Used, Abused Then Loved

Chapter 3

Figuring she’d be exhausted and passed out by now, Ireland was wide awake watching television with Matthew. He was sitting on the foot of his bed and leaning back with his arms behind him to keep him up. Ireland was thinking about the first time she hugged him and how they ended up on the floor and somehow she ended up in his lap. Her cheeks grew hot at the memory and his scent.

Ireland quickly stood up from her bed and stared out the window, her hands on either side of her cheeks to hide how red they were. She could see Matthew in the window reflection, looking at her curiously.

“Everything alright?” he asked, looking back at the TV screen.

Ireland nodded. “Yeah, just feeling a little tired again. When will Skeet be here to pick up his stuff?”

Matthew looked at his wristwatch and shrugged. “Not sure. He said he’d be here in twenty minutes, twenty minutes ago.”

“Do you think he went to his room already?” Ireland played with her hair.

“Nah, I have his TV,” Matthew chuckled, taking out his phone and typing something. “I’m sure you’re staying up for a reason, so I’ll see if he’s close.”

Ireland smiled to herself. He tried so hard to understand her and make her comfortable. So this is what it felt like to be treated right? She thought to herself. She stared at him through the reflection, silently admiring him.

“Skeet texted me saying he’s going to be late. He’s out at the bar with some old friends, I guess. If you feel alright with it, you can stay here and I’ll bring his stuff up to his room,” Matthew offered, standing up to put his shoes on.

“I can help if you’d like,” Ireland said, grabbing her shoes.

“Are you sure you want to? I can take my key card so you don’t have to let me in. You need some rest. You’ve had a long rough day, hun,” Matthew said, giving her a soft look.

“I don’t mind at all.” She said, slipping on her shoes.

Matthew shrugged with a smile and put things in Skeet’s suitcases. Ireland grabbed a couple of rolling cases and followed Matthew out the door and to the elevator. She stood there, playing with the suitcase handle nervously. She could catch him glancing at her from time to time on his phone.

“How long will you be here in Michigan?” Ireland asked as the elevator door opened.

“Well, I was planning on just for the weekend, but I’ve been wanting to tour a bit before moving to the next Comic Con,” he said, nearly dropping a duffle bag. “I pretty much travel with the Scream crew, but I’ve already told them I’d like to stay here a little. What about you? How long will you be here?”

“Forever, I guess. I certainly don’t want to go back to California. Honestly, I am unsure what I’m going to do with my new life,” Ireland admitted grimly. “Cody scarred me for life and made me afraid of everything and everyone. It took everything in me to leave him and come here.”

Matthew nodded. “That’s understandable.”

He took a few seconds to find the key card for Skeet’s room and open the door. Ireland followed him inside and watched as he chugged the stuff onto the bed.

“He can figure this mess out himself,” Matthew chuckled, placing the rolling cases Ireland had in front of the bed. “And hey… If you’re not sure what to do from now to the time, it’s time for me to leave… you can always come with me.”

Ireland locked eyes with him and searched his face. Is he serious? Was he really willing to let someone he didn’t know tag along with him to his shows? Was she up for that? She wanted to trust him with everything she had, but the lack of confidence in herself and mistrust in others because of a certain someone was making her take a step back.

“Or not…” Matthew mumbled. “It’s up to you, hun.”

“I’ll certainly think about it. I just don’t want to become a burden to you,” Ireland said, looking at her feet.

Matthew tucked his index finger under her chin and lifted her face to meet her ocean blue eyes. “You are never a burden to me and you never will be, okay?”

“We just met…” Ireland whispered.

Matthew nodded his agreement. “True, but I feel like I’ve known you all my life. And I really enjoy having your company.”

They shared a smile, and he rested his forehead on hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face as she closed her eyes and just let the moment happen.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand. “Let’s get you to bed. You look like you’re about to fall asleep standing up.”

Ireland nodded sleepily and followed Matthew back to the elevator and to the room. As soon as she walked into the room, she ran into the wall near the bathroom. Matthew reached for her, but she shook her head with a sheepish grin and climbed into her bed.

Matthew watched as she laid her head sleepily on her pillow and it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep. He grinned and turned off the light next to her bed. He paused and just looked at her as she lightly snored, looking peaceful. It takes some type of strength to get through what she’s been through; he thought to himself, sitting on the side of his bed. The storms she’s mastered and yet she remains afloat on choppy waters was something to admire. His heart went out to her, though. But was he in over his head by getting involved? She voiced her worry about her ex and how she wasn’t sure what he was capable of a while ago.

Matthew smiled at her doe ocean blue eyes as they filled with worry at that moment. He had reassured her that everything was going to be okay and that he would protect her. Ireland told him not to make promises he couldn’t keep.

After about fifteen minutes, Matthew laid down and soon fell asleep. But Ireland’s slumber was far from being a sanctuary for her restless mind. Ireland’s dream took her back to the apartment in California where everything was quiet and in black and white. The only visible color was that of a red trail on the kitchen floor that led to the bedroom. Ireland could feel herself trembling and as she tried to speak, nothing came out.

She followed the trail and what met her eyes made her want to scream. As she tried turning around to run out of the room, two powerful hands grabbed her from behind. One covered her mouth, the other held a sharp object. A booming, familiar male voice that was coming from behind her interrupted the silence of the dream.

“I’m going to take everything that is important to you away,” Cody’s aggressive voice said in her ear. “You will regret leaving me.”

Ireland struggled under his grip, staring at the body on the bathroom floor. She blinked and told herself to wake up. Matthew can’t be dead, she thought. He can’t be…

She could feel herself waking up between the transition of dreams into whatever time it was. A faint voice was saying something she couldn’t quite make out. All she could feel right now were Cody’s hands around her.

“Ireland, I need you to open your eyes, hun,” Matthew’s voice broke through. “You’re okay, I’m here. Wake up.”

Her eyes flew open, and she sat up quickly, breathing heavily and tears rolling down her face as she looked around in a panic. Once her eyes locked with Matthew’s, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“It’s alright,” he said, rubbing her back. “Everything is okay.”

“I dreamed… you were,” she couldn’t finish her sentence.

It took Matthew five minutes to get her to calm down enough for him to grab some water for her. They sat in silence as she drank the bottle nearly in one gulp.

Matthew took his hand and wiped a fresh tear from her face. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Cody… killed you…” was all that she said. After a long pause, she added, “Do you think he will find me again?”

“I’m not sure…” Matthew admitted. “Maybe we need to throw out your phone and assume he has tracking on it. I can get you a new cell phone.”

Ireland looked at her trembling hands, then at her phone, which was on the nightstand by her bed. She reached for it and turned on the screen. “How can someone check for tracking on a phone?”

“If your phone is showing signs of activity when you’re not on it. Like it makes a noise and lights up, but there’s no notification in sight. Someone might spy on you,” Matthew said, looking grim. “Like I said, we should get rid of your phone. Go ahead and factory reset it, then turn it off.”

“Should I back up?” Ireland asked, following his instructions.

He shook his head. “We don’t want to take the chance.”

Ireland’s eyes held heavy sadness at this statement. Matthew laid his hand on top of hers and they made eye contact.

“You can make fresh memories, hun,” he said with a smile. “Think of this as a step forward in starting over with your life. Everything that had something to do with Cody will be gone. Throw away the credit cards and cell phone. s**t, even start a new f*******:. Don’t make it easy for him to find you.”

Ireland nodded slowly and pushed the reset button on her phone. As soon as the screen shut off and turned back on within a few seconds, she felt a sudden weight being lifted off her shoulders. Matthew took the phone and removed the back and took out the SD card and snapped it in half.

“There,” he said, putting it in the trash. “Your new start begins now, Ireland Baines.”

He extended his hand with a smile, but she wrapped her arms around his waist instead. The warmth of his body was soothing to her, and she took in his scent. Ireland reminisced when she first met Matthew that day and how nervous and excited she was. She remembered Molly helping her dream come true when she couldn’t get through the thick crowd.

“You should try getting some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow,” Matthew said.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep after that nightmare,” Ireland said, sitting back in the bed and resting her back on the headboard.

“Scoot over,” Matthew said, throwing back the covers and sliding in next to her, his back on the headboard. He grabbed the TV remote and turned it on to a random channel.

“Lay your head here,” he said, patting the pillow that he placed on his lap. “I won’t move until you’re asleep.”

Ireland blinked a few times but laid her head down on the pillow. Matthew could feel her trembling when he unconsciously put his hand on her shoulder. He moved it immediately. The show playing on the TV wasn’t very amusing, so he changed the channel. A few clicks and a couple of channel changes later, Ireland’s breathing became even. Matthew smiled and moved a strand of hair off of her face.

He searched her face as she slept close to him. Rubbing his thumb on her cheek, he couldn’t help but smile. She was beautiful in a way that captured his heart at that moment. Even from when he first saw her at the Center. Ireland came all this way, knowing her crazy ex would probably be close behind. She braved it and even faced him. That was something he admired about her. Oh, if only he could easily gain her trust and show her how a real man is supposed to treat a woman. He hoped that one day, she’d look at him and just open up. Patience. That’s what needed to be playing on his heart right now. If he tried to rush things with her, she would get scared and run away.

The world was toxic because it’s filled with toxic people. He knew he could show her that, even though there were pains and sorrows in life, he could be the haven she’s always longed for.

Matthew leaned down to kiss her forehead after he slipped out of the bed. She made a face but remained asleep. He hoped she’d have a more peaceful sleep now. The rest of the night went by calmly.