The Arrangement

Chapter 13

A few days later I’m safely at home and in my own bed. Michael helped me out the car and per our agreement, I keep my ass firmly planted in bed, I’m only allowed to get up to use the bathroom. I don’t object. It hurts when I move.

He’s moved the TV into our bedroom and day by day I feel stronger and more irritated about being cooped up in bed. I work from home and Harry and Sarah visits every day. Sarah comes by twice a day on her own, to help me get dressed and showered also to gossip. I think she’s been more worried about me than she’s led on.

I’m fed up with this bed and I want to get up, it’s been two weeks of torture. Slowly I pull myself out of bed and more slowly I walk to the closet. None of my clothes look comfortable. I scan Michael’s side and spot a T-Shirt with some effort I manage to get it on me. It feels good against my skin, the more I move the easier it gets. I reach the kitchen and get started on dinner. I’m tired of take-a-ways. I lose all sense of time, I hear Michael opening the front door and I feel guilty standing here in the kitchen with only his shirt on. I planned on changing before he got here.

“What are you doing out of bed?” He asks surprised to see me in the kitchen, his eyes sweep over my body, ever since I got shot he has kept his distance.

“I was sick of being in bed.” I mumble.

“And the shirt?” He smirks.

“It’s comfortable.” I flush. I’m only wearing his shirt and my panties.

“Looks better on you.” He comments, his eyes scanning my body. That tingle returns and I have to change the subject. I want him but I’d like to be in a little less pain when it happens. I still feel a little stiff when I move.

“Hungry?” I ask him.

“Very.” He says and for a split second I don’t think he is talking about food.

“Great.” I reply turning back to the stove.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better than I did yesterday.” I smile.

Michael’s phone rings. Dread fills me. Is it her? I tense and sneak a glance at him, he’s smiling. Okay he is going to talk to someone he actually wants to.

“Chris, how have you been?”

“Oh, really? Let me check.” Michael smiles, “Chris is in town, could he come by?”

He’s so excited. “Sure.” I smile.

“Yeah, come over. You know where?”

“Oh, you do? Okay, see you soon.” He says and hangs up. I’m a little uneasy by Chris knowing where I live.

“Thank you.” Michael says to me.

“It’s your house too.” I tell him, I need to change. “Can you keep an eye on the food while I change?”

“Are you up for it?” He asks worried.

“I’m stronger than I look.”

He nods and I head for the bedroom. I pull Michael’s t-shirt off and throw it on the bed and I wince, dammit, my wound has healed better but it still looks like hell and it hurts when I stretch my arms above my head. I manage to get some pants on and a pale pink button blouse. It’s only for a little while so I can handle that. As I leave the bedroom I hear a knock on the door. That was fast.

“Hi Micky. How are you?”

“Hi Chris, good to see you.” Michael replies shaking his hand.

Chris spots me and ask, “Jennifer, so good to see you up and about. How are you doing?”

“Better thank you. How are you?”

“Awesome.” He winks at me, sending a chill down my spine. Suddenly out of nowhere a blonde girl wearing a very short green dress pushes past him, “Where’s the bar?” She asks standing in front of Michael with her hand on her hip, she looks him up and down. I think he is as startled as I am.

“This is my girl, Alice.” Chris shrugs.

“Let’s go outside for a drink.” Michael says recovering himself and then showing them the way.

“Want to join me in the kitchen?” I ask Alicia politely.

“I don’t do kitchens.” She mutters.

But I’m sure you’ll do just about anything else. I scold myself; remember you’re manners, Jennifer.

“Let me show you outside then.” I say as sweetly as I can and she shrugs.

I turn and walk down the hall.

“Why are you walking funny?”

“I was injured.” I tell her.

“Oh, you should really practice difficult s*x moves before thinking you can just do them. You need to be in good shape and maybe go for some training with professionals.” She says matter-of-fact.

Oh no, you didn’t just say that.

“I was shot.” I tell her not bothering to hide the anger I feel.

“Sucks to be you.” She says scooting past me swaying her hips.

So help me I want to punch her right in the face. I decide it’s safer for her if I’m not around her so I head back to the kitchen and finish dinner. I can hear Michael laughing in the distance and it makes me smile, I like it when he is happy.

Michael comes into the kitchen a couple of times and every time he asks me if I’m okay. I reassure him that I am and that he should enjoy himself.

After dinner I head into the kitchen to clean up, movement hurts less. Michael, Chris and Alice head back outside and I’m relieved to be away from creepy Chris and his aggravating girlfriend. Midway through my cleaning, Chris enters the kitchen, I assume to get refills. I dry the last plate and place it on the counter. I can’t manage to stretch far enough to put them in the cupboard. Chris walks up to me, as I turn around; he grabs me by my hips and pushes me into the counter, “What the hell are you doing?” I ask shocked and scared. Panic rising through me.

“Come on, I know you want me.” He whispers.

“I don’t want you!” I stutter trying and failing to push him off of me.

“Lilly gave it up to me all the time and so will you, what is his is mine.” He says trying to kiss me but I struggle and turn my head away from him. I only end up hurting myself.

“Let go of me!” I yell, fighting hard to ignore the pain shooting through my body. He grabs my wrists and pin them behind me on the counter while pressing his body against mine, I can feel his erection and it sickens me. I’m nauseous and scared and I feel like crying.

“Hush now. Give it to me.” He says taking both my wrists in his one hand above my head; I wince from the pain it’s getting worse. With his free hand he touches my breasts.

“Stop it!” I yell. “Let me go!” I’m struggling against him. I manage to pull one hand free and I slap him across his face hard. “Bitch.” He breathes. He takes my hand and shoves it behind me and I can feel the pain shooting up through me.

He pulls my blouse open, I’m pinned to the cupboard and I can feel that I’m bleeding. My fighting back has opened my wound. His hand travel down my waist the pain shooting up like fire in me, fear takes over. I don’t want him touching me. I put all the energy I have left together, I lift up my knee as hard as I can, and he falls to his knees, clutching his parts. All my energy drained, I slide down the counter to the floor.

“What the f**k is going on here?” Michael exclaims from the entrance. Looking from me to Chris. I’m too tired to say or do anything.

“What did you do?” He asks Chris.

“Nothing man, she came onto me and when she heard you coming she kicked me in the nuts, looks like she’s just another whore.” Chris says getting up.

“You lying bastard!” Michael yells and punches Chris in the face, he staggers back knocking the dish drying rack down, glass shatters on the floor and I’m knocked out of my trance.

“Michael.” I whisper, he freezes and turns to me, I shake my head. I have no doubt that he’ll kill him; I’ve never seen anyone this angry in my life.

“If you don’t get out of this house this instant, I’m going to f*****g kill you.” Michael tells Chris.

Chris wisely gets away and I faintly hear Alice asking why, a moment later the door slams. Michael kneels in front of me and I’m shaking terribly.

“Jenn, look at me, are you alright?” He asks but I can’t respond. The adrenaline’s left my body and I’m frozen. He tilts my head up gently with his fingers, “Did he hurt you?” I can hear the worry in his voice. I manage to shake my head.

“f**k! You’re bleeding.” He mutters and I look down, my blouse is torn, I try to pull my shirt around me to cover up. In one swift movement he picks me up off of the floor, I lean my head against his chest as he carries me to the bathroom.

“Can you stand?” He asks.

I nod. He puts me down, but doesn’t let me go. I’m concerned that I have no balance so I lean against the basin for more stability. He turns around and picks up the bandages and cleaning fluid the hospital gave me and puts them down next to me.

He reaches for my blouse and I swat away his hand. “No.” I mumble. I don’t want him to see, his guilt will just get worse.

“Let me help you please.”

The buzzing in my head starts to clear a bit.

“It’s not your fault.”

“It is so please let me help you.” He argues.

“No. You’ll just feel more guilty. I can do it.”

“I need to make sure the bleeding has stopped.”

“It has.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do.” I reply. I don’t want to tell him it’s because I don’t feel so much pain anymore and that the blood has stopped dripping down my side.

“I promise I won’t hurt you.”

I’m not scared that he will hurt me. I gently touch his cheek, “It’s not why. I just don’t want you to feel any worse than you already do.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.” Michael attempts a smile. I hate seeing him like this. I lean forward a bit my torn blouse saves me the time and trouble of unbuttoning. I slowly pull the material off and he takes the blouse without breaking eye contact and tosses it into the waste bin. When he looks down to my side, his expression changes from worry to anger. He takes an alcohol swab and gently rubs the blood away; after he is satisfied he puts the bandage on. I don’t want to say anything. I’m scared every word I say will add to his guilt and I don’t want that.

“I’ll be right back.” He mutters and leaves. I look down, there are marks all over me, and I shiver. They should be gone in a couple of hours. I shudder to think what could have happened.

Michael returns carrying his shirt that I had on earlier.

“You need help?” He asks handing me the shirt.

“I can handle it.” I hate being a damsel in distress. If I wasn’t hurt and taken by surprise I would have knocked Chris out.

I pull his shirt over me, it feels like heaven. It smells like him. That alone comforts me.

“Can I get you some pants?”

“No.” I blush I can hardly stand having my bra on. I unbutton my jeans and slide them off, he takes my hand and we get into bed without another word and he pulls me tight against him. My eyelids suddenly feel heavy, I lie with my back to his front, he carefully puts his arm over mine staying clear of my side.

“It doesn’t hurt.” I mutter.

“Are you sure?” He asks.

“Yes. Truthfully it feels better.” All the movement and struggling has allowed my stiff muscles to loosen.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers into my ear. I’m too tired to answer, my eyelids no longer cooperating.