Lovers of Yesterday

Chapter 17 • Bruise

I blankly picked and cleaned everything up. The TV was going to have to stay until I could get a new one. I'll have to buy a new coffee table as well. The couch cushions I can sow up and set back on the couch. It took three times with the vacuum to make sure all of the glass was out of the carpet.

There was still a ghost of a sting on my cheek an hour later after Lian left. That was the first time he laid a hand on me. I was still in partial shock and denial that he even did that. I didn't know he would for that matter. Or I did and just denied it like everything else.

I left the frame of the ruined coffee table where it was along with the TV. I knew neither would be salvageable but there was no point in lugging them out to the dumpster if there was nothing to replace them yet. I'll have to start putting away some money to buy a decent TV and coffee table.

When I knew I wasn't going to get anywhere else with the living room, I brought the couch cushions back to the spare room that held more boxes of stuff. My sewing stuff was stashed somewhere here, I just needed to find it and I was too tired to try. While I had the forced opportunity, I grabbed my bag from the living room and set it in front of my closet to unpack it.

One set of lingerie went into the bottom box in the far left of my closet. The other, I dropped on my bed. It was the first set I tried on and I both wanted to hide it from Liam and wear it. I made sure everything else was put away before I grabbed the scissors off my desk and cut the tags off.

I grabbed my dirty uniform for work and bundled the set in it so no one would see it before hurrying down to the laundry room to get it all clean. They provided free softener and detergent so it didn't matter much that I forgot my own.

I was expecting to trip to the laundry room to be easy. What I wasn't expecting was to walk into the open area and let my eyes fall on Lynch immediately. I froze for a half-second, regaining my composure quickly to walk to the opposite side of the room. I felt embarrassed even if he had no clue as to what just conspired or why I was down here.

I tossed my ball of clothes into the washing machine and dumped some detergent and softener into their respective slots before pressing start. I moved over to the seating area, pulling out my phone to pass the time and keep my mind away from Lynch.

No such luck, "Ryder, didn't think I'd see you here."

I looked up at Lynch who was standing a couple feet back but still tall from where I was sitting. I powered my phone off and tucked it back into my jeans pocket. I was acutely aware that I was wearing the same clothes from yesterday and I was hoping he either didn't notice or didn't care.

"Hi, Lynch. I'm just washing my uniform for tomorrow. Did you finally decide that you wanted to move here?" I inquired.

He wasn't paying attention to my question though his eyes were locked onto my face. Then it hit me that there was most likely a mark left on my cheek where Liam had slapped me. I awkwardly snapped my fingers to try to break his stare. He blinked and focused on me again instead of my face though I did see him take a few glances down to my cheek.

"Sorry," he glanced down again, "Could I talk to you somewhere secluded?"

"Um, sure."

He turned and walked out the door. I got up and followed but I didn't see him immediately when I stepped out into the cool breeze. A hand brushed up against my shoulder and I whipped my head around to see him standing there. He moved farther back so we were a short distance away from the door. I wrapped my arms around myself, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say.

"Your boyfriend," he started, reaching out and brushing his hand over my cheek that Liam hit, "Did hit hit you?"

Even though it was hidden well, I could pick out that his tone was laced with anger. I feigned confusion and lifted my hand to my cheek like I was just discovering there was a bruise.

"No, is there a bruise there? I must've hit my face harder on that doorframe than I thought. I was talking with Dria and not paying attention to where I was going and ran into the wall." I explained, hoping my lie would be believable.

He dropped his hand, still piercing me with his stare. He scrutinized me a couple minutes longer, then gave a short nod of acceptance. The ball of fear that sat in my chest released but I didn't show it. I kept my breathing even so I wouldn't be caught.

"Alright. Just be more careful next time. You shouldn't be so distracted that you're running into doorframes."

Despite myself, I laughed. I don't know why. It wasn't that funny but I laughed. When I calmed down, I nodded. He was looking down at me and he opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off by another voice.

"Ryder? Your load of laundry was finished so I took the liberty of moving it to a dryer. It should be done in a little bit," I turned to see Anne, the older woman who lives a few apartments down from me.

I swallowed nervously and said, "Ok, thank you, Anne."

She nodded, "You're welcome, sweetie. Oh, I wanted to ask, how are you and Liam doing these days? I haven't seen you two out in a while."

"I've been busy with work and I don't normally take days off so we haven't really had time. He's out getting some things right now."

"Alright. I'll see you around, sweetie. Have a nice day."

I gave her a genuine smile, "I will, Anne. You do the same."

She nodded and shuffled back into the laundry room, supposedly to finish up her laundry. I almost followed but remembered Lynch was still standing behind me. I turned and looked up at him, wondering what he was going to say before he was cut off.

When he didn't say anything, I started another conversation, "So when did you move in?"

"Today, actually," he answered, "I was lucky they still had an apartment vacant. I'm still kiving in but I needed a break so I came down here with a load of clothes."

"Ok, would you like some help unpacking?"

I only realized my mistake after I asked the question. I'm supposed to go no where near Lynch and yet here I am, volunteering my time to help him unpack. If Liam finds out, he'll be livid. But I couldn't stop myself. It felt so easy to talk to Lynch that I just let the question flow out."

He shrugged, "If you want. I still have boxes of stuff that need to be unpacked along with some furniture that needs to be put together."

"Ok. What's your apartment number? I'll come by to help once I put my laundry away."

Please say no. Please say no. Pleasesayno.

"C21. Thanks for the help," he smiled.

"You're welcome," I smiled back even though I was now terrified.

I turned and walked back into the laundry room. I didn't hear him follow immediately which gave me some relief. Anne saw me and pointed over to one of the dryers that was on. Before I could walk over to it, she motioned for me to come over. I sat down next to her and waited to hear what she wanted to say.

"I know you're flustered about what I saw," I blushed and nodded, "Don't worry. I made sure it was hidden before I moved it. And your new friend is none the wiser."

"Thank you," I whispered, unable to get my voice higher.

She brushed it off, "What I would like to know is where you met your new friend. He seems like a rather nice young man."

"I haven't gotten to know him very well but he seems like that to me too. I accidentally ran into him on the way to work yesterday and then he took a position at the coffeeshop. I'll be helping him unpack later."

She nodded, "And how's the boyfriend?"

"He's good," I lied, "Like I said earlier, we haven't had much time to go out-"

Her hand reached out and brushed over my cheekbone, higher than where the forming bruise was, "He may be able to be convinced but you can't lie to me, Ryder. He gave you this bruise didn't he?"

"How did you-? Yes, he did. He slapped me," I answered honestly.

"There's a reason I've had three husbands, dear. I know."

I choked up and nodded. She knew and she understood. The dryer that held my clothes beeped, signifying that it was done but I didn't move toward it. I stayed planted in my seat, staring at Anne. She offered a solemn smile and pulled me into her embrace.