Page 134 of Here With Me

“Oh, honey. You know what I mean. You’re all muscle.”

I know I’m being sensitive, but I just want to go home and lie in my own bed. My mother fussed over me all day while Fisher beat himself up over me getting hurt. We all know it’s not his fault, but no matter how many times I say it, he argues how he should’ve handled it differently.

The only thing that needs to be handled is Craig and as soon as Sheriff Wagner finds him, I’m pressing charges for trespassing and assault with intent to harm. With all the new cameras installed, we’ll get a clean shot of his face this time. He’s going to pay for sabotaging my career and for scaring my precious Donut. I’m going to visit him at the family barn as soon as I can so he knows I’m not mad at him.

“I’ll meet ya at your house,” Fisher says when Momma walks away.

“You don’t have to take care of me,” I say firmly. “This isn’t your fault, and I’m not your burden.”

His eyes darken as his jaw clenches, and I worry he’s going to blurt something in front of my parents that’ll cross the line.

But then he leans in close to my ear and murmurs, “You willneverbe a burden to me, Goldie. I would give up the privilege of breathin’ if it meant takin’ an ounce of your pain away.”

It’s not fair he says these sweet, caring things to me, and I can’t express them back. He ended the relationship, losing his right to speak that way to me.

“You comfortable, sweetheart?” Dad asks, hopping in the driver’s seat.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lie.

Momma and Gramma get in the back seat, and Fisher helps shut their door.

“I’m gonna run to the grocery store. Figure she can’t stock up her fridge, so I’ll make sure she has everythin’ she needs,” Fisher tells my family.

“That’d be very kind, thank you,” Momma says.

I stare at him, biting my tongue to tell him not to bother. The last person I want around me when I’m not feeling my best is a man I’m in love with and can’t have. I have four brothers who could help. Plus, Magnolia is ready to quit her job to help me full-time. Honestly, she just wants an excuse to tell Mrs. Blanche to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine, but I told her not to bother since Fisher designated himself as my personal nurse.

“Make sure you call Mallory and Serena. They’ve been worried sick about ya. Serena was in the ER with her grandma when Fisher brought you in,” Momma says.

“She was?”

“They were just leavin’ from seein’ the baby. Mimi said Fisher was pale as a ghost and frazzled when he tried to explain what happened.”

My heart shatters at the memory of him carrying me to his truck. I could barely keep my eyes open, and he told me to squeeze his hand until the pain went away.

I didn’t let go until they brought me back into a room and told Fisher he had to wait.

Magnolia sits next to me as I lie propped up with some pillows and sulk about not being able to go to the barn to see Donut. As soon as I got in bed, I took off the boot and literally crawled under my covers.

Once Fisher showed up with bags of groceries, my parents and Gramma left so I could rest, but there’s no way I can sleep soundly with him in here. I texted Mallory and FaceTimed with Serena before Magnolia came over. My brothers sent me a group text, all betting how long until I go stir-crazy.

I won at only an hour.

“He’s been in there for thirty minutes cookin’ ya dinner,” Magnolia says. “Smells damn good, too.”

“I wish he wouldn’t. I don’t have much of an appetite,” I admit, wincing when I accidentally use my bad foot to push myself up higher.

She jumps to her feet in a panic. “What do ya need? Another pillow? More ice?”

“More meds. Fisher has them in the kitchen.”

“Got it, be right back.”

When she leaves, I maneuver myself to the edge of the mattress and reach for my crutches. I’ve never used them before, so as soon as I lift my foot, I fall back into the bed.

I can hear Magnolia talking to Fisher in the kitchen and figure I have enough time before she comes back.

Not wanting to ask for help, I readjust myself until I have them secure under my arms, then try again. I get to the hallway before I slam into the wall and knock over one of my framed photos.