Saviour (Saviour #1)(15)
I am numb now, I think shock is starting to kick in and I simply nod as I start to sob again. Jo gives me a cuddle as she calls a cab. She has had far too much to drink to risk the drive to the hospital, especially as she has poured herself a couple more while we wait.
I'm seen pretty quickly at the hospital considering its Friday night/Saturday morning and as much as it pisses Jo off I tell them that I fell over whilst drunk but I have a sneaking suspicion she tells one of the nurses what really happened as they start asking questions, rightly or wrongly, I don't want to press charges and get the police involved, it would just cause too much trouble all round.
It’s eight in the morning by the time we leave the hospital. I have a hair line fracture to my cheek bone and a couple of badly bruised ribs. They glued back together the gash in my head, which luckily is within my hairline so there won’t be a visible scar; my shoulder has been popped back into place and feels surprisingly okay.
My phone shows forty seven missed calls, all from Jay. Right now I have nothing to say to him, I will, eventually, but I'm not ready yet. I will save it, I want to get it right, I actually have so much I want to say. I have written a whole f*cking speech in my head. Jo and I are both exhausted. We head back to hers in silence. Once there, she helps me shower and gives me some clothes to wear.
As Jo makes us bacon sandwiches, my phone vibrates again and makes me jump, it's Jemma, before I get a chance to speak, she asks
“What the f*ck is going on, where are you?”
“And good morning to you too Mrs Wilson”
“Cut the crap Day, why is your husband ringing me looking for you and then turning up at my door, like I've got you hidden away in a cupboard, what’s happened?”
She’s ranting and I feel bad for not ringing and giving her the heads up.
“I'm sorry for my husband’s behaviour” I reply “we had a fight last night and I got Jo to come pick me up once he went to sleep, I didn't want to ring you and wake Max and the kids, so I called Jo instead”
“Well, are you okay?” she asks, sounding concerned. Before I can reply, Jo, who's standing over my shoulder listening to our conversation, shouts
“No she's not” she takes the phone from me.
“Come over here, you need to see this. If he calls you again, tell him nothing and call Lorraine and give her the tip too”
We never call Lulu Lorraine, so I know Jo is not in the mood to be argued with. She hands me back my phone but Jemma has hung up.
“I really need to take some pain killers and get some sleep, you must be ready for some sleep too, you've been up all night as well”
“I'm fine, I’m past it now. Do you think Jason will come here looking for you?” she asks. Almost right on cue, her mobile rings,
“It’s Jay” She mouths to me and motions for me to keep quiet.
“Hey Jay, a bit early for social calls isn't it. What can I do you for?” she winks at me
“Lauren, no, not since last night... she did come home didn't she, because we dropped her off..... Oh, oh right, I see, well no I've not heard from her, have you tried Jemma and Lulu? ..... Right okay, well if I hear anything I'll let you know and will you get her to call me, whenever she finishes her sook, yeah, that's right, see ya, bye”
She puts down her phone and lets out a loud breath
“Bastard.... Apparently, you two had words last night and he thought you had gone off to sleep on the sofa and sook but when he got up this morning, he couldn't find you. Now he's worried, because it's almost ten and you’re not back and not answering your phone”
I say nothing. What was there to say to that?
My phone vibrates and I pick it up, expecting it to be Jay again but as I look at the screen it says Angel. “Who the f*ck is Angel?” I say out loud but really only to myself, I look at Jo who frowns and shrugs. I shrug back and answer
“Hello”
“Good morning gorgeous, are we still on for our meet this morning?” it's Gabriel. Of course Angel.
“How did you get my number?” I ask confused
“I rang myself from your phone last night when I put my number in and saved it, sorry, was that okay? It's just that I didn't end up taking as long as I thought this morning and so I wondered if you wanted to see the house a bit earlier, if you’re free and if you’re still interested and looking for somewhere” he trails off, sounding, nervous, was it?
“Erm, look, I am definitely interested and I am most definitely still looking but I don't think I'm going to be able to make it today”
My heart is pounding in my chest and my belly feels like there are a thousand butterflies flapping inside it, I know that I'm blushing. Shit, I really would like to see the house and, if I'm totally honest I would like to see him again too but there's no way I’m letting him see me like this.
“Oh” he says and I think and hope I hear a little disappointment in his voice
“Well is this arvo or tomorrow better for you?”
“Who is it?” Jo interrupts
“Hang on a sec' Gabe”
“It’s Gabriel” I reply “I was going to look at a unit of his to rent this morning but I'm not going to be able to make it” I shake my head at Jo pointing at my lip and cheek and shake my head some more. She motions for me to give her the phone and again I know better than to argue.