R Y A N
We make it to an Airbnb in Santa Barbra after an everlasting car ride. We get to the rental house around 7pm and I crashed right when my body hit the bed.
"Hey babe," Michael wraps his arm around my waist as I wake up and stretch my body. "You should probably get ready because it's almost 10 and I have some exciting things planned for this afternoon."
"Michael!" I whine. "I need more time!"
"We can leave at one if that means you'll be ready to go," He kisses my temple before walking out of the bedroom.
I grab a towel and some comfy clothes and set them on the bathroom counter before hopping in the shower. As I'm shaving my legs, I hear my cellphone ring.
"Shit," I mutter as I drop my razor. I rinse my body off, grab a towel and answer the phone. "Hello?" I answer because I didn't look at the caller ID.
"Hey sweetie,"
"Oh, hey Mom!"
"Are you busy right now?" She questions.
"No," I lie. I haven't spoken to my mother in a long time.
"Um I hate to call you out of nowhere but um your step brother was just rushed to the hospital,"
"Is this another thing Dad didn't want to tell me? After the engagement, and the wedding, and the step brothers...he doesn't tell me this?" I begin to yell but I don't want my mom to be upset, and it isn't her fault anyways.
"It's hard on him too, honey." She tries to calm me down with her soft voice.
"Stop sticking up for him. You two are divorced!"
"That doesn't mean I can't be a nice person."
"Just tell me what happened to him," I roll my eyes.
"He uh overdosed on heroin,"
'Shit!" I mutter, feeling tears spring to my eyes. I eventually just hang up the phone because I don't want to talk to her anymore.
I hop back in the shower, acting like nothing happened but still continue to cry. I'm trying so hard to be positive about this situation but I know so many people who die from heroin and it is so rare for anyone to make it.
I finish showering and put on my sweatpants and bandeau before putting my wet hair up in a towel and walk downstairs. I see Michael sitting at the island in the kitchen, eating a bagel.
"Hey," I mutter, wrapping my arms around his body.
"What's up," He turns around in the chair, making a motion for me to sit on his lap.
I sit on his lap and burrow my head in his neck. I love the way Michael makes me feel. He makes me feel so safe and comfortable.
"I can't go out. I really wanna act like everything is okay but it's not."
Michael furrows his eyebrows, "What? What happened?"
"My mom just called me," I sigh. "My step brother overdosed on uh heroin..."
Michael doesn't say a word, he just pulls me closer and rubs my back. I love how he doesn't make me talk about it. He just lets me cry in his shoulder, even if I get his shirt all wet.
Michael starts to shush me as my cries get louder. He picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. He sets me down on our bed and we just lay there for a few hours.
Crying makes me really tired so I ended up falling asleep for what feels like a half an hour.
"Babe, what time is it?" I mutter, not looking up at him.
"It's 7," He pushes the hair out of my eyes.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I didn't want to. You needed to sleep... And you looked really cute,"
"Oh shut it," I playfully slap his chest. "I'm sorry I ruined your plans today."
"Don't apologize. I don't care. We have all day tomorrow to do fun stuff." He smiles at me, slowly taking his hands up and now my arm.
"I'm gonna call my Dad and see how my brother is doing,"
I get out of bed and grab my phone, going to the bathroom and dial my fathers number.
"Hey, sweetie," My dad answers
"How's Jake?"
"He's stable. It took awhile but he's stable now "
"Oh thank god," I sigh, feeling tears prick at my eyes again.
"I need to go. The doctors are calling for us."
"Alright. Bye, Dad."
"I love you, honey," My dad hangs up and I walk out of the bathroom.
"How is he?" Michael asks right away, noticing the tears in my eyes.
"He's good. He is stable," I nod my head, smiling at Michael.
He smiles at me and in that moment I never wanted to leave Michael. I never want to see him unhappy. I never want to lose him. He's my everything. He's my life. He's my world.
~*~
how do y'all like this chapter? good? okay?
