fun. We ate snacks and had dinner at 8. I made her brush her teeth before bed. Who knew parenting could be fun, huh?”

“Yeah. Tell that to me again if you have your own kids one day.”

“With you?”

“Callan.”

“I’m kidding. Now, tell me the rest about Mr. Miller.”

“Hank Larkin,” I sighed, “He was—.”

“Your knight and shining armor. I know that part already.” he said, jokingly looking annoyed.

“You want to know the story or what?” I smiled and he nodded. 

I proceeded to tell Callan all about my crazy love life. From when I got knocked up my senior year to how I worked hard to continue my schooling while my parents helped me out with Gwen. 

“In college I had a bunch of sort of serious relationships, but when I told them about Gwen they bolted. That was when I decided to take a break from dating and just focus on graduating. After getting my English Lit degree, I wanted to apply for an internship at a local publishing company, and that’s where I met Hank. He was visiting the owner, who was a friend of his. He saw me and we instantly connected. I told him outright about Gwen and he loved her. Treated her like she was his own.” I paused and looked at Callan’s eyes which were hard to read. He looked interested, but I couldn’t imagine why.

“Then?”

“He proposed 3 months after and we were together until last year. I found out he cheated on me with a waitress because we were having dinner when the police came to our house and he got arrested for attempted murder. He beat that woman so hard, her face looked like a tomato and I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe any of it. I took Gwen from school and we’ve been moving ever since. I don’t know how he found us, but the nurses must’ve let him in because he still is my husband.”

“Sorry. That might be my fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your incident is everywhere. Since I was the one who carried you away it blew up even more.” 

“I guess I have to quit after all.”

“What?! Why? Because of that jerk? Paige, one word from you and I can have him disappear. He’s the one who needs to disappear. Not Gwen and you.”

“You’d kill for me?”

“Kill? Who do you think I am, a mafia boss? I’m just going to pay a lot of bodyguards to keep him away from you.” 

We laughed and fell in awkward silence for a couple of minutes. My heart was going crazy and my brain was in overdrive. We’re definitely falling for the freaking hot CEO, woman! No, we are not. We can’t be. I can’t fall in love again.

Gwen stirred in her sleep and put her hand on my stomach. I yawned and laid my head on the soft pillow while Callan laid down on the extra bed.

“When you're free to get out of here you better pack your bags.” he said, breaking the silence.

“What? Why? I’m not moving in with you, Callan.” I yawned again. 

“Moving in? Now, who’s the flirt?” he chuckled.

“Then why am I packing?” I asked, suddenly so sleepy yet also so curious.

“Coz I’m taking you and Gwen to Disneyland,” he said proudly.

“No.” I turned toward him, but his back was towards me.

“No?” He turned to his side and I saw that same smug expression I saw at the bar. 

“Yes, no. I told you. I can’t fall in love with you. I can’t do that to Gwen.” I said, yawing again and forcing my eyes not to close, but it was impossible. I smiled and welcomed the darkness with its  sweet calm sensation which was probably caused by the sedative they gave me. 

“You have no choice, now, Paige. I’m in love with you, and you’re never getting rid of me.”  I heard him say, but I wasn’t sure if I was still awake or already dreaming.