Sucker Punch (TKO #4) Read online

  I sit back on the couch and finish whatever is on TV. An hour and a half later, the movie ends and still no reply back on my phone. Maybe Paige doesn’t want to talk to me anymore. Oh well. Another movie starts and I begin watching it. If I weren’t so nervous to drive and had a car, I’d go for a ride, but I’m stuck in this apartment watching God knows what on TV.

  My phone finally dings and I look to see a message from Paige. Just when I was giving up all hope, and it’s now almost ten at night, she decides to text.

  Paige: Sorry I disappeared. I had a few things to take care of.

  Austin: It’s okay. I thought I bored you to death or something.

  Paige: No, please don’t think that.

  Austin: I’m kidding, I promise.

  Paige: Okay, good. What are you up to tonight?

  Austin: Watching movies.

  Paige: So exciting lol.

  Austin: Yeah, tell me about it. What are you up to?

  Paige: Just relaxing before I go back to work tomorrow.

  Austin: Well, get some rest okay?

  Paige: Goodnight, Austin.

  Austin: Night, Paige.

  She doesn’t type anything else and I turn the TV off and go back to my bedroom. I should get some sleep too. Tomorrow, I’m not doing anything but lying around again. I lead quite the exciting life nowadays. I bet everyone wants to be like me.

  Chapter 7

  Paige

  As soon as Austin and I tell each other goodnight, tiny footsteps fill my ears. I look up from my phone to see Darla walking into my room, sleepy-eyed with her favorite pink stuffed tiger in her hands.

  “You okay, baby girl?” I ask her.

  “I had a bad dweam, mama,” she sighs.

  I climb out of bed and go pick her up. I place her in my bed and lie beside her. When all else fails in my life, I have this beautiful little girl that can brighten anything. “It’s okay. I’ve got you now. You can go back to sleep.”

  “Hold me,” she says softly through a yawn. I wrap my arms around her and in a matter of minutes, she’s sleeping soundly again.

  The sounds of her snoring lightly makes me yawn. I need to get to sleep anyway. I’ve got a long work day tomorrow.

  I felt bad not answering Austin earlier but I was tending to Darla. I don’t know where any of this is going with us, but I won’t tell him about her anytime soon. I just really met him and I need to know who he is and what his intentions could possibly be with me before I truly let him into my life. Darla is my world and I will protect her no matter what. I doubt he’s like Brendan, and I hate my ex left such a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to potentially introducing men to Darla. I close my eyes and slowly drift to sleep holding onto my sweet baby girl.

  ***

  I hand Darla a pop tart and a cup of apple juice as I sip on my coffee. I watch her slowly eat and hate I had to wake her this early in the morning, but work beckons. I hate even worse my mom is awake this early to watch her, but she insisted she keep Darla for the summer before she starts preschool in the fall. It’s so hard to believe a few years ago, she was learning to babble and I was changing diapers. Now, she’s got a whole mind of her own and she’s becoming so independent for only being four years old. Time has flown by way too fast.

  My parents keep toys for Darla at their house but she always insists on packing what seems like half of her bedroom. I shake my head, laughing as I pack what she brings me in her small suitcase. Once that’s all done, I step into my room and quickly throw on the scrubs I laid out the night before. I toss my hair into a bun and apply a thin line of eyeliner before being satisfied. Darla is still in her jammies but that’s fine; she’ll probably fall back asleep anyway.

  I continue my morning routine of packing her into the car and driving to my parent’s house. I kiss Darla goodbye, wishing I didn’t have to leave her, but I know in a few hours, I’ll be picking her up. I walk back to my car and grab my phone so I can plug the auxiliary cord into it. I barely listen to the radio—I hate commercials. I have more than enough music downloaded onto my phone. I burst into laughter when the first to play is one of Darla’s favorites. A song from one of her favorite cartoons blares across the speakers and I press the button on the stereo to turn it down. Finally something I can relate to comes on and I sing along until I pull up at the hospital. I’m hoping for an easy day, although you never know just what you’re going to have inside those walls. I sit in my car every morning and say a little prayer for the souls inside, some never to leave. It’s a tough place to be but there’s no greater feeling than being able to help someone.

  I lock my car and head inside, heading down the halls.

  “Hey Paige!”

  I turn to see Nora walking up behind me. “Hey Nor, you’re awfully chipper this morning.”

  “Eh, what can I say? Coffee works wonders on me.” She grins.

  “Yeah, well I wish mine would kick in.” A small yawn escapes me.

  “So, have you talked to that guy since the other night?” she asks. The small conversation Austin and I held last night flashes through my mind. Funny, I’m not used to this.

  “Actually, yes. He texted me and called. He seems really nice.”

  She starts babbling. “Ooo! Is there a date coming up soon? You haven’t been on one of those in years! I want to help you get ready.”

  I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face her. “No, Nor, no one has said anything about a date and I doubt I would go on one. Nothing against him, but I have Darla to think about.”

  “You can’t be alone forever, Paige. If this guy asks you on a date, you’d seriously turn him down?”

  “Right now, probably so. I don’t have time.” I turn back around and keep walking.

  “Paige, you can’t be serious. I’ll watch Darla for you if I need to. Does he know you have a kid?”

  “I just met him. All he knows about me is I work at the hospital. That’s all he needs to know.”

  “I’m just going to buy you a litter of kittens for your birthday. They can grow old with you,” she mutters behind me.

  “Make sure they’re pretty at least. I love calico cats, oh and maybe a smoky gray one.”

  “You’re insane.” She laughs as we both clock in.

  I grab my badge out of locker and clip it to my scrub top. I glance at my phone one last time before shutting my locker, and I’ll be damned. Austin just texted me.

  Austin: I hope you have a good day.

  Paige: Thanks, you too!

  I reply with a smile on my face. Nora leans over my shoulder, grinning. “That is so sweet. I still can’t believe you’d deny him a date.”

  I set my phone in my locker and shut it making sure the padlock is secured. “Drop it, Nora,” I deadpan.

  “Fine, you win.” She throws up her hands in surrender. “If all goes right, I’ll meet up with you for lunch.”

  “See ya then,” I tell her as I begin walking towards the ICU. It’s one of the most heartbreaking places to work inside the hospital, in my opinion, but I’ve always been told I have a big heart full of hope for the patients; I wouldn’t want to work in any other part.

  The first half of the morning seems to fly by. I’m all smiles as I see at least one patient getting moved to a regular room, but shortly after, the worst case scenario comes. A teenage kid who was critically injured in a car accident just hours earlier flatlines and we try everything to bring him back, but he is gone. I wasn’t here when he was first brought in because I was with another patient, but I’m one of the closest nurses when his mother yells from his room. I stay strong when we realize he’s gone but the moment I step out, I nearly run towards the restroom.

  I lock myself inside of a stall and let the tears cascade down my cheeks. I’ve never lost a patient before. I knew this was going to happen one day but I wasn’t prepared. I glance at my watch and wonder if half an hour early is too early for my lunch. I need to breathe and regain my composure.

  I pull myself from the ground
and unlock the bathroom stall door. I go to the sink and splash some cool water on my face. I’m still all red and splotchy and I’m sure people will stare, but it’ll be okay.

  I leave the bathroom and don’t dare glance towards the room where we lost the teenage boy. I look around and let the head nurse know I’m going to eat a little early. She knows I’ve been crying. While I wait for her to scold me, I’m surprised when she offers me a sympathetic look and tells me to go ahead.

  “This is your first time, isn’t it honey?” she asks me.

  I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I remember my first too. It’s not easy, but unfortunately it happens. All we can do is say a prayer for their soul. Go relax and hopefully the afternoon will be a little better.”

  “Thank you.” I could hug her for understanding but I walk out and straight towards the breakroom. If I smoked cigarettes, now would be the perfect time for one, but I just open my locker and get some change out of my purse.

  One soda and a turkey and cheese sandwich later, I’m feeling a little better. Nora walks in just as my break is about to end.

  “You took an early break?” she asks as she sits beside me.

  “Yeah. I, uh lost a patient and it hit me hard. The head nurse let me take a break.”

  “Oh no, I’m sorry, Paige.” She reaches out and grabs hold of my hand. Nora is lucky; she hasn’t had this happen to her yet.

  “I’m fine now. It was just shocking at first. I better get back.”

  “The day will get better,” she tells me with a smile.

  I grin back, hoping she’s right. I check my phone one more time before closing my locker and I see Austin’s name. I want to check it but I decide it can wait until my shift is over. This way, I have something positive to look forward to no matter what the rest of my day brings.

  Chapter 8

  Austin

  “Hey man, what are you up to tonight?” Garrett asks me as we finish sparring for the second day in a row. Normally we don’t go to the gym on a Sunday, but Garrett asked if I felt up for more practice. I’m taken aback by how kind he’s being to me. My problems aren’t his, but here he is out of the kindness of his heart, making sure I’m back where I was before the accident changed it all.

  “Nothing really, probably just gonna take a shower and relax,” I tell him as I fix a plastic cup of water.

  “Raegan cooked a big roast if you want to come eat. I’d bring you to my house, then back home after,” he offers. My mouth waters and my stomach growls a little. That sounds downright amazing. “Lance and Hilary are coming too.”

  “You don’t mind? I don’t want to put you out.”

  He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me. “If I minded, I wouldn’t have offered. It’s either ride with me or put up with Lance singing Taylor Swift.”

  “Looks like you’re my ride. I can’t take him singing this evening.”

  “I feel your pain.” Garrett laughs as we walk out of the gym. As he locks the door behind him as I text Ruston to let him know my plans. He’s not home anyway, he’s with Tamilyn, so I wouldn’t have interrupted their time.

  I climb into Garrett’s truck and buckle my seatbelt as he pulls away from the gym. “I really appreciate this, man. You know, everything you’re doing.”

  “Don’t sweat it. I believe in you and so does everyone else in Lou’s. We’ve got your back.”

  Those few words mean more to me than he could ever imagine.

  When he pulls up into their apartment complex I notice Lance and Hilary’s car is already here.

  My phone buzzes in my pocket and I struggle to pull it out. The struggle is worth it because Paige’s name pops up. It’s amazing how happy she makes me feel by just these few simple text messages. There’s no pressure involved in any of this, and I like that.

  I had texted her earlier just to see how her day was going so far. I open her message and my heart falls for a moment as it breaks for her.

  Paige: Hey! It started really rough. I lost my first patient today, but the day did get better. How was yours?

  Austin: It was okay. One of my friends from the gym invited me over for dinner. His girlfriend cooked so I’m there now.

  Paige: Oh, well I won’t keep you. I’ll talk to you later.

  I want to tell her she isn’t bothering me, but I just say I’ll talk to her later. The last thing I want to do is seem like a clinger. I climb out of the truck and follow Garrett inside. My ears immediately begin bleeding when I hear Lance serenading the kids with all of his favorite Taylor Swift songs. Garrett and I just look at each other and start laughing. Lance stops and grins at us.

  “How’d the practice go?”

  “It went good,” Garrett tells him. “He’s really getting better. A few more practices and I think he’ll have it,” he says as if I’m not right beside him.

  I notice Raegan in the kitchen putting a few finishing touches on the meal. Hilary is beside her holding Tyler. He looks just like Lance, but I’ll never give him a big head by telling him that. “Do you need help with anything?”

  “Hey Austin, I’m glad you could make it.” She stops what she’s doing and comes to give me a hug. Hilary files in line right behind her to do the same. They both begin asking how I’m doing and insist I don’t need to help with anything.

  “So Austin, who is this girl you ran into the other night?” Hilary is trying to bring up Paige, except she doesn’t know her name, and I laugh as I tell her the story. Lance must have been pretty damn excited for me that night to go home and tell her about it.

  Raegan gets this look on her face like she wants to make it her life’s mission to give me a happily ever after. “What is it, Raegan?” I chuckle.

  “Oh nothing,” she grumbles. “I’m not allowed to meddle in other people’s lives.”

  “Meddle?”

  “Yeah, ask Garrett. Apparently I’ve overstepped my boundaries. I just want people to be happy, though,” she tells me.

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  Hilary begins to laugh. “Austin, have you ever heard the story about how Lance and I got together?”

  “Kinda sorta,” I say, and I listen to her story about how Raegan did her so-called meddling.

  “Are y’all turning my man Austin here into a housewife?” Lance yells as he walks into the kitchen. “Want a beer?” he offers me.

  “Sure, thanks,” I reply as he hands me a can. I stare at the can, wondering if I can set it on the counter and open it without it falling over.

  “Do you need some help?” Raegan asks me sweetly. I get her concern and I appreciate it but I need to prove to myself I can do this.

  “No thanks, I can do it,” I assure her as I set the can on the counter and pray while I pull the tab. The can stays still and opens perfectly. I let out a sigh of relief as I bring it to my lips.

  Raegan announces we will be eating soon and grabs a set of plates out of the cabinet. “Whoa, look at Raegan breaking out the fine china. We eating good tonight!” Lance says as he skips back into the kitchen.

  “Babe, give him a paper plate,” Garrett tells her. I almost spit out my sip of beer from laughing. These guys are hilarious.

  One by one we begin to fix our plates. I have to set my plate down each time I dip a spoon into a dish, but I refuse any help offered. I’ve got to learn for myself and I’m not doing too bad. I manage to fix my plate without dropping it or any food. I’m damn proud of myself.

  We all sit around the kitchen table and eat. Garrett says Howard and Whitney were supposed to come but she had been sick all day.

  It’s been so long since I’ve had such a good home-cooked meal. Ruston can cook and I can do a little but this roast, my gosh, it’s melting in my mouth.

  I clean my plate and sit back, letting my stomach settle. I’m full and if I try to move, I may just fall out of the chair. We all sit around the table talking after everyone finishes eating and I insist Raegan let me help load her dishwasher. When I hear Lance start
singing to the kids again, I refuse to take no for an answer. Even Garrett jumps in on the action.

  “I know Lance asked about the training, but I’m jumping into that conversation late,” Raegan begins. “Garrett says you’re doing well. I miss the ring. I’ve thought about starting up again.”

  Garrett stops and looks at her. I have a feeling she just struck a nerve. “Raegan, we’ve talked about this.”

  “I know.” She rolls her eyes. “You don’t want me back in the ring.”

  “Make me the bad guy, why don’t you?” he mutters.

  “Easy, guys,” I chuckle. They both look at me and the tension eases. “Raegan, it’s really going well. Howard says with more practice I may be able to fight again.”

  “That’s awesome! You’re such an inspiration,” she tells me.

  “I don’t know about an inspiration, but I just am out to prove I can do it. I refuse to let having lost my arm in the accident hold me back. I finally found something I love and I’m not ready to give it up.”

  “You should see him, Rae, you need to come by Lou’s tomorrow and check him out.”

  “For sure. I haven’t been in a while. I understand what it’s like to be inside there. It’s the best feeling in the world.” She smiles. I can really tell she misses it. I heard before she was pretty badass. I wish I could have seen her fight.