“I’d love to meet her. Is Zack okay?” I asked, taking another deep breath.

  “He will be fine. Josh will be charged with two counts of harassment and attempted murder.” Dario said. His anger was noticeable in his eyes. His voice was deeper than ever before.

  “How are you feeling, Rae bug?” Jeff asked me, rubbing my head.

  “I’m okay. I just wish I had someone to lie in bed with me while I got through this.” I said, winking at them. John opened the door and came in with food and drinks for the guys. “Perfect timing. Want to cuddle with me, John?”

  Zack

  Beep. Beep. Beep. I stirred hearing machines beeping. They were exasperating. Where the hell am I? I speculated to myself. The feeling was euphoric; I wasn’t in any discomfort, but my last recollection was Josh and I fighting, and he knocked me out. I should be in agony. Opening my eyes, I understood I was in a hospital. Jeff was beside me. “Hey brother, how are you holding up?” He asked. Worry filled his eyes; I could tell there was something he was holding back.

  “Is Raelynn okay? What happened?” I sputtered. I couldn’t believe I let her down repeatedly. I promised to protect her, yet I’m in a hospital. This was not good. I continued to move my arm, but there was an IV and a button. I popped the switch, and a nurse showed up a few minutes subsequently.

  “Glad to see you are cognizant, Mr. Lewis. My name is Nicole, and I am your nurse today. Further, I’m the charge nurse, so if you have any issues, please request for me.” The nurse announced. “

  “Nice to meet you, Nicole. You can call me Zack.” I stammered.

  “Looks like you got into a fight and didn't make it conscious.” She said, checking my vitals. “You appear to be stable for now, but we want to keep you for a few extra hours to ensure everything is alright. The doctor called for a brain scan once you were awake, to ensure there was no brain damage or concussions.”

  “I seem great. But I’m positive you’re about to tell me I’m on an excessive dose of some sort of pain medicine to make certain I don’t feel pain.” I seemed like I was hovering outside of my person. The nurse regulated the IVs.

  “You are on an immense dosage of sedatives today because of the bruises you suffered from the fight you were in.” The nurse answered critically.

  “Oh. Did you just give me more?” I was fading away again.

  “I did. You will be accompanied to the X-Rays by a tech shortly. Next, back here to sleep off the medicine. Once you are awake again, we will wean you off the meds and you will go through a few cognitive tests to establish no other damage develops.” Nurse declared, clarifying. I think she wanted me to acknowledge what she said.

  I faded away. I dreamed I was back with Rae at the mansion. We were cooking a feast for the family. Halloween was coming up, and we had so many plans for Gran’s charity. We would hold an estate sale and masquerade ball to raise money. The dream was vivid. We were making enormous pans of gnocchi salad and mini sandwiches. I couldn’t believe how fast I fell in love with this girl. Then it hit me. I loved her. In the dream, we were dressed in matching Joker and Harley Quinn costumes. The boys and I were getting ready to perform, and I composed her a song. When we performed it for her, I told her the truth. “Raelynn, I’ve never dreamed I would find someone as perfect as you, but I have, and I am unequivocally in love with you. I am yours for eternity, in this realm and in the afterlives.” John accompanied me on my knees, so did Jeff and Dario. “We all want you. We all love you. Will you be ours?” John begged Rae. She shrieked and answered, “You frivolous boys, get up!” She didn’t answer the question, so I proposed to her again, “Will you be ours?” She went on to answer, “I would love to, but….”

  I woke up before I got her answer. I surmise we would have to pull off my dream so I could discover. Before hitting the button, I made sure the drugs were out of my system. John came into the room smiling. “Good morning, sleeping prince!” Smiling ear to ear, blushing, and well-rested, John sat beside me. “Are you feeling alright, man?”

  “I think so. I just woke up a few minutes ago. How is Raelynn?” I asked, skipping to the point.

  “She’s okay. She has a mild concussion but will be released in a few hours.” He explained. He was struggling to maintain eye-contact with me, voice was quiet, and he was breathing shallowly. I could see the worry radiating from him.

  “What happened?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  “She let me sleep with her in the hospital bed.” He looked down.

  “What do you mean?” I quickly asked.

  “She wanted to sleep with bodies, so Dario and I laid with her while she rested. Jeff was supposed to be with you. When I woke up, Jeff and I switched places. Hospital beds suck, man.” He was looking for my emotions and trying to get me to laugh. I wasn’t jealous, but I also wasn’t happy about not being there for her when she needed me. I wasn’t happy that I put her in this situation, all because I couldn’t handle my anger and protect her. I wasn’t happy because I was guilty.

  “That’s cool. I’m glad you could be there for her. Is she doing okay?” I looked at him, trying to be okay with everything. I needed to be sure she was okay.

  “She’s going to be okay. Once she woke up, she asked me to join her in her hospital bed, so I did, then Dario on the other side. The nurse had a lot to say about it, but she had another panic attack, so we pulled ourselves closer to her and she calmed down. She kept asking about you and we told her you were here, but asleep and safe.” John explained.

  I took a deep breath, noticing the pang of my head throbbing. The nurse came in after. I already forgot her name, but smiled. “Zack, do you remember me? I’m your nurse. Nicole. You’re in the hospital after a fight you had, were unconscious and before you fell asleep three days ago, you were explained about a procedure that was going to happen. Do you remember?”

  “I remember. They were going to scan for brain damage and concussions, right?” I think that’s what happened.

  “That’s correct.” She confirmed.

  “How long have I been here asleep?” Something wasn’t feeling right. It took me a moment to recognize where I was when I woke up. I craved Raelynn.

  “Eight nights.”

  “How long did I sleep for?”

  “You’ve been sleeping on and off for Eight nights. When you woke up, we put you back to sleep because you were furious.” The nurse read from a paper. I’m believing it was my chart or something. “The second time you woke up, you and I spoke about the exams. The third time you were awake for about thirty minutes, then fell back to sleep. This is your fourth time being awake.”

  “Oh. Is Raelynn still in the hospital?” I demanded to know. If she was still here, I needed to see her. If she was at home, I needed to be discharged. I missed her. I needed her.

  “She’s at home, bro. She went to the mansion two days ago. Dario took her home and they are working in the basement and attic. He wouldn’t tell me much, but they are working on a comprehensive project.” John told me.

  “Okay, Nicole. What should I do to get discharged?” Provoked. I now needed to figure out an escape plan to get home to my wonderful girl and figure the rest of our plans out. Where she was, I wanted to be. I didn’t care about the cost. I wanted to be with her.

  “First things first, speak with the sheriff and give a statement, then you will go through a few cognitive tests and then you will speak with the doctor. Depending on the results, you will be ready to go.”

  “Am I under arrest or being arrested?” I asked, confused. I was defending my girlfriend. I think she was my girlfriend. I needed her to be more.

  “You are not. But, given the circumstances of three bodies needing to come to the hospital under a domestic violence charge, one being arrested, and all three injured. It's a protocol to get statements. Plus, they need to know if you’re planning on pressing charges or dropping the case.” Nurse Nicole explained. I looked at John and he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Okay, let’s get this over with.” I said to Nicole, and the process started. She asked me a few questions about myself, health, family, and education. I answered everything I knew. Then, she asked me math questions, to spell my name, write my name and count to 20, and again backwards from 20. Once that was all done, the Doctor came in, asked a few questions. The questions were straightforward, so I answered them truthfully. Then, the Sheriff came in. I gave my statement. I asked if Rae wanted to press charges on Josh.

  “Honestly, Mr. Lewis, it is up to you. She left this in your hands. If you want to press charges, she will back you up. If you don’t, she will drop the charges and just request a restraining order on him and an order of protection on her ex-boyfriend. Arkansas is a stand your ground state, so if they come to yours or her property and you feel intimidated, you may protect yourself without prosecution. That is your right.” The sheriff explained.

  “Which will get me home faster? Pressing charges or dropping the case?” I asked. I wanted to go home.

  “If you drop the case, nothing further will happen. I can ask the judge for an order of protection and restraining order for both of you, but that honestly depends on the judge.”

  “I’ll drop the charges for now, but I hope he knows he’s only being left off the hook because it’s her piece of shit, brother.” I hated that she put me in the position to do this.

  Two hundred and forty-nine million hours later, six hours to be exact, I made it home to my woman. I liked the sound of that. My woman.

  Dario and Jeff were in the basement helping Raelynn. It was a sight to see! They had the entire band equipment, a banner that said “Crossroads' ' on it and everything was set up and stocked beautifully! There was a mini fridge, a snack bar, a cereal bar, and an alcohol bar with all mixers and juices. The basement was the perfect man cave, I don't know how they did it.

  “Honey, I’m home!” I said into the basement door.

  “Don’t be mad, but I bought you guys all new band equipment and set up this beautiful area so that you guys can practice while not at the shop. Plus, I will set up couches and futons and a few other things to make this manly for my four men.” She said, while still organizing the wine. She turned, and I saw her black, swollen eye. It was healing, but slowly.

  “You are perfect. You know that?” I said to her, smiling. “I couldn’t ask for a more perfect woman than you.” I walked up to her, held her beautifully bruised face in my hands, and gave her the most passionate kiss I could muster. I was still in pain, but seeing the bruises on her face eliminated everything.

  “You could ask all day, but I’m not sure you’d get it. She is loyal to a T!” Dario said, laughing. Blue balls must kick in. “So, are we going to jam out, or what?” Typical man. While I was in the hospital waiting, I wrote a few songs I wanted to practice. I gave the men the songs, and she headed back into the kitchen.

  “Let’s do it! I love these songs. You sing, we’ll join in. I’m sure we will have masterpieces by the time we’re done!”

  And we sang and played. Our songs were perfect! We’d be ready for Gran’s Charity. I wrote the songs on fancy paper and Raelynn read through the songs as we performed them. She was in tears when we finished. Mission accomplished!

  A love untold

  Once upon a time, there was a woman and a man from a small town USA

  They were on separate paths. Once they met, it would be love at last.

  This love story was yet to come to light. One day, it would come to life.

  The girl was on the wrong path, the one that went to the right

  The man was on the opposite, going to the left.

  Both paths meeting at the V, that is where they met.

  A love so divine, one that goes into the soul

  This love was rare, left them with no control

  This was the story of soulmates, a love untold.

  Her eyes were hazel with a tint of rose gold,

  His eyes were blue, the windows to his soul.

  Take Me Away

  Take me away and keep me with you

  I’m falling hard, falling hard, it’s true.

  The moment you looked deep into my eyes,

  That’s still the first moment I felt alive.

  The sadness you wore within your scars

  Made me want to grab you, run away, very, far

  Let’s run away and escape this small town

  Before we were lost, now with you I have found,

  There’s nothing for us here, but scars and terrible memories

  I didn’t know the pain you went through,

  but looking at you, I’d do anything for you

  Take me with you if you leave this shitty place

  Without you here, I could not stay

  “You’re everything I want, and everything I need,”

  Everything I want to say when I’m speechless and cliche’

  You’re the guitar to my strings; the bass to my band,

  Anywhere you are, I must be. Do you understand?

  If you do not plan to build a life with me here,

  Please take me away with you; don’t disappear.

  Take me away. I can’t continue life without you.

  Take me away. I can’t breathe if I don’t have your O2.

  Take me away, take me away

  Lover’s Brawl

  To love a girl is something I’ve never known

  Walking into this shop, I had to write a song

  knowing how you lived with your heart on your sleeve

  I know you were the girl who was meant for me

  Fighting across the borders, I see you in myself

  I’d cross all the earth to make sure you never left

  I’m grateful the day we met

  Fighting all the barriers to get to your heart

  I’d destroy an entire bar to make sure we could start

  Doing everything I can to make sure I give you my all

  I’ll do whatever it takes and consider it a lover’s brawl.

  Lovers brawl, to give you my all

  Lover’s brawl, until we can dance and do the hillbilly crawl

  Lover’s brawl, because you bring me to my knees

  Lover’s brawl, because if anyone looks at you wrong,

  Lover’s brawl because I said so in this damn song.

  Girl, you don’t know what you are doing to me

  I'm sure I'm where I need to be when I get lost in your eyes.

  One day, I’ll ask you an important question, and you must say yes

  Because if you say no, the rest of the world will feel my regret

  If anyone does you wrong, I will give you my all.

  Lover’s brawl, I’ll break their fucking necks

  Lover’s brawl, because I’ll protect you with no regrets

  Lover’s brawl, because you have what I need

  Lover’s brawl, because you bring me to my knees

  Rae’s Song

  I’ve never believed in love at first sight,

  That is until you walked into my life

  Stumbling through the shop doors,

  You made everything. I believed something more.

  I never believed something could take my breath away,

  That is, until you stumbled into my life that rainy day

  When you opened your beautiful, radiant eyes,

  That was the day I finally felt alive.

  Radiant beauty, Something I have never seen

  Awestruck from the magic you possess

  Everlasting, I’m getting younger than I can be.

  Learning to love you, as you learn to love me

  You’re everything I ever wanted, nothing I will regret

  Never giving you up, you’re mine forever, Raelynn

  Raelynn

  The music the boys played was unbelievable! Listening to the songs that Zack wrote, the boys could dive in with the music and turned it into a pleasing ballad! I couldn’t believe how prodigious it was! Dario and Jeff encouraged me to get into the basement together. I appreciated it would be a transition with them. I predicted the wrath of Zack with getting new instruments moved in. I didn’t want to take his stuff from the shop, so I brainstormed, and we made a trip to Little Rock and bought them all new band equipment and set up the basement as a little man cave. I bought a pool table, a few dartboards, and a TV. We moved one sofa and recliner from the family room to the basement and everything was coming together nicely. I wanted it to reflect the men who mattered most right now. This would be my preeminent gift to them. Dario and I had lots of fun preparing the man cave. He put his two cents in when needed, and I always respected his opinion. I had to talk to my mom before they released Josh. She kept calling, and I knew it wouldn’t stop. She was trying. So, should I. Right?

  “Hey Rae, how is everything doing? Are you okay?” Mom said.

  “I’m fine. Just getting the Basement ready for my men to have their little band practice.” I revealed to her. I didn’t want to talk to her. Zack and John left to go get things from the garage and to make sure there wasn’t anything skeptical going on. He also dropped off the papers I finished and filled out with Jerome, since I missed our appointment.

  “Tell me about them. I’d like to get to know them.” She pressed.

  “Well, Dario, he’s something peculiar. Few men would respect boundaries while around a woman. However, Dario was always respectful, considerate, and thoughtful.” I explained.

  “Isn’t that the same thing?” She asked.

  “I used to think that was all the same thing, but it’s not. He respected my boundaries and my devotion to Zack. He was considerate of my health and condition when we went to stores. He was consistently thoughtful concerning the cave, mansion, or my health. If we had a 2-hour drive, he contended we dined somewhere.” I babbled on and on.