“Well… it looks like you'll be able to go home in a couple days.”
I smile at the thought of my own bed, but the joy is short lived. The fact I have nowhere to go anymore and that Ty, knowingly, will be waiting, makes I shiver. He found my apartment, he found me. Us. Ella hasn’t visited at all because I made Aunt Suzanne promise to keep her away. Reality has just set in and my mind begins to race, making me unable to concentrate on what he is saying.
“Cami?” he says with concern in his voice.
“I'm sorry,” I reply in a strained voice.
“Is everything ok?” All I can do is shake my head. “If you need someone to talk to I'm here, or I can get one of the nurses for you,” he says.
“I-I-I have nothing… what I mean is when I leave here, I have nowhere to go,” I reply as the tears come.
“You have a place.” Jett is awake, speaking to me from the corner of the room.
Dr. Bennett leaves silently.
“What?”
“You have a place. My place. You and Ella are coming to stay with me. No questions, and no refusing. This is how we keep you safe. I’ve already discussed it with your aunt.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I’ve been lying to him this whole time and yet he just takes me in? I can hardly live with myself. I have to tell him about Ella.
I have to.
A soft knock on the door makes my heart jump, and I hear the sweetest giggle ever. Ella runs towards me, skidding to a stop as her eyes begin to water. “Mama,” she whispers.
“Yeah baby, come give me a hug.”
She climbs up, carefully studying my face. “I was so scared. Daddy is a monster.” I cringe at the thought of her witnessing what happened.
“I'm gonna be ok. Look at me, Ella, Mama is ok.” She nods, wrapping her arms around my neck gently.
23
Jett
Cami looks so happy with her little girl. What I wouldn’t give to have a love like that, a family like that.
But guys like me don’t get shit like that.
Ella and Suzanne leave, but Suzanne gives me a wink first. She knows what I want, what I’ll ask of Cami one day.
“Can we talk about us moving in with you now?” Cam says, turning to look at me.
“Don't worry about it. I just… I…” I say, pausing, unable to find the right words.
“You, what?” Cami asks. I just shake my head, afraid of her response to what I need to say. “Ok, fine. But I will cook and clean and whatever you need,” she says, as if she knows the words I was trying to spit out. “And thank you.”
“I want you to know everything is taken care of already. I am not doing this for anything in return and if you decide you don't want to live there, then I understand. I’ll help you find somewhere else, but I wanted you to have someplace to go when you were released and not have to worry about anything.”
“Thank you, Jett. I mean that. You don't know how much this all means to me. I ran out on you and our friendship years ago and you just take me back in like I never hurt you… just thank you.”
I stand up to open the blinds and when I turn back, I notice she's watching me. “What?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“Nothing… well, um… You just look so cute when you sleep,” she says, looking down at her hands. A smile crosses my lips.
“Cute? That's what you think of me? Cute?” She nods, not looking at me. “Thank you, I think.” I bite my lower lip. Cami looks at me and her soft brown eyes sparkle. Sitting beside her on the bed, I laugh as I slowly put my arm around her. She flinches and looks at me with wide eyes, unable to stop shaking.
“It's ok,” I whisper and pull her closer to me, being mindful of her injuries, and wrap the blanket around us. She lays her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes.