Alexandra stumbled out of the car to check on the person she had hit. The man was lying on the floor, and she crouched to see his condition.
"Mister," she voiced, her trembling hands nudging his shoulders slightly. He didn't budge. When she retracted her hand, the red stain on her fingers took her aback. It was then she noticed the pull of blood gathering beside the man's head. "No, no, no…someone please help."
The street wasn't busy, but a few passersby who had noticed the accident ran to help. They loaded the unconscious man into her car, and she drove him to the hospital, telling Riley to be prepared.
Getting to the hospital, she met Riley and a team of nurses already waiting for her outside. They wheeled the man into the theatre for surgery while she paced outside the door anxiously.
As she gazed at her bloody fingers, she wondered how she ended up in this situation. Today had started great; how did she end up like this?
A wave of guilt washed over her as possibilities ran through her head. What if the poor man died? What if he had a wife anxiously waiting for him at home?
Knowing her capabilities, she knew she wouldn't live long in prison.
Adding to her frustration were Chad's constant texts asking for his car. Was stealing his car too impulsive? She had allowed anger to blind her, and now an innocent person was in danger.
"God, let him be okay." She prayed. After hours of waiting, the theatre door opened, and Riley stepped out with the nurses. Alex sprang up to meet her. "How is he doing?"
"He suffered a nasty hit to the head, but apart from that, he is fine." Riley placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "When he wakes up, we can inform his family."
"Can't you inform them now? What if they worry?"
"He didn't have any identification on him," Riley said as they sat together in the corridor. It was a slow night for her, so she could spare a few minutes to comfort her friend. "Now, tell me about Chad."
Exhausted and out of tears, Alex recounted everything that happened that night, from her breakup to the accident.
"That bitch, Ellen! That's who he chose over you?" Riley spat in fury, balling her fists. "If they know what's good for them, they better stay out of my sight else I'll kill them both. Chad is a monster, an ungrateful beast!"
"I'm sorry for yelling at you this morning, Riley. I should have listened when you tried to warn me…I shouldn't have been so stupid."
Alex saw the signs but refused to acknowledge them. Ellen always found reasons to make Chad spend time with her and interrupted their sleep with several emergency calls that required him to spend the night with her.
When she complained, he accused her of being paranoid. "Ellen is like my sister." He had said. Thinking back, they were probably banging those nights and gaslighted her. Lying scumbag.
After witnessing her parent's rocky relationship, she vowed to always trust her partner, as she did not want to live a bitter life like her paranoid mother, who made her life a living hell.
She never told Chad about her family history, but everyone knew something was wrong after her mom harassed her in college. Seeing as Chad easily threw that incident in her face, she was glad she had not told him. Perhaps a part of her did not fully trust him after all.
"It's not your fault, and I forgive you." Riley patted her on the back. "My shift will be over in ten minutes. How about we wreck that car and then get something to eat?"
A smirk tugged the corners of their lips. When Riley's shift was over, they drove the car to a shady alley with no cameras and took turns vandalizing the car. In the end, they scraped the words CHEATER on it and sent Chad a picture before driving to a diner to have dinner.
She spent the night in Riley's apartment, knowing Chad would lurk around hers. She had recently changed her passcode and hadn't had the chance to tell him, so she wasn't worried about him breaking in.
That night, she cried herself to sleep, hoping the next day would be better
The next morning, she and Riley dressed and went to the hospital to check on their mystery patient. For the first time since last night, Alex was able to see his face.
She instantly recognized him as the rude man she had bumped into in the parking lot.
"I recognize him," she gasped in surprise, looking at his familiar pale face. Riley, who was checking his vitals, raised a brow in question. "I bumped into him last night before I stole Chad's car. He was rude."
"And you ran him over. I guess you guys are even now." Riley joked, pulling back her stethoscope. "He should wake up soon. Have you found anything about him yet?"
"Nope. There are no missing person reports and as you said, he does not have any identification on him. Until he wakes, he's practically a ghost." She said with a sigh. "Well, he better wake up soon. Hospital bills are expensive."
"I can cover that-"
"No." Alex gave her friend a pointed look. The last thing she would do was bother Riley with her financial problems. Riley had her own problems to take care of. Sighing, her expression softened. "I can take care of it. I promise."
Knowing it would be useless fighting Alex on it, Riley did not bother. Whenever Alex made up her mind, it was difficult to dissuade her from it, hence why she had spent two years with a man everybody warned her about.
"Call me if you need anything. I have some things to do." Riley said, and Alex nodded in reply. Riley left, closing the door behind her.
Alex reclined on her seat, watching the handsome man sleep. He was by far the hottest man she had seen wrapped in bandages. His skin was the perfect tan, and his jaw was sharp enough to cut glass.
"Too bad he has a nasty attitude." She muttered before turning her gaze from his face.
Her phone rang, and it was from Chad. Mustering her most nonchalant tone, she answered, "What?"
"You. Wrecked. My. Car." The anger in his voice made her lips tug in delight. "You are going to pay for this. I am going to sue you for damages."
"Sue me?" She scoffed, checking out her nails. She needed a manicure. "Should I remind you how much you owe me? I kept a record of every penny I loaned you, and I think it's more than enough to fix up your car."
Chad owed her thousands of dollars, so she knew he would not be able to sue her or even report the matter to the police. He was a new professional footballer. A scandal would put him at risk, and he knew it, so she was safe.
"I'm going to make you pay for this," He threatened. She laughed.
"You're a cheating, two-faced coward who I brought up from the trenches. Your threats are as limp and insignificant as your dick. Now get out of my phone." She spat and ended the call, feeling better about herself. "Good riddance."
The thought of ever loving such an unpleasant jerk disgusted her. It made her skin crawl.
Two years ago, Chad had approached her at a bar and stopped a man from spiking her drink, and shortly after, they became friends. That was his tactic for coming into her life.
Now, she wondered if her drink was ever truly spiked or if that was a ruse to get closer to her. She remembered slapping the poor stranger who was accused and walking off with Chad.
With a heavy sigh, she turned to the sleeping man and flinched when she saw him staring at her with his icy blue eyes.
"You're awake." She scrabbled to the bed in excitement. "How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"
The man's nose scrunched up in a frown when she got too close. His eyes briefly wandered around the room before they stopped on her. Eyeing her from top to bottom, his forehead wrinkled, and he asked, "Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm Alexandra Thompson," she introduced herself. Hesitantly, she added, "I accidentally hit you with my car last night and sent you to the hospital."
"I was run over?" He repeated, letting the information sink in. A look of irritation contorted his features as he grabbed his bandaged forehead. "Is that why I can't remember anything?"
"I am so sorry that I-wait what? You can't remember anything?" Alex asked in shock.
His blue eyes flashed with anxiety. "N-no."
"Oh, shit!"