Southern steel- Mack

19. Eden

I wake with a jolt but am stopped by a heavy arm around my waist. When I go to move I feel the stitches pull, and I hiss out, "Son of a whore!"

Mack sits up right away. "Eden are you ok?"

"It's just these stitches. I tried to move too fast" I tell him.

"You're way over due for some pain meds. Let's get you some pills and your antibiotics then get you some breakfast. Do you need help in the bathroom?"

"No I think I'll be ok."

He leans over and helps me up off the bed then kisses my forehead. I'm not used to him being so affectionate with me, and it shocks me each time. I go into the bathroom pee, brush my teeth, and throw my hair in a messy bun. I don't even try to bother looking decent because there is no fixing this face with the bruises and swelling.

When I exit the bathroom Mack is standing there dressed holding a pair of leggings and a long sleeved shirt.

"Ari brought these and left them for you. Is it ok if I help you get them on?"

I nod. It's not like he hasn't seen it before. Once I'm all dressed he says, " I will take you to get breakfast if you want or I can make you something. What would you prefer?"

"I'd rather not go out looking like I was in fight club last night."

"You look beautiful always, but if you're more comfortable here then let's go make you a good breakfast."

We walk down stairs and into the kitchen. "Omelet or French toast?" He asks me.

"Omelet and maybe some grits?" He nods.

He pulls out a chair for me at the island and scoots me in. Then he goes and gets to work making our food.

"Mack should I feel guilty for what happened last night? I mean that's the first time I've ever...you know. I feel like I should feel bad, but I don't. Do you think I'm a horrible person like my parents? Maybe I should never have a family of my own. Maybe I'm defective like my parents were."

He turns to face me across the island. "You don't feel bad because he got what he deserved. You are the exact opposite of your parents. You are so fiercely protective and loyal to the people you care about, even the women at the shelter that you don't even know. The assholes that created you don't even deserve to be called parents. You don't feel guilty because you were following your natural instinct to be a protector. That is what will make you an amazing parent. Let me be clear though, if that is something you don't want or never happens that is ok too. You are enough!" He turns around and flips the omelets and stirs the grits.

"We don't even need to discuss babies right now. We're not together. We're not sleeping together. I don't even know what's going on. You kind of tossed all that out there the other night."

"Oh we're together. You need time to get on the same page that's ok, but you'll get there." He places the food in front of me and gets me some OJ. He hands me my meds m, and I take them and start eating. He brings his plate around and sits next to me and we continue eating in comfortable silence.

When we finish he clears our places. "You're going to go hang with Ari today. I have some work to go do and then I'll be back before dinner."

"I'll be fine. I can have Ari drive me home today."

"If you want to go home I'll take you after dinner this evening, ok?"

"Fine." I huff.

He walks me to Ari and Titan's and gets me settled on the couch.

I hear him in the kitchen with Ari. "These are her pain pills she can have one every 4-6 hours right now. She just had one at breakfast. This is her antibiotics she needs it at lunch. Make sure she eats with the meds so she doesn't get sick. She keeps forgetting and moving too quickly and the stitches pull and hurt her. Maybe an ice pack or something would help. Off you all need me just call."