Page 15 of In You

DID you?

Tamryn

My eyes flutter open as I wake up and I turn my head to the side, seeing I'm in a bedroom. The hunter green drapes are closed against the window, and though it's dim, I can tell there's a bit of sunlight shining through the edges.

Looking around, I don't see my familiar bedroom.

It doesn't smell like Calvin’s home either. It smells bright here, pure. Like wood and the faint smell of paint, and dog. Though it's not overpowering, I can tell pets live here. And though I didn't grow up with any, I find it's a welcoming smell.

My heart begins to beat wildly as I blink, making the blurred room come back into focus.

I roll my head on the softest pillow, realizing that I'm not in my squeaky old bed, either.

This mattress is gloriously soft, the sheets lush, however it highlights the soreness throbbing through my entire right arm.

I whimper, looking down my body to see I'm in a white tank top that's about five sizes too big for me.

And instead of a white cast, a blue cast has taken its place, and another, sturdier sling cradles my arm close to my body.

A small movement on the side of the room has the breath freezing in my lungs. Fear swells deep in my soul, and my lips tremble as my eyes flicker around.

I pin my stare to the dark haired man sitting in the corner of the room, lounging in a chair between the fireplace and the window, sipping a cup of coffee looking like he did last night, in all black.

Hair a bit messy like he'd been running his hands through it, and his eyes are a bit red at the edges like he's tired, or been crying. My fear fades.

"Well, hello there, sleepy head," he says.

"I thought you were English?" I ask, so confused that I don't have any room for fear, I don't think.

He shakes his head once. "No. T'was an accent. How're you feeling, Camilla?" Devoid of the English accent, his voice is husky-rough with a slight growl.

I frown, my gaze shifting down this stranger. There's a bloodhound curled at his feet. "My name is Tamryn. What's your name?" I whisper hoarsely, licking my tongue out to wet my bottom lip.

He puts down his coffee with a thump, and leans forward to brace his elbows on his knees. He tilts his head, his eyes sharp on mine. "My name is Caleb. Do you… remember me from last night?"

I think hard. Shame floods me, but the hard set of his eyes forces me to nod once. "You told me I stink."

He blinks once, and his lips tighten. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to give you an excuse to take a shower."

"Oh," I furrow my brow. "Why?"

He frowns, his eyes flickering across my face. "Because you smelled like you hadn't had a shower in damn near a week."

"That…That doesn't sound like me. I shower every day.

" Looking down, I notice I feel clean, but I also notice I see the outline of my nipples through this thin tank I'm in.

An item of clothing that is not Calvin's.

I panic and struggle to sit up, throwing wide eyes at him when he gets up, moving to help me.

"No!" I say sharply, coughing as my sore throat protests.

We stare at each other until he sits down, and I resume squirming around to find a comfortable way of sitting up against the pillows.

"I'm sorry. I only wanted to help you," he says in a strong, steady voice.

Calvin is going to hurt you when he finds you with another man…

I glance around the bedroom again, my heart pounding. "Where's Calvin?" I ask. "Why…why am I here?"

There's an uncomfortable pause as he stares at me. "I needed to get you help. You broke your arm."

I blink rapidly, inhaling sharply as I look to the side and see a glass of water next to me. Lunging for it, I choke it down fast.

His brow pulls low over dark eyes. "Tamryn, slow down-"

"My name is Camilla!" I snap, curling deeper into the covers, my eyes going wide as I clench the glass so tightly it's a wonder it doesn't break. "You…you killed them." Breathing hard, the water sloshes in the cup as bone deep fear makes me hot, and shaky.

"Did I?" He tilts his head.

I nod. "I saw you. Are you…are you going to kill me too?"

His eyes widen, just slightly, before his expression settles into what I would guess is normal to him. "No."

"Then why didn't you take me to the police for help?" I whisper.

"I got you a doctor right away, sweetheart."

My cheeks pinken. "Let me go."

"I'm sorry. But I can't." He heaves a slow, deep breath, keeping his expression the same. "You can't leave because you saw what I did, and now you know what I look like. I told you this last night, but I think you were in so much shock you don't remember."

There's a beat of silence. "I don't trust you. But you….you saved me from that house. From the Captor."

His head cocks to the side, and a dark brow arches. "The Captor?"

I nod my head.

"Then let's consider that one of my finer moments.

" He stands up and then takes a cautious step towards me.

Just then, I hear a bell jingle, and then a yapping as something scrapes at the side of the bed.

I frown, reluctant to take my eyes off Caleb.

His eyes slide to the floor then to mine.

"Would you like your friend before you take your medicine? "

My brows scrunch together. "My friend?"

He nods, bending down and slapping his thigh. When he stands, I see Tink squirming in his arms, and relief floods my system strong enough to make me cry.

"Tink!" I blubber, my face breaking at the sight of the cute little dog who curled up with me in the bathroom last night.

Stepping towards me, he places her gently on the bed before pointing to the nightstand. I look over, seeing a couple bottles of medicine. Tink crawls up my body to settle against my breasts, and then licks my cheek.

Moving slowly, he grabs a bottle of medicine and then opens it. Dumping out a pill into his hand, he puts it on the nightstand, along with the bottle. "Here. Your pain medicine has about worn off, and you need to eat."

Leaning over, I pick up the medicine bottle and see Tamryn Saunders.

"That's not mine. I can't take that!" I recoil from him. "Why are you trying to give me someone else's medication?" I ask in a small voice.

He clears his throat and then takes the bottle, squinting hard at it. "Ah," he says, walking towards the door. "I'm sorry. Dr. Riviera actually set out your medicine in morning and night holders in the kitchen. I'll go get them. Be right back."

As soon as he leaves the room I haul ass out of the bed and then stumble.

Once I right myself, first thing I notice, though I'm in pain, my arm doesn't throb as badly as it has been.

The doctor really helped. I grab up Tink in my left arm and tip-toe out to the bathroom.

I pass a little table, breathing a sigh of relief that there's no flowers.

I don't ever want to see another flower for the rest of my life.

I sit on the toilet and pee, staring back at Tink who's sitting on the rug between my feet, looking up at me with her tail wagging. "You're so cute," I whisper to her, giving her a little scratch behind the ears. "I'm so sorry your daddy is a killer."

I clean up and then go to the sink, turning the faucet on and fill a little disposable cup that I find off to the side. Taking a drink, I suck in a deep breath and then look at myself in the mirror.

Dark bags under my eyes, my hair is limp and slightly frizzy, complexion washed out. God, I look a wreck.

Opening the door, I startle when I see Caleb standing outside holding a tray of sorted out medicines in his hand. I inch out into the hallway and then take a step to the side, clutching Tink in my arm. "Here you go. Found your medicine."

My eyes flick down to the medicine neatly sorted for about two weeks.

"Oh, I don't take medicine that's not in a labelled bottle," I say matter-of-factly. Slightly embarrassed, I put my eyes to the little table. "You know, that table could really use a vase of flowers. It's so plain."

A weird, awkward-as-hell silence swells between us, and I note the openly perplexed look on his face.

I bite my lip. "Uh, can I take a shower at least?"

"Yes," he says in a deep voice.

I look down at the floor between our feet. "Thank you," I say. My eyes slide to the picture to the right of his shoulder, the one of the sea. It settles me.

He clears his throat, and then takes a step back. "I'll hang another tank on the door knob for you, and then I'll send for some clothes. Do you have any preferences? It's getting cold so…" He brings a hand up to grab the back of his nape and squeezes, and it's then I see just how tense he is.

"Please don't hit me," I say, my voice trembling. "I didn't do anything." A hot tear slips down my cheek that Tink licks up, and something like pity flashes in his eyes as he lowers his brow, and then steps to me with his hand outstretched for my cheek.

Images of him slapping me enter my mind, and I balk, heart racing.

His face flushes dark. "Wait, I'm not going to hurt you-"

I gasp and back straight up into the wall behind me, knocking the back of my head so hard my ears ring.

I shuffle further down the hallway, clutching Tink so hard she squirms. A sharp bark brings me back, and I stand rather stupidly, shivering in the middle of the hall and holding Tink clutched to my chest with my eyes locked to his.

"Don't touch me," I whisper, the words ragged and raw as they rip from my throat. "Do not touch me."

He takes several steps back towards the end of the hallway near the arch that leads to the den, and then leans his right shoulder against the wall, putting the hand that's not holding the little tray in his pocket.

"Take a shower, and then come to the kitchen. I know you have to be hungry. You didn't get a chance to eat late last night and it's almost dinner time. I made some fish and rice last night. Is that okay? If not, I can make somethin' else."