"Hale Michael get in the damn house and shut the door. Now." She says, leaning against the door into the kitchen. "I know about your leg; Nashville told me. You need to sit and elevate it and relieve the pressure.” With that she turns on her heel and walks into the kitchen. Lord have mercy, this girl will be the fucking death of me... What a sweet death it would be.

Sighing, I run my fingers over my face, feeling the stubble of my beard against my hand. I need to shave, but I haven’t even given it a thought until now. My hair is too damn long, falling in my eyes. Constantly driving me nuts. I throw the keys on the table by the door and walk towards the kitchen. I hear her fumbling around with shit, probably making herself at home. I walk through the kitchen and I spot her wrapping the ice pack in an old kitchen towel. “Go sit on the couch Hale.” I know it’ll do no good to argue with her. I hobble to the couch and slowly sit, grabbing the arm of the chair as I lower my ass onto the cushion, wincing at the pain that shoots up my leg. I need to get back into physical therapy before I’m crippled.

Just as I close my eyes I hear her walk into the living room. I look up, seeing her standing over me and my hands ache to touch her. She sets the ice on my leg that’s resting on the coffee table. Clenching my fists I ask her, “Why are you here, Ember? What good will this do either of us?” Looking towards her, I see the pain flash across her face. I hate being the person to cause that pain, but I’m too fucked up to make myself happy, let alone anyone else. I can’t be the man she needs me to be. “If there was one thing you ever were Hale Jarreau, it was stubborn. I remember the time Nan told you to put a jacket on while you were outside playing football with the boys and you told her you’d be fine and didn’t need a jacket. Three days later you were laying on the couch with the flu. Even then, you were worrying about me. Every second of every day you had to make sure I was taken care of and happy. What changed Hale? It kills me to sit next to you and act like I wouldn’t give anything to be in your arms.” She looks down at her hands in her lap, “You may not be the same man you were when you left, Hale, but the love of my life is in there. I know he is. You just have to let me in. Let me take the hurt you’re feeling away. Let me be the one you talk to. I love you. I want to be with you Hale, I have for my entire life.” Just hearing her voice calms the storm raging inside me. It’s so exhausting to fight the thing your body craves the most. Now I know what an addict feels when tempted with their drug of choice. Mine just so happens to be sitting on a silver platter right in front of my face.

Rising slowly from the couch, I take one last look at her and force my feet to carry me towards the kitchen. My fists clench at my side, my entire body is tight with need. Walking towards the counter I grip the edges, dropping my head down, taking deep breaths. She’s like the drug I need coursing through my veins ;a taste of her could cure all the pain. God, I sound like a pussy. I know Ember is my once in a lifetime love. I just hope that she can find that love again with someone who deserves her and can give her the world.

Pushing away from the counter, I stroll back through the living room towards the stairs. Yelling back over my shoulder, “I’m headed to bed, lock up on your way out, yeah?” I take the stairs slowly, but as quickly as my bum ass leg can carry me. Deacon follows right behind me as she opens the front door and I hear her whisper, voice thick with emotion, “I love you, Hale. You stubborn asshole.” Then the door closes. Yeah, well at least you get it. Hopefully one day she’ll understand it’s for her own good. Pulling my t-shirt over my head, I throw it on to the floor with the rest of the clothes I haven’t bothered washing. I quickly remove my jeans and socks and head to the bathroom. I turn the water on hot, the hotter the better, and I welcome the burn, maybe it’ll wash all my sins away. I step inside, wincing as the pain shoots up my thigh. This fucking leg’s good for nothing.

Standing underneath the stream of hot water, I rest my forehead against the cool tile. The water a welcome burn. I sigh as the steam settles all around me. My body screams for release… I’m wound up so tight I feel like I could fucking explode. Groaning, I fist my dick, running my hand from tip to base. I close my eyes and think of the way it felt moving inside of her as I work my hand, finding the right amount of pressure. I think of the way her tits looked, splayed out beneath me like my favorite fucking meal. Her tight walls squeezing me, her soft moans in my ear, her nails running down my back as she pulls me deeper. I feel my balls draw tight and it doesn't take long before I'm groaning with release, coating the shower wall with my cum. The water washing away any trace of my weakness. The only thing I have left is control. The control I do have is dangling like a thread; threatening to be ripped away in the blink of an eye.

I’m starting the day in a foul fucking mood. My head is fucked up from seeing Ember and I got even less sleep than normal. My leg feels like I ran a damn marathon and I’m not taking the pain pills. The last thing I need is to become dependent on them. I need to do stretches and the exercises that the physical therapist told me to do. I’m going into town to the hardware store to get some wood to start redoing the floors in the house. The sun is shining and is a warm contrast against the cool air that hits my face as I open the front door. I head to the barn and open the doors wide. Dad’s old ‘87 Chevy pickup is what I’ve been using to haul materials back and forth. The Camaro isn’t big enough for anything and I worked too fucking hard to have the paint get butchered by some boards. Climbing inside the old truck, I crank it up and roll the window down. By the time I arrive in town my stomach is rumbling and I realize I completely forgot to eat. I pull into the diner and park out front. I climb out and pocket the keys. My stomach steadily growling. I open the door and run smack into Ember. She looks up at me with wide eyes and then to the tall, dark headed guy that stands next to her. She looks as if she wants to say something, opening and closing her pouty pink lips, but stops. I guess the death stare I’m currently directing at this douche is enough for her to think twice.

“Hi Hale,” she says quietly.

I nod, never speaking a word. This damn town is too fucking small.

“This is my friend Tyler. Tyler... This is Hale.” She says to him as if he knows who I am.

I’m not even going to entertain this conversation and if that makes me the dick then so be it. I look between the both of them and shake my head, stepping around Ember and going to the nearest booth. I don’t even take a second look at her because I know the hurt on her face will cause a physical ache. She doesn’t understand my reasoning, but it’s for the best. I don’t even trust myself alone, and I would never put her in harm’s way... Even if it’s myself I’m saving her from. I quickly order the works from the waitress and wait in silence. Everyone seems to be on their cell phones or iPad and I’m sitting here with nothing in my hands. My little flip phone is simple. Just the way I like it and it’s not like people are lining up around the block to talk to me. My food appears in front of me and out of the corner of my eye I see Ember laughing at whatever douchebag says to her. Just like that, my appetite dies with her laughter. It should be me making her laugh, holding her hand in public as we eat dinner at the diner we grew up in. It’s sad that our lives have come to this. Sitting across the room from one another, not acknowledging each other’s presence. I signal for the check and the young waitress brings it over quickly. I hand her my card and wait for the receipt to sign. Once I get the receipt I quickly sign and leave a hefty tip. I leave in a hurry without a glance at Ember and get in the truck. I go straight to the hardware store and collect all the stuff I’ll need to work on the floors.