So Much More (Book One in the Enough Series)

61. Bitch Slap

Eden

"Do you think it hurts to get stem cells?" Lizzie asked as we were video chatting midday. Reed had left early for his soccer duties. He had a home game this evening, and we had planned to meet up at his new apartment after.

"I can't say for sure, but I trust that they give you the right medication to make it as pain-free as possible. Giving the stem cells wasn't painful, and I just feel pretty tired now." I smiled at her. "What are you guys up to today?" I asked her, trying to switch her mind away from all the cancer stuff.

"Amy is at school, so it's just me while the adults worry non-stop." She huffed. "I wish you and Reed were still here."

"Aw, me too. You guys are pretty awesome, and I had so much fun with you. I'll be able to visit again soon, and once all this nonsense is over, you can come to visit me here in the city!"

I wrapped up my chat with Lizzie just as Brynn came waltzing into my room.

"Why aren't you working?"

"I'm taking care of you!" She flopped down onto the bed next to me.

"I haven't even seen you all day." I laughed, laying back and leaning next to her.

"Look at you; your arms are ridiculous." She ran her hand down the many bruises that had formed, a side effect of the donation process.

"It's fine; I'm fine." I shrugged her off. "I'm going to hop in the shower and then attempt to get some work done.

"I don't think you're fine." Her words stopped me in my tracks.

"What? What does that mean?"

"I don't think you're fine. I think you're mad and hurt at the whole article thing. I think you're pissed you felt like you had to do this stem cell stuff, and I think that you need to let that anger out instead of being the nice girl all the time." She sat up on the bed, giving me her most serious look. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her. "Eden, it's completely acceptable to be fucking angry."

"I'm not.."

"Eden."

"Fuck, fine! I'm pissed. I'm so damn angry I can't think straight! I hate that those people are my creators, that I let them boss me around, and that I felt so guilty at the thought of not giving my stem cells to her." I cried out. "Is that what you want to hear? That I'm mad at myself for letting them walk all over me? That I wrote a letter instead of speaking directly to their faces?" I banged my fist against the bathroom door as I stood there, breathing heavily with emotion.

"Yes. Let it out. I know you well enough that you're bottling so much up, and it can't be good for you."

"I'm trying not to let it consume me. I don't want to be angry." I sighed as the tears flowed down my cheeks. "I want to be happy and have a nice life, to enjoy my relationship with Reed, no more struggles and fights to just be. I don't understand people like them, and I don't understand why Nick would feel so invested in spreading false information. I hate that I dragged Reed and his family into this mess."

"Absolutely none of this is your fault. You did nothing wrong. Stop feeling guilty all of the time. You are the kindest, most amazing person I'm lucky enough to call my best friend. You have every right to feel angry and be angry and to tell them all to fuck off." Brynn laughed, wiping a tear off my cheek. "You are the better person, the bigger person, and they don't deserve you. Feel better letting it out?" She raised a brow with a smirk.

"A little," I grumbled.

"Liar." She grabbed me in for a hug, holding me close. "I love you, Eden."

"Love you too, Brynn."

*

"Why are we going to the old apartment? I thought we were going to the new." Brynn questioned as I instructed her while she drove.

"He didn't say, just left a message for me to meet him there instead."

"I'm not lifting any boxes, and neither are you, so they better not want us to work." She sassed. I couldn't help but laugh.

"He only had enough stuff for a bedroom; there wasn't much to move. I also don't believe any of those men would allow us to help."

We walked along the hall toward the shared apartment; the closer we got, the louder the voices became. I looked over at Brynn with a worried face, my stomach twisting as I could hear the angered voices bouncing down the hall. Then, just as we stepped up to the door, we heard a loud thud and rustling around. Male voices shouted a variety of swears and threats.

Brynn grabbed the knob and rushed inside as I followed on her heels. We both came to a halt the second we saw Reed on top of Nick, throwing punch after punch into his face.

"You're a piece of shit." He spat in his face. Bennett was attempting to pull Reed back, but he wasn't budging. Hugh stood trying to pry Nick out from under Reed as well. "I told you to stay the fuck away from me, away from Eden and anyone else near me. I promise you; I won't go this easy on you if this ever happens again." Reed huffed, out of breath, and when he turned, I saw that Nick had at least got one good punch in as his brow was busted and bleeding. He let go of Nick's shirt, throwing him entirely onto the ground.

"What the fuck is this?" Tate yelled as he came into the apartment. He rushed around us to the guys, grabbing onto Reed's arm. "Fucking Christ!"

"I'm going to sue your ass off, you dumb prick," Nick called out as Hugh pulled him back away.

Reed went to lunge at Nick again; this time, Tate and Bennett were able to hold him back.

"Try it. I'll bury you." Reed spat. I'd never seen him so angry. I stood feeling a mixture of worry, fear, and arousal. A small part of me wanted to go smack Nick across the face as well, but I had no desire to get in between the two of them right now.

"Get him the fuck out of here." Tate barked at Hugh.

Brynn and I hurried to the side, away from the door, so they could leave. Nick fought back a little, trying to get at Reed. Just as they got to the doorway, something came over me.

"Nick," I called out; he turned his bruising and bloody face toward me. I was on autopilot as I walked toward him, and as I got closer, I could see the surprised look on his face. Finally, I reared my hand back and slapped him across the face. "Stay away from me, stay away from Reed, and if you even so much as try to talk to a lawyer about us, you'll regret it, that I can promise you." My body was shaking with the adrenaline flowing. It felt great.

"Whatever. Fuck you both." He sneered as Hugh tugged him out the door. I slammed it quickly behind them, leaning against it for support. I sighed, and when I opened my eyes, everyone stared at me in shock.