Chapter 9

The sunlight beamed through the white blinds, presenting the morning sun against Grace’s pretty face. The day was moving slowly and she was beginning to understand why people hated hospitals. Her eyes were still heavy from crying from the previous day. She woke up at dawn, thinking of Joshua and even when she ate, she still thought of Joshua.

Her eyes were sunken and pimples branded her cheeks. She smacked her dry lips wet and raised her head from the pillow with slight difficulty. She heard the slight opening of the door and raised her chin.

She was sure it was Joshua so she plastered a smile on her face, hoping it would melt the rage he felt towards her. Her eyes widened in shock when she scanned the man thoroughly who stood in the middle of the room. His hair was shiny black and his well structured chin defined a handsome face. His muscular features were bulging through his T- shirt and his jeans were blue just like the color of his eyes. Grace tilted and shook her head, It felt like a dream that could never be real.

“Tom?” Grace whispered, disbelief written all over her face. She wondered how and why he was here.

“Why are you acting so surprised?” Tom finally said with a chuckle.

“I am not surprised, I am just shocked. What are you doing here?” Grace inquired, her face trying to stay calm. For once she was glad she couldn’t walk because if she did, she would have attacked him with so much venom in her heart.

“I am your boyfriend. What are you talking about, babe?” Tom replied, scratching his head in confusion.

“I have been in this hospital for the past four weeks and you never showed up. Are you certain of that ‘boyfriend’ title you call yourself, Tom?” Grace gave him a fake smile and placed two fingers under her chin.

“I—It’s not that way, babe. I have been so fucking busy with work and you know that’s the only way I can pay for my debt.” Tom stuttered as he walked towards the side of her bed.

Grace suddenly felt a rush of anger flow through her windpipe. She knew that he was merely trying to manipulate and justify his actions.

“Don’t you fucking use that swear word Tom.” Grace blurted out, her voice raised slightly.

“But you just swore, Grace.” Tom countered with his mouth wide open.

“I have the right to swear, you don’t.” Grace insisted with a gold of her arms.

“What’s going on with you babe? Are you mad at me for visiting you?” Tom replied as he held the iron side rails of the bed.

“Don’t you fucking call me babe.” Grace replied coldly.

“Then what do you want me to call you? Is it because of your condition? I understand that you are never going to walk and I am going to be with you every step of the way.” Tom assured as he leaned closer to devour her lips.

With ragged breath, Grace responded, “What do you think you are doing?”

“I miss you, babe. I miss your lips and everything about you. I can’t wait to have sex with you when you are discharged from this hospital.” Tom answered with a groan and began licking her right ear, doing in the most sensual way.

Grace felt numbness all over her body as he began to feel her breast through the hospital gown, pressing down with two fingers and slowly rotating them. She was braless. His hands felt warm and soft as he worked his way around her hard nipples.

“Mmmmm,” Grace moaned, he was doing it again, driving her senseless with his hands.

She encouraged him by parting open her lips and the next thing she knew, he had slammed his lips into hers and nearly knocked all the wind away from her lungs.

She hardly had a moment to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of her lips and, at her grant of access, delved inside her mouth. It was a very sloppy kiss with the strong scent of old wine being exchanged in the intermingling of their billowing breaths.

In an instant Grace pulled away, her breathing faster than normal and she looked into his lustful eyes. She was trying to recollect why she was kissing him like a sex starved girlfriend. She was shocked when Tom leaned forward again to capture her lips. Rage engulfed her as she slapped him across the face.

“What the hell is wrong with you Grace? Why did you hit me across the face?” Tom yelled as he rubbed the agonized cheek.

“I slapped you because you kissed me,” Grace replied, nonchalantly.

“But you kissed me back, Grace.” Tom insisted, trying to keep his emotions in check.

“That was because you seduced me and then you began touching me.” Grace glared at him.

“You didn’t complain when I touched you. You moaned into my mouth and your nipples were so hard when I touched them.” Tom countered as he licked his lower lip.

Grace was completely digusted with his words and she placed a tired palm on her forehead.

“Do you know what happened on July 3rd this year?” Grace suddenly asked with a small smile.

Tom furrowed his full eyebrows and replied, “It was my birthday and what happened was that you never showed up at my house.”

“I never showed up?” Grace muttered with a tilt of her head.

“You never did, Grace and you are lucky that I’m letting that slide.” Tom explained, sticking his hands into his jeans pocket.

“So where did you celebrate your birthday?” Grace pressed further with a grin.

“I celebrated it at an empty club, I drank with the bar lady but I only took two shots.” Tom replied with a wink.

“Really Tom?” Grace questioned.

“Yeah, that’s where I spent my boring birthday, babe.” Tom assured with a quick nod of his head.

“You know what, you don’t deserve to call me babe. I don’t even think that you deserve to be my boyfriend.” Grace spoke with a serious tone, her eyes dangerous and concealing.

“What are you talking about, babe?” Tom held out his hands in shock and confusion.

“Don’t play dumb with me Tom and stop calling me babe.” Grace warned as she mashed her lips together.

“Is this the time of the month where you get all moody and creepy because I can’t understand what you are talking about.” Tom responded.

“You want to know what I am driving at right?” Grace stated.

“Yes, exactly!” Tom agreed.

“You are a liar, a big fat liar.” Grace spelled out, opening her mouth dramatically.

“You know me, Grace. I am not a liar, I love you so much. I can’t believe you are spilling out all this trash talk.” Tom retorted.

“I don’t know you Tom. You are just so unpredictable and so cunning. I can’t believe that I even loved you. I feel like a damn fool.” Grace continued.

“Alright, you got me. I actually spent my birthday in bed, smoking. I know you hate it when I smoke but it was so tempting and I had to. I am sorry, Grace.” Tom begged with his adorable eyes.

Grace shook her head and responded slowly, “You are really good at lying, aren’t you? Did you graduate from the school of lies because I have to confess, you deserve a honorary degree. “

Grace watched Tom as he gritted his teeth in agitation.

“What the hell is wrong is you, Grace? Why are you so mad at me? I didn’t do anything wrong and here you keep hurting me with your words.” Tom objected as he balled his hands into a fist.

“You really want to know, Tom?” Grace asked with a knowing smile.

“You already know my answer so just get on with it.” Tom grunted.

“You cheated on me Tom.” Grace finally said.

“W–What? I never cheated on you, Why would you think that way, Grace. You are the only woman I love and cherish. No woman is as attractive as you. I never cheated.” Tom argued as she advanced towards her hastily.

“Stop lying, Tom. I can see it through your eyes.” Grace begged as a tear rolled down her right cheek.

“I–I am really serious. I never cheated on you,” Tom stuttered.

Grace was beginning to get upset, why was he still denying it?

“I saw it all Tom.” Grace blurted out.

“Saw what? What are you talking about?” Tom cried out in frustration.

“I came to your house that day to surprise you and I looked through the window to check whether you were in and do you know what I saw, Tom?” Grace began as another tear dropped from her eyes.

Grace noticed the change in Tom’s facial expression. It was obvious that he had an idea of what she was about to say.

“I saw you with another woman in your living room. You were really going at it with her so well. You even allowed her to touch you, I thought you said you hated me touching you whenever we had sex. You deceived me, told me that you loved me and you broke my heart. You are a devil, Tom.” Grace muttered amidst sobs.

“Grace, that never happened. I never had sex-“

“Shut it, Tom. Just shut it. I am not buying your stupid lies!” Grace yelled.

“I really like you, Grace.” Tom started.

“I am starting to get a feeling that there’s a but coming.” Grace braced herself with a smile.

“But I never loved you. I tried to, Grace. It was easy to say it but it felt empty and meaningless, so I realized that sex was the only way our relationship could stay alive.”

“Are you even listening to yourself?” Grace whispered. “We dated for four freaking years and you pretended to love me?” Grace continued as her hands rose up to the sides of her face.

“You asked me out, Grace. You asked me to be your boyfriend.” Tom drifted the blame.

“I never forced you to say yes, If you didn’t like me, you could have said no instead of deceiving me.” Grace chuckled bitterly.

“I had to. I needed you on my team. If I said no, you would have left. You would have given up on being an athlete. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” Tom explained

Grace covered her lips with both hands and cried aloud. She thought that their relationship was dying because of sex but now she realized that it was the fire that kept the relationship burning.