His Jaguar Tattoo

Her Own Little Payback

"Oh, you know. It was just like everyone else, I guess."

Zuri pulled her knees up her to her chest. "What do you mean? Like, how?"

Smiling embarrassedly, Elle shrugged and replied, "It just seemed very typical. We met at a bar."

A bar? Drew goes to bars? Zuri had a difficult time picturing such a solemn, isolated person amongst a rowdy place like a bar.

"That was the old Drew Benson, of course," Elle hastily added. "That was before he enlisted. He was never the same after that."

"So you knew him before his deployment?"

She nodded. "Yeah. He used to be the funny guy, the one who provided comic relief in stressful situations. That was what I loved most about him, actually."

"You l-loved him?" Zuri stammered, blushing.

"I think so. That's what I've convinced myself. He never returned the favor, though."

This time she grimaced. "Is that why you broke up? You were in love, but he wasn't? Sorry if I'm being nosy...he just refuses to tell me anything."

"It's okay. I haven't really told anybody what happened between us," Elle replied with a shrug. "We'd been dating for almost nine months and I thought he was finally going to say he loved me, but he surprised me with something else. He said he was going to enlist. I told him when we first started dating that I could never date an army man. The deployments are awful and lonely, and the soldiers never come back the same. Ironic, right?

"So, I was super pissed at first. He knew I didn't want that for our lives, but he went out and did it anyway." She angrily shook her head. "But, at the end of the day, I wanted to be with him more than anything. I stuck it out in the hopes that we would get married and it would be worth it."

Elle didn't speak for a minute. Afraid she was getting choked up, Zuri touched the nurse's shoulder. Yet then Elle met her gaze, and it was filled with anger—not hurt.

"That jerk broke up with me not even two weeks later," she spat. "It's all worked out for the better, though. I got my life together and went to nursing school. Now I do what I love."

"I'm glad it's worked out for you," Zuri told her with a sympathetic smile. "So why did you agree to come work for him if he did that to you? I would've told him to bug off."

Elle chuckled. "I wanted to, believe me. I just...realized something. This is going to sound a little sick, but I realized that I had something Drew wanted and that would give me an upperhand over him. It's payback in my own way."

"Interesting."

"That totally makes me sound like a lunatic, but I'm not crazy. Just a little broken."

"Aren't we all?"

Zuri nibbled on the inside of her cheek while she reflected on that new information. She wasn't sure how trustworthy this woman was. For all she knew, Elle may be trying to pit her against Drew. Not that she needed any help with that.

"Hey, you know something?" An authentic smile curled at the ends of Elle's rounded mouth.

Zuri curiously returned her gaze. "What?"

"Drew cares about you a lot. Like, more than I've ever seen him care about anyone," she said. "He's paying me a fortune to be out here with you, and you're healthy. All you need is to apply ointment on your burn, and you don't even need me for that. He is desperate to make sure you're not going anywhere."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. I think he just doesn't know how to show you how much he cares." Elle grinned to herself. "You should've seen the way he was freaking out when I met him here. He thought you were dying. I swear he was on the edge of tears."

"Now that is hard to believe," Zuri remarked with a stiff laugh. "Drew Benson on the verge of tears? Over me? No way."

"Yes way. Why are you so surprised? Isn't that his ring on your finger?"

Her eyes instinctively flickered down to the simple adornment on her left hand. "We have a...complicated relationship."

"Well, he's going to take good care of you. You won't want for anything."

I wish, she thought angrily. This girl must have no clue who Drew Benson really is. I think he's changed more than she realizes.

"So, what about you two?" Elle asks. "How did you meet?"

Zuri quickly recalled the lie she'd created weeks before. "Um, it wasn't very romantic or anything. I was friends with his sister, and she introduced us."

"Oh, Gabrielle? I love that girl. She's a mess but so funny. Kind of like how Drew used to be." She shrugged. "Anyway, that's cool. How long were you two dating before he proposed?"

"Let's see...six months?" Not the best lie, but a lie nonetheless.

"Six months?" Elle repeated, stunned. She forced a smile to herself to mask her initial reaction. "That's...well, good for you for knowing what you wanted so quickly."

"Yeah, I suppose. Drew's pretty great."

The nurse laughed. "I know. He has his bad sides, but the good things make him worth it. I'm sure you know that better than I do, though."

Nodding, Zuri looked down at her hands. I think you should be the one marrying him, actually. Maybe I can convince Drew that she's still in love with him. Maybe he'll trade me in for her. That would be just perfect.

"I'm going to prepare dinner," Elle said, piercing her thoughts. "Any requests?"

Zuri shook her head. "Nope. I'm not a picky eater. Thanks."

"No problem! I do get paid for this, you know." She flashed her patient a grin. "I'll be back up with your food."

Then Zuri watched Elle leave, who didn't bother to close the door behind her. Now that she was left alone with her thoughts, she began to plot. How much would it take to persuade Drew, the most stubborn person on the planet? At this point, Zuri would do whatever she had to for this to work.

Something inside nagged at her. What would Drew do when he found out she was trying to ditch him again? If he really cared about her like Elle seemed to believe, he would be upset. Maybe he would react differently because Elle was his ex. He must have liked her to some extent if they dated for nine months.

Zuri tapped on her chin. What to do, what to do...