Destiny Disrupted (There's Always Tomorrow Book 1) by M.D. Saperstein Read Free Book Online

tries to get his emotions in check.
    “Do you need help getting up?”
    “No.”
    The guy sighs but backs off. Vance takes a few deep breaths before pushing up to sit back on his heels. He brushes the tears off his face and looks around. He is in a hospital room; the guy trying to help him is a nurse, and there is another female nurse standing by the door looking concerned. Vance turns his gaze to the bed he just fell out of. Melina is gripping the edge of the bed, worry twisting her face as she looks down toward him. He curses under his breath and rubs his face with his hands. She must have motioned for the nurses to leave because they slowly backed out and shut the door behind them.
    “God, Melina, I'm sorry...” Vance rasps, his throat tight from all of the emotion he’s feeling.
    He hears Melina's good foot hit the floor, making his eyes fly open. She plops down to her butt in front of him, with no regard for her IV pole. Her bandaged leg is sticking out to the side.
    “Melina, what are you doing? You're gonna hurt your leg.” Vance sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Fuck, he has a migraine now.
    Vance then feels her delicate little hands cup his face, completely ignoring his comment about her leg. He drops his hand and opens his eyes to look at her. She looks so upset and worried.
    “Are you sure you're okay?” she whispers.
    “Yeah, I'm fine,” he says softly. He runs his hands up and down her arms, trying to comfort her.
    Melina searches his eyes. “I don't think you are,” she says grimly as if she knows what his nightmare was about. “The scream that came out of your mouth was heart wrenching, Vance. It was so raw and pain-filled, what’s going on?”
    Vance closes his eyes. “I wouldn't tell you even if I could. Not because I don't trust you, but because I don't want you haunted by it,” he says.
    “So this is all because of the case you're working on?” she asks.
    Vance nods.
    Melina strokes his face with her thumbs. “If you can't talk to me, then can you at least talk to a therapist or something? I mean that was one hell of a nightmare.”
    “I'll be fine; it was just something that happened today that triggered this. I'll be okay,” Vance murmurs and looks at her.
    She gives him a doubtful look but keeps her mouth shut. Smart girl. Vance gets to his feet then carefully picks up a protesting Melina and gently puts her back into bed. Then he goes into the bathroom and shuts the door. He takes a piss before heading to the sink where he washes up then splashes some cold water in his face. He mistakenly looks up into the mirror; damn, he looks like shit, like he has aged ten years or something. His eyes have dark circles under them and are bloodshot, but that’s probably from the strain of throwing up earlier. He needs a shave, too. There is no way that Melina is going to want to see him again after this. He should have never come here today; he should have just called like she said. Fuck him, fucking idiot. He shakes his head in disbelief at his stupidity then dries his hands and face off with a paper towel.
    Vance comes out of the bathroom but keeps his distance from the bed, going over to the window and looking out at the busy city. He hears the bed move and then the scrape of the metal IV stand heading his way. He turns around just as Melina attempts her first shot at putting pressure on her bad leg. She winces in pain and it pisses him the hell off.
    “Will you stop getting out of bed!” he shouts and reaches for her.
    “The doctors told me to walk around as much as I could, circulation and all that shit,” she says dismissively as she slaps at his hands.
    “I don't want you reinjuring yourself,” Vance counters and scoops her up with ease.
    “Oh for god's sake, put me down,” Melina demands as he carries her over to the bed.
    “Nope.” He smirks.
    Vance places Melina tenderly on the bed. He looks up to find her watching his face. “What?” he asks quietly, searching her