Chapter 44 A Way To Ruin The Night

Chapter 44 A Way To Ruin The Night
April 

Corran pays the bill, and we leave the restaurant. The food was amazing. It’s been a fun evening, but I’m ready to go home. I’m not as accustomed to socialising as I once was. 

“Our taxi will arrive soon. Perhaps we should have waited inside,” he says. 

“No, it's fine outside. It was warm indoors." 

He nods, and we start walking down a few stairs, but suddenly I slip or lose my footing—I'm not sure which because it happens so fast. I fall to the ground, feeling a sharp pain in my ankle, and I hiss in pain. Ugh, could I be any more embarrassing? Everyone is now staring. 

“Shit, April, are you okay?” Corran panics and kneels on the ground in front of me. 

I nod, struggling to hold back tears. My ankle is throbbing intensely, and although my ass hurts, it's not as overwhelming as the pain in my ankle. 

I nod, forcing a smile. “I am fine. Can you help me up?”

I refuse to sit on the ground while everyone stares at me. He nods, stands, and offers me his hand. I draw in a breath and take it. He helps me to my feet, and I try to hide the pain, keeping the weight off my right ankle. 

“April, maybe we should take you to the emergency department and get your ankle checked?” 

I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. I’ll put ice on it when I get home.” 

I hate hospitals. I haven’t been in one since Corbin passed. I stay away from them. There is no chance in hell I am going just for a hurt ankle. It isn’t broken. 

“Are you sure? Can you put weight on it?” 

I bite my inner cheek, put it on the ground, and pretend I am not in pain. “I can.” 

“You are a terrible liar. If it hasn’t eased by tomorrow, I am taking you to get it checked.” 

Our taxi arrives just on time. Corran holds me up, helping me towards the taxi, and makes sure I get in and am seated before he slips in next to me. Thank God it is dark, because the pain intensifies and I can’t hold back the tears any longer. They roll down my cheek. 

“You should take your shoe off in case it swells,” Corran suggests. 

I nod and manage to slip it off. I don’t say a word because if I do, Corran will hear in my voice that I am crying. I keep it off the floor, not wanting to put any pressure on it. It is just like me, ruining a good night by doing something stupid like falling. 

I wipe my tears and compose myself. “I'm sorry. I completely ruined our evening with my clumsiness.” 

“You have nothing to apologise for, beautiful. It was an accident. You didn’t ruin anything. What happened?” 

“I have no idea. I probably slipped or lost my balance. I'm so embarrassed. All those people were watching." I sigh and shake my head. 

“These things happen. How much pain are you in? Do you have painkillers and a first aid kit?” 

“It will pass. Yes, I have those things at mine.” 

“Okay, then I will take a look at it when we get there; maybe wrap it with a bandage.” 

“You don’t need to come to take care of me, Corran.” 

He places his hand on my knee. “I want to.” 

I nod, knowing there is no point in arguing with him. He will take care of me, even if I tell him not to. 


Corran and I arrive at my place. I am exhausted from the stairs, even though there weren’t many. He sits me down on the sofa, covering my legs with a blanket. “You need to take the jeans off. They are quite tight, and your ankle is already swelling. It is going to hurt taking them off. You do that, and I will get the kit.” 

I nod, pointing to where I keep them. While he is gone, I remove my jeans, wincing as I take them off my sore ankle. The swelling is getting worse, something that will hopefully go down by tomorrow morning. Either way, it doesn’t matter, I will be going to work. I can’t call in sick. I have only just started. This is not what I need! I will push through it. I have been in worse pain. 

Corran returns with a packet of frozen peas, wrapped in a dish towel and a first-aid kit in hand. Taking his place before me, he lifts my leg, placing my ankle on his knee. 

“April, I still think you should get it checked out. It looks pretty bad.” 

I shake my head frantically. “No, I am not going to the hospital. I hate hospitals.” I whimper.

Corran sighs. “Sorry, I won’t bring it up again. I promise.” 

He probably knows why I hate them. He places the bag of frozen peas on my ankle. I shudder with the coldness. I am sure he would rather be somewhere else than here taking care of me. It isn’t supposed to be his job to take care of me, but he will, any time he needs to. Corbin will be watching and will be upset because I'm hurt. He can show himself and ask me if I am okay while Corran is here. 

“I will get you some painkillers.” 

Corran disappears to the bathroom to get them, arriving back only moments later and handing me too. 

“Thank you.” I smile. 

“You are welcome. We can keep this on for a little while, and then I will wrap it up. Is it still as sore?” 

I nod, knowing there is no point in lying to him. It is obvious I am in pain, even if I am trying to hide it. 

“You don’t need to hang around. I could do it myself.” 

“No, you will not. I will do. I am also crashing on your sofa tonight in case you need me. Don’t try to talk me out of it because my mind is already made up.” He says firmly. 

“If you insist…” 

It is maybe for the best in case I end up hurting myself again. I will need to hide in the bathroom to talk to Corbin and keep my voice down. I sigh and rest back on the sofa, hoping for the painkillers to kick in soon. It isn’t going to be easy getting comfortable in bed tonight, but I will work something out. I can’t believe I did this! I didn’t want our night to end like this, but it did, and I can’t do anything to change that.