Page 35 of Dirty Monsters

"Yeah, no," Lip started casually scratching his chin, smearing more blood around his face. "I mentioned my friend Ro at Beachside, and she glossed over. Zoned out. She sure as fuck didn't look like that when I offered hermydick."

I backed off Lip so he could sit up, and I leaned against the door that had slammed shut behind me when I first barreled into the room. I banged my head on the door and tried to calm myself.

"Don't fuck with her," I mumbled. "Don't tempt her, don't do shit."

"You have my word, bro. I wouldn't have ever thrown her on the back of my bike if I knew who she was."

"You knew she was a patient. That was bad enough."

"I knew she was a patient who wanted your dick. I figured I was doing you a favor by giving her mine."

"Motherfucker," I mumbled back, glaring at his ceiling as I banged my head a few more times.

"Let me make up for it," he offered, standing up and walking to the bag I knew carried his stash.

I started to shake my head, but then caved and smoked with him the one time on the surfboard. We could see where that led. At that point, I hadn't had one since I left Ohio, and it felt so fucking good. The fact I was a rehab nurse made me steer clear from then on out. I was there to rebuild myself, to do better and rally from my shitty childhood.

One fucked-up afternoon with Wren was all it took for me to nod at Lip and take what he offered. I lit the joint he gave me and took a deep inhale, hoping to God it calmed me down. I could see why Wren wanted the escape, the relief. We both lived through hell, and both let the past navigate how we lived twelve years later.

Maybe it wasn't the main reason she was addicted, or maybe it was, but I was sure what Kane did to her all those years ago still weighed on her. Fuck knows it did me.

I could tell myself daily I was trying to be better, trying to negotiate with karma for a better outcome in life. Yet, somehow, I still ended up with Wren in my path, torn between helping her get better and tearing her apart.

I knew the war would only continue to swirl as time went on, and now, she was determined to make my life a living hell.

* * *

The next morning, I woke up with a headache and dread for what was to come. I hadn't seen Wren since she made it back to Beachside the previous night. I had no idea what kind of shit show she had in store for me.

The only resolve I had was the determination not to let her get to me. She had more to lose than I did, and I had to keep reminding myself if she was smart, she wouldn't risk her freedom to play games with me. I would remind her of it each chance I had. In the meantime, I planned on avoiding her at all costs, letting her be another nurse’s problem for a while.

With only a few hours of sleep, I skipped my morning surf session and trudged upstairs into work. I peered around for Wren but assumed she was already in the cafeteria for breakfast, and it left me with a little more time.

"Morning, Nurse Ro," I heard from the corner. I turned to see who called me, only to be met with the steely eyes of Wren's therapist, Lisa. "Come sit with me for a second."

Shit.

I turned a chair backward and straddled it, feeling more in control and nonchalant that way.

"What's up?" I asked without pleasantries. Her hard eyes didn't seem like she was into talking about the weather.

"Can I talk to you about Wren Carrington?"

I shrugged, "Sure. But she just moved into Orange house, so I barely know her."

"Right, well, she is as closed up as any patient I have ever had. She appears fine, and she smiles, telling me all the things she thinks I want to hear. But something is off, and I feel it."

"Sorry to hear that." I sighed.

"I need your help getting through to her. I know it isn't normally in your job description, but I am hoping you can be the key."

I tilted my head, dread already rolling through me. "How so?" I dared to ask.

"Wren will be doing horseback riding and other small therapies. I want you to join her."

"Um, that is impossible. I have a lot of other patients, Lisa."

"I know. I know. I took the liberty of talking it over with Linda, Mrs. Tessier, first, and she agreed Wren needed a friend, not a nurse or a therapist."