Concealed Affliction Read Online Free Page A

talk to me at all, and you just went ahead and did it.”
     
    He tilts his head to the side, staring at me, thinking about what I just said. It may sound ridiculous to him, and I hope I don’t need to explain it, but something tells me I’ll be doing just that.
     
    “I apologize Elle, seeing you with Brock doesn’t sit well with me. I know you said you’re just friends, and he and I had a talk that night I found you at the gym. That guy loves his wife, I get that. I’m just not sure how I feel about him keeping such a close on eye on you. Especially when he has a wife at home. Not many men I know would put that much effort into looking after a woman he wasn’t fucking. More so when he’s not getting paid outside of the gym.”
     
    “You idiot! One, I do fucking pay him. And two, did it ever occur to you there are some kind people in this world Ryder? Trust me, I’m the last person who would have ever thought there was kindness left in this world, but surely if I can stumble upon it, so can you. Nothing, not now, not ever, has happened or will happen with Brock.”
     
    He shakes his head, not entirely agreeing with me.
     
    “I trust you babe, just not sure I trust him.”
     
    “Well that’s big of you Ryder—to trust me. But let me ask you something. If you trust me so much, why are you so worried about Brock? If you trust me, you know nothing would ever happen.”
     
    “I don’t think anything would happen Elle, that doesn’t mean I have to like you hanging out with him. Regardless, we still haven’t gotten to the bottom of the issue here. Why did you go so off the wall because I spoke for you? I thought we were on the same page here babe, and that means when I spoke, I was pretty sure what I said is what you wanted; to be back in North Carolina, with me hopefully looking after you.”
     
    I slam my palms against the counter.
     
    “Goddammit, don’t you get it? I don’t need to be looked after Ryder! I’m not with you so you can ‘look after me.’ And for shit’s sake, don’t speak for me. Ever! I can speak for myself!”
     
    Strong arms grab ahold of my shoulders. He puts his angry tanned face in mine.
     
    “Why Elle? Why is this such a big deal to you? Tell me!”
     
    Time to turn the tables.
     
    “Have you ever been held hostage Ryder? Have you ever been taken into the hands of someone else and not been given the chance to make your own decisions? Speak for yourself? Have you ever had that taken away from you?”
     
    “I was trained for shit like that, Elle. I’ve been put through the ringer-”
     
    “NO! Talk about ‘training’ all you want! Have you actually ever, really been taken Ryder? Answer the question!”
     
    “No! I haven’t, Elle.”
     
    My voice is low and angry when I reply.
     
    “Then you don’t know. You do not for one fucking second know what it feels like to not know what day it is, and not want to ask. You do not know what it feels like to want water, but not be able to ask for it. You DO NOT know what it feels like to ask for some slack on the rope that’s holding you off the ground. Slack on the rope that’s bolted to the floor and too far away from the bucket you were given to piss in.
     
    “So until you know what it feels like, that you actually have to ask to take a fucking piss, you do not speak for me. Until you know how it feels to have your ability to make such small decisions taken away from you, don’t you ever speak for me. Because from today until the day I  die, I will decide when I sleep, eat and piss. I will decide when I need help, and who it will be from. Nobody Ryder, not even you, will be given the go ahead to speak on my behalf or make decisions for me.”
     
    I push his hands off my shoulders and head to the fridge. Opening the door, I reach my hand in blindly and grab a bottle of wine. By the time I turn around his hands are on the counter and his head is hung low in defeat.
     
    I don’t stick around to speak with him