Heartless Player by R.C. Stephens

Twenty-Four

Rebel

I head up the stairs to hear that Blossom is shouting at Preston to stop.

My heart gallops in my chest as memories of my father assault me.

“You promised me,” Blossom cries.

“So what if I fucking promised you?” Preston shouts at her.

I walk over to Blossom’s room. She sleeps in the master bedroom that used to be my parents’. I listen by the door. Going in and facing a drug addict who is out of control is the last thing I want to do. The last time I did that my life was changed, and not for the better because I lost part of my leg. Yet being with Wolfe and experiencing him and this relationship and how good things can be when you’re willing to take a chance has taught me that I can’t live in the shadows anymore. I know a drug addict can be unpredictable, and I need to play it safe, but I also need to face my fears.

I knock on the door. “Blossom, is everything okay?” I ask. I clearly know it isn’t, but I can’t just barge in there. What if they’re both naked?

“It’s fine, Rebel,” she shouts through the door.

“Fine. Fine,” Preston shouts. “You’ve been freaking the fuck out all night because she didn’t come home.” My stomach sinks. I’m mad at Blossom for choosing him, but I don’t want to keep my sister up at night worrying either.

“I’m fine. I stayed at—” The door swings open.

Preston stands there in a pair of boxers while Blossom is on the other side of the room in a nightie.

“This is not fine,” Preston shouts. His pupils are blown. “You’re a little slut who’s keeping your sister awake all night.”

“You can’t talk to her that way,” Blossom chides him.

“You’re a fucked-up little slut too,” Preston says.

I gaze at the side table to see that there is a little case on it that has white powder and a straw.

I look at Blossom and her dark eyes are filled with fear. “I’m sorry,” she mouths.

“You need to come home and sleep in your damn bed.” Preston points a shaking finger in my face. “I don’t need my girlfriend up all night worrying about your sorry little ass.” He turns around and takes the lamp and smashes it to the ground.

“Get the hell out of here,” I say to him.

“Rebel,” Blossom warns.

“No, this is enough,” I say to my sister.

“Take your damn drugs and get out of this house before I call the police,” I say to Preston.

He bursts into laughter. “I’m not taking orders from a little girl.”

“I’m a woman and I’ve asked you to leave. Now.” I hold his gaze while keeping my voice even. My heart beats fast and I’m terrified, but I stand my ground.

Blossom looks at me, and even through the tears in her eyes I can see that she is proud of me. “You need to leave, Preston,” she says to him.

“Fuck you. Stupid bitches,” he growls. He goes to pick up the rest of his drugs, but the case falls to the floor and he curses. So instead, he takes his clothes. I think he’s going to put them on, but he just holds them and stumbles out of the room, mumbling. Blossom and I follow him down the stairs to make sure he leaves, and that’s when I see Wolfe. He doesn’t say a word, just watches.

“Fuck you,” Preston says to him, but Wolfe doesn’t engage him. Preston walks out into the freezing cold air wearing a pair of boxers and no shoes as he gets on his bike.

“He’s taken a bunch of pills and snorted coke,” Blossom says to me and Wolfe.

“We can’t let him get on that bike,” I say.

“No, we can’t,” Wolfe agrees.

“Rebel.” Blossom reaches out to stop me. “You can’t go after him. Not this time.”

The last time I went after someone, it was my father in his car. I lost part of my leg for my trouble.

Wolfe is already out the door and after Preston.

“I can’t let you get on that bike,” he says to him. “You can kill someone in your state.”

“Fuck you. I can do what I want,” Preston snarls.

“I need to call the cops,” I say to Blossom.

She hugs her arms around herself and nods.

I make the call.

Preston pushes Wolfe in the center of his chest, but surprisingly, Wolfe stays calm.

“I allowed that once. I won’t allow it again,” Wolfe warns, his tone stone cold.

“This is bullshit. I can ride my bike if I want,” Preston whines.

“Move away from the bike before I move you myself,” Wolfe orders, the epitome of calm and cool.

“The cops said they’ll be here soon,” I tell Blossom.

I head out after Wolfe and confront Preston. “I’ve called the cops. They’re on their way.”

“Dammit. You stupid bitch.” Panicking, he starts to dump the contents of his pockets on our driveway. Little baggies of pills and white powder fall to the ground. Preston looks wildly at the drugs. He’s probably looking for a way to dispose of them.

A cop car stops in front of our house with the sirens blaring.

After asking us some questions, the cop detains Preston. Preston swears at the cop and then he swears at Blossom as he is being put into the back of the cruiser.

Blossom cries and apologizes profusely.

“You okay?” Wolfe asks, coming over to me. He places each of his hands on my shoulders and stares into my eyes like he is checking me over.

“I’m okay,” I assure him. “Thanks for being here. For helping us.”

“You pretty much handled him on your own,” he says. “That was badass.”

“He’s right,” Blossom agrees. “That was amazing.”

My sister is freezing and shaking. “You should go inside,” I say to her.

She nods and heads back into the house.

“I think I need to stay with her,” I say to Wolfe. “Thanks again. I’ll message my supervisor and tell them I can’t make it this morning.”

“Sure. Do you need anything?” he asks, and right then I realize I am more than okay. I’ve faced my fear.

“It’s more my sister I’m worried about,” I say.

“Okay.” He leans in and places a peck on my cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

“Yeah.” I nod and head back in to Blossom. I find her sitting at the kitchen table in a fit of tears.

“I’m so sorry,” she says on repeat. “I’m so, so sorry. If he would’ve done anything to hurt you, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

“We’re okay,” I assure her as I come around and wrap my arms around her shoulders. She can’t stop shaking. I head over to the coat rack and take a coat to place on her shoulders.

“You were right. I should’ve never allowed him in here. I’m such an idiot,” she chides herself.

“You aren’t an idiot. Don’t talk like that. You liked the idea of a relationship, and I get that now, but being with a guy like Preston could only lead to bad news,” I say gently.

“I feel horrible. If he would’ve hurt you…” She shudders.

“He didn’t. I’m okay.”

“You’re more than okay. The way you stood up to him. That steely glare. You had him cowering. You showed no fear.” Pride and awe fill her eyes.

“I was shaking. My whole body was shaking, but I knew I couldn’t show it. Even though it isn’t always fear that someone like that senses. He was completely out of it, and he had so many drugs on him.”

“I wanted to believe he was changing, but he was never going to change,” Blossom says, tears falling down her cheeks.

“Probably not,” I agree sadly. After my experience with my father, I’m not too optimistic. “I’m in awe of you,” she states.

“I appreciate that, but you’re pretty awesome yourself.” I squeeze her hand.

She snorts and snot comes out of her nose. “I’m a mess. I make bad choices and I feel… hopeless.”

I frown. “You aren’t hopeless. We just need to focus on getting you on a different path. You can’t spend your life working in that diner and living here in Westfall. It’s a dead end,” I say. “I have another year before I graduate and then I want to apply to some PT programs. I don’t know where that will take me, but I think you need to go back to school. It’s time.”

“With what money?” Blossom asks.

“We have the insurance money. It belongs to both of us.”

“No. I’ve told you a hundred times I will not touch that money,” she says adamantly.

“Yes, you will. I insist.”

Westfall is a private university that costs an arm and a leg, and if it weren’t for my scholarships and the insurance money, I never would have made it through. “Even some of the state colleges are good, and I am giving you part of my insurance settlement. Hell, if we need to sell this house to put you through college, we are doing it.” I punctuate my statement with a slap on the counter. “No arguments.”

Blossom laughs. “You’re nuts.”

“Maybe.” I tilt my head from side to side. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I wasn’t coming home last night. I was angry that you were choosing Preston, and I didn’t feel comfortable being here when he was here and he was here all the time.”

“I never asked him to move in. He just kind of started staying more and more. I’m sorry I didn’t consider your feelings. I was in a bad place and wanted to feel good.” Blossom lowers her head.

“I’m sorry that it came to that,” I say, hugging my sister again.

“No more relationships for me,” she states.

“Well, for now it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to focus on you and getting your life on track.” The smile I give her is encouraging.

“When did you become so enlightened?” she asks.

“Haven’t I always been this way?” I ask playfully, bating my lashes.

Blossom’s lips turn down and she throws her arms around me. “Thanks, Rebel.”