30 Days Too Late

Trouble Is Here

Dexter

I shake my inhaler but the damn thing won't spray. I toss it in the kitchen trash can and it clatters around. "Was that necessary?" Rudy asks, fetching my inhaler from the trash can. I'm pissed off and everything irritates me. What's worse, I can't even fucking breathe. Rudy finishes washing off my inhaler and sets it on a napkin.

I stop him from taking a peek at his library of hospital pamphlets.  I let go of his wrist and his hand moves to my cheek, tilting my cap. I'm so angry, I'm barely keeping it together. It feels like my world is crumbling and I can't do anything about it.

Rudy's fingers brush the bridge of my nose and I wince, the cut is still healing. He brings my head down and places a kiss on it. I close my eyes, enjoying his light kisses. "You still have options," he whispers. I squeeze my chest and his hand follows, feeling my discomfort. "Be smart," he requests.

Multiple knocks pound on our door, startling Rudy. He's never responded well to sudden loud noises. "It's 6 a.m., who could it possibly be?" he asks. I peek through the eyeglass and see my family and friends; they're here for me. I sigh, knowing what's next.

I turn to Rudy, who has his hockey duffle, ready for practice. "Is it the guys?" he asks, smiling.

"No, Rudy. It's not them. Enjoy practice," I say. I open the door, and in come Lily, Mom, and Ace, with my father entering last. My heart skips a beat, sensing his disappointing aura. His face shows no concern, only more disappointment in my appearance.

"What's going on?" Rudy asks, confused.

"You're the one blackmailing my son!" my father accuses Rudy.

"What?" Rudy and I say in sync.

"There are pictures of you two holding hands at a restaurant and kissing at a Fall Fest Maze. Do you have any idea the kind of press we're getting? Is he blackmailing you to be in a relationship with him?" he elaborates.

"No... there can't be photos, we were careful. Da- Sir, this is Rudy Langston," I try to remind him. Then again, he was never a part of my childhood unless it was about hockey. I glance at Rudy, who looks cornered.

"Rudy?" Mom asks, taking a step forward. Her eyes scan his features, recalling him as a child. My father examines Rudy like a threat, he doesn't recognize him.

"Once I was hospitalized, all I could think about was Rudy. The reason I fought so hard was to make sure I would be able to see him again. Now that we found each other, we're staying together," I state. I walk over to Rudy and take his hand.

"I forbid it," Dad decides.

"Why!?" I ask.

"An innocent friendship can't blossom into this. He's bad for you" he says in an obvious tone.

"What, and Valkyrie isn't?" I ask.

His face hardens and his teeth grit. "What did you do?" he questions.

"Valkyrie and I aren't together anymore. We're done," I answer.

Valkryie enters our dorm with her phone pulled and a weakened expression on her face. "You left me, for him? Wait till my father hears about this. Your career is over Mr. Kinkaid," she threatens, and I hold my gasp. She came in here guns blazing and now I'll have to pay for it as she hoped.

"I need to speak with my son privately," he requests, and they file out. Rudy leaves my side reluctantly, holding my gaze on the way out. The door closes, and I bite the inside of my cheek, expecting the worst. He smacks me hard across my face and I grip the island counter for support.