His Always: Book 1 Rhodes Character Series

Chapter 8: Natalie

I smile as I sign the discharge papers of one of my favorite patients. My mood has completely shifted these past couple of months since the gala. Another anniversary come and gone and I can feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. Thomas seems to be back to his normal self with things calming down some at work. It feels like the dark clouds have hidden for the summer just in time for Thomas and me to move in together in two weeks. After much debate, we have decided to move into his place. I will miss the home I have spent lots of time creating, but am excited to create a new home with him.

I sign the final papers and slide the patient binder back onto the shelf behind the nurses' station. I glace down at my watch and see that I might be on pace to get out of here a touch early. Hmm... maybe I should surprise Thomas at home. A code call brings me out of my thoughts as I run down the hallway. "Stats," I urge before I am even fully in the space, immersing myself in the chaos.

—

"Okay, okay, I'm going, I promise. Thanks so much for doing this for me again, Jules. I owe you one." I say as I strut out of the ER doors, not looking back because if I do, someone will need something from me. And for once I got out of a shift on time - which is unheard of. I have butterflies in my stomach as I get into the car, excited to surprise Thomas and have a chill, relaxing night in with him. Something we don't get to do too often with our hectic work lives. I park in his parking garage and say hi to Dave, his sweet old doorman. On the elevator ride up, I scroll through DoorDash, trying to figure out what kind of mood I am in for the night. Once I step out of the elevator, still not deciding on dinner, I dig through my purse to get my keys. Unlocking the door and stepping in, I immediately throw my shoes off and bag on his foyer table.

I hear the shower running and plop on the couch to keep mindlessly scrolling to find my indecisive mind food for the night. I barely glance up and see a dress hanging on the chair in the corner sitting diagonally. I star at it for a moment, well, probably longer than a moment. I stand and walk over to the pale blue dress. It seems familiar to me, but I don't think I had ever owned it. Did I leave that here once upon a time? I spin on my heals and head towards the running shower. Without a knock, I barge in. "Thomas —" The air gets sucked down my throat and I start to choke on my own inhale as my mind tries to process what I am seeing. Everything seems to move in slow motion.

"Babe, babe, wait." I back out of the bathroom. "T, who the hell is she?" I don't even look up to see the unknown woman's face. I'm sure her expression is like mine. All I can think about is that he hates when people call him T. He's always told me that. It annoys him. It's so weird that she called him that. I keep taking steps back until my back hits the hallway wall. I don't know what to say. I think I can hear Thomas trying to tell me something, but I can't make out what he is saying. His hands grab my face and force my eyes to look at his.

"Natalie, baby, this was a huge mistake. I didn't know this was going to happen when she came over. She just came over after work to finish up something for our client meeting tomorrow." He turns away from me. "Jessica, you need to leave." Jessica. I liked the name Jessica. Jessica was a fun, flirty name, without being trashy. I snap out of my trance as I hear the front door slam shut signally Jessica's departure from this entire situation. I wonder if I will ever see her again. I wonder if I will ever see the inside of this apartment again.

"Baby, say something. I am so sorry - it's not at all what it looks like. And this has never happened before. I can't lose you. Please forgive me for being such a weak man." He literally gets on his knees in front of me - begging. "Thomas, or what did she call you? T? T - this is over. This doesn't even feel real. How could you do this to me? We were supposed to be living together soon! You're a fucking pig. Get out of my face." I move to step around him and walk quickly to the kitchen to get my purse. Silent tears streaming down my face. Pen and Madison are gonna die when they hear this story. I don't even look back as I open the door. But it slams shut before I can even take a step in the hallway.

"Natalie, listen to me. Please - don't leave. We can fix this" He pleads. "Thomas, you were just in the shower with a different girl five minutes ago. What the fuck?? Let me leave." I sob. A shiver runs down my spine as his voice turns cold. "Typical Natalie - always the victim. How about you start thinking about how your actions put me in this situation? I haven't seen you in days. And when I do see you - you want to sleep. All you have been doing is sleeping. You put our relationship in this position." A wave of nausea hits me as I digest his words.

"I need to leave Thomas, please." I shove past him to get to the door. He grabs my wrist and spins me so I am tightly in his grasp. He tries to kiss me. "Thomas please, let me go." I shove against his chest. "I know you're giving it to someone else too. Don't act like you are any better than me." I shove hard and break out of his hold. "What are you talking about? When do I have the time to be with someone else, Thomas? I'm with you or at the hospital? You are acting insane." He grabs my arm this time shoving me back towards the kitchen.

"Don't play dumb baby, I saw another man's clothes at your house that night. I'm not stupid." I don't even acknowledge him anymore and run towards the door. He shoves me straight into the kitchen table. Knocking over almost everything sitting on top and nearly knocking me to the ground. He shoves me again from behind before I can get up. I kick at him, trying to get him off from on top of me. "You can't leave me Nat. You are all that I have. Don't do this." He picks me up and throws me towards the couch, but I don't make it all the way to the couch. I land on the glass coffee table instead. It shatters instantly as my body lands on the hard-wood in a thud. Glass shattering through the entire apartment. I moan as I feel a deep pain in my gut. "Thomas, shit, I think you hurt me. I won't leave you. Please stop." I taste blood in my mouth and my head starts to spin.

"LIAR. All you do is lie." I'm scared. I feel scared. The panic in my chest is crushing. I turn over to help myself stand. I feel the glass shard in my stomach before I can see it. The feeling of it lodge in me makes me vomit. Or was it the spinning in my head that is making me vomit. "Oh, Natalie. Oh my gosh - I am so sorry. I love you. I didn't mean to hurt you like this. I don't know what is wrong with me. Crap, let me get a towel. As he stands up I spot the knife on the floor that must've fallen off the kitchen table. I scream as I lunge to grab it. He lunges for it too but I get there first. I grab it and jab it in his direction - lodging it in his arm. "Ahhh - shit Natalie. What the hell?" I stand, disoriented. He grabs me by the ponytail and pull. I instantly hear a rip and my vision goes white. I pull harder and free myself, and sprint out the door. I find the stairs at the end of the hallway and start sprinting down them. Once I reach the bottom level, I take the emergency exit out. I open the door and am greeted with darkness and the sound of heavy rain. I completely forgot it was nighttime. I take off running, unsure of what my plan is, but I don't know if Thomas came running after me. I kept running and running. My clothes are now soaked with rainwater. Some time passes and I find myself in front of a familiar building. I enter and start running up the stairs. Ignoring the yelling voices behind me. I sprint down the hallway and try to wipe the blood from my face. I find 207 and start banging on the door. My vision is getting more blurry the longer I am standing there. I don't even know how loud I am knocking. I can only hear the ringing in my ears. I just keep knocking and knocking until the door flies open.

"Oh my, Natalie. What happened?"

I mutter, "it happened so fast." And then everything goes dark.