The Hook-up

Chapter 181

Come to bed..." he said kissing the back of her neck.

"I want to take a shower, first." she said moving away from him to get to their bedroom.

"Okay..." he said without any emotion watching her body cringe as she moved toward the bedroom. What the hell did I do? I'm not this person. I am not repeating this. It's not going to be like this...He thought to himself seeing the dogs sitting next to him. "Let's go outside while she's taking a shower...." he said to the dogs pulling out his cigarettes sitting in a chair watching the dogs outside. A few minutes later, after sitting in his chair thinking about his album, his family and the coming tour that he was trying to figure out. I don't know what I'm doing. He thought to himself. I never know. He yawned snapping his fingers for the dogs to come inside with him. He turned off the few lights that were left in the house stopping by the babies' room. He saw the small night light in the corner of the room deciding to leave it plugged in. As he walked into the room he stopped and touched a few of their things that still sat in bags that Lauren hadn't had time to unpack and he didn't notice. Maybe if I put it away she won't leave again... he thought to himself. He heard their light in the bedroom turn off snapping him back into the real world. He jumped a little trying to decide if he was going to sleep with her like he wanted to or do what she had said and go into the guestroom. I'll do what she wants. Instead of walking into the bedroom like he usually did, he walked into the uncomfortable bedroom that his sisters slept in when they visited. He moved the blankets around stretching out to find the perfect place. He tossed and turned feeling his head spin from the alcohol and the evening. That's why. I can't drink anymore. I can't do it. He thought drifting to sleep.

**

Bruno woke up later in the day hearing the door slam and the dogs start to bark. After the dogs started to bark he heard Lauren tell them to be quiet followed by the high pitched unique scream of his daughter. Oh god. How is it already afternoon. "Ugghhh." he groaned standing up walking toward their bathroom tripping on a suit case. "Lauren!" he yelled at her. "What the hell are you doing?" he yelled confused.

"What?" she asked walking into the room wearing a sleeveless shirt emphasizing the bruises he left on her arms the night before.

"Oh my god...." he gasped touching her arm.

"It'll be okay." she said to him. "I was packing your stuff for your trip to the city...you tripped over it." she shrugged.

"Oh..." he said running his fingers through his hair.

"I left some medicine for you in the bathroom. I left you potato and eggs. There's tortillas on the counter. There's hot sauce in the fridge if you want them. I'm going to my sister's. Just for the day. I'll be back." she told him turning around. '

"Laur...." he started in a soft apologetic tone.

"I'll be home later." she yelled at him.

**

"Where are my babies?" Larissa exclaimed as Lauren trudged into her sister's house.

"They're here..." Lauren said in a sweet voice. "But they're going to fall asleep in a little."

"What a waste!" Larissa smiled hugging her sister.

"Lauren...what's wrong?" she asked. Hearing the hesitation in her sister's voice.

"Let me put them down..." Lauren responded placing Ezra on his back in a playpen near her and Everlee on the other end, both already asleep from the feeding they had before they left the house. After putting them down for their nap Lauren took off the cardigan she had on revealing the marks he had left on her the night before. "It hurts. I didn't sleep last night. I don't know what to do...." she said showing her sister the nail marks in her back that were still above the bright red bruises on her back.

"Lauren....what....happened?" Larissa finally got out.

"Alex was there. Bruno didn't like it." she told Larissa.

"And he did that to you because of it?" Larissa asked taking her sister's wrists.

Lauren looked down at her feet shaking her head. "It was my fault."

"No!" Larissa yelled. "No! It is not your fucking fault! Why haven't you left yet?"

"Because it's not going to help any. I leave, he tells me sweet things and I go back. It's fucking bullshit, but I need him. I can't do this without him." she said to him. "Please understand."

"Lauren. That's not you. You've been this powerful independent girl your whole life and you're letting him take that away from you..." she said hearing her sister's phone ring.

"It's him. Give me a second." she told her sister. "Hey, Brunz. No, I am at my sister's house. Where else would I be? Oh god. Shut up. They're asleep and with me. I will be home later tonight.":

"Give the phone..." Larissa demanded taking the phone from her sister's hand. "What the fuck did you do to my sister? She looks like her husband beat her up! Oh wait That's fucking because he did! I swear to God, Bruno,. I knew there was a reason why I was the only one that supported you when everyone else couldn't stand you. I take it all back. I take everything back. She's staying here. She's not coming home. I'm sending my husband to get their things. And I'm going to send him with something heavy and something that will leave a bigger mark than that shitty bruise she gave you the last time you two got into a fight. Good bye, Bruno Mars." Larissa hung up the phone. 'You're not going home."

"Larissa! That made it worse! He's going to be so fucking mad! He knows he messed up. We talked about it last night. He's fine." she yelled hearing Ezra start to cry. "Damnit!" she yelled walking toward the baby.

"No. Let me take him. He's going to sense how upset you are at him." Lauren shook her head knowing her sister was right starting to cry.

"Oh my goddd....what am I doing?" Lauren cried throwing herself on the couch hearing her nieces and nephews come into the house screaming and yelling with excitement with their father behind them with an equal amount of excitement