Broken Dreams(241)

“No. I can’t relax,” he grumbled. He was starting to tweak out. “I’m feeling it.”

“Go get your pack then.” He ran out again. I finished cleaning up, and was dressing as he came back in. I sat up against the headboard, and he began a draw for a bag. He was pacing back and forth, pulling at his hair, cussing himself out.

“I’m sorry, Elaina. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I will never forgive myself if I hurt you.”

“Henry, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. Sometimes stuff like that happens.” His pacing was growing quicker by the second. It was beginning to drive me batshit crazy.

“No, I hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want you to hurt like me.”

“Henry, you have to calm down. Yes, it hurt, but I wanted it to. It’s my fault for telling you to do it that way.”

“I don’t want you to hurt because of me. I’ve caused you enough pain as it is.” He was still running his hands through his hair.

“Henry.” He continued his pacing. “Henry Daniels!” I yelled. He stopped in his tracks. “You sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up!” I snapped at him.

He cleared his throat, and slowly sat down at the end of the bed with his back to me. His head was in his hands.

“Come up here.” I spoke gentler than before. He looked at me over his shoulder. His eyes were gray and watery. “Henry…please come here.” He got up and walked to the side of the bed and sat down. He slid up against the headboard next to me. He was so upset.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked while looking down, fiddling with the blankets.

“Yes. I’m fine.” I kissed his cheek. He shyly smiled. “If you want to be upset, be upset with me.” He licked his lips and looked at me. I smiled at him.

He leaned back and relaxed a little, while he waited for his fix. He drummed his fingers on his knees. I wanted to yell at him to stop, but he was emotionally weak, and any more yelling could set him off. So I decided to suck it up and deal with his quirkiness for the moment.

Once Nick and Henry had their fix and had come down from their high, we packed up and hit the road. Henry drove until his body couldn’t go without a drink anymore. Nick and Claire took the front, and Henry sat with me and Thomas in the back. I snuggled up against him, while he drank himself into oblivion once more. The closer we got to our destination, the more anxious I became.





Chapter 43





I





had nodded off with my head tucked into Henry’s chest. I have no idea how long I slept until I was rudely awakened by the sound of the truck tires screeching, and being thrown forward into the dash. Claire screamed, and Henry grabbed me by my waist before I flew out the windshield ass over tits.

“Christ, Nick! What the fuck are you trying to do?” Henry yelled. Nick was sitting in the driver’s seat, breathing heavily. His eyes were bugged out. I crawled back next to Henry. I was shaken up and my forehead was burning like a motherfucker.

“Holy shit,” was all Nick could manage.

“Oh, love. You’re bleeding badly.” I put my hand up to my forehead, and the warm sticky wetness ran all over it.

For a moment, he licked his lips and gazed at the steady stream of blood coming out of my fresh wound. I saw his lips quiver. He wanted my blood.

Then, without warning, Henry sat up and dug through the supplies, finding a couple gauze pads. “Here, press this on it for a moment. I’m going to get out and check out what the deal is.” My head was throbbing, and I cringed as I touched the gauze to it. Henry jumped out of the truck, walked to the front, and stood there for a minute. I saw him shake his head, yell something, and march back with fury. He yanked open the door.

“What’s going on?” I asked wearily.

“There is a fucking crater in the road. You could fit a double decker in the bloody thing.”

“Sorry, it snuck up on me.” Nick was still in shock, and he looked at Claire, who was hugging her belly. “Are you alright?”

“I think so. I’m having a few pains, though.”

“Oh no.” Nick got out and grabbed a bottle of water from the back, then ran to Claire’s side of the truck. “Here, drink some water, and let’s lean the seat back. Just try to relax.” Her eyes were full of fear. “It’s going to be okay, babe.” He helped her lay the seat back. Thomas was sitting in silence, as usual, watching what was happening.

Henry got back in the truck and pulled the gauze pad away. “Jesus, love. You need stitches. It’s a pretty nasty gash.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled. He reached back and grabbed a bottle of vodka. “What are you doing?” I couldn’t believe he was going to drink while my head was split wide open. Hello! I needed some medical attention here.