Fear paralyzes me at the idea of Bradley hurting Jack. Convincing him this isn’t worth a fight will be hard enough, but Bradley’s left marks today, and Jack’s patience only goes so far. “He’s done nothing to you. Leave him alone.”
He smiles at me as the pain in my side throbs. “Maybe if you ask nicely.”
“Please leave Jack alone.” I think I’m going to be sick.
“No.It’s not very fun to hear, is it?” he taunts and I glare at him.
“At least I’m not going to push you down any stairs for saying it.” I smart off before my head snaps back after his fist hits my eye. I gasp, covering my mouth to stop myself from saying anything more.
I can already feel my eye start to swell shut, and Bradley stands up, taking a few steps back.
“You tell the police I did this, and Jack’s career is over before it starts,” Bradley warns as the tears spill quickly down my cheeks. I’m unable to stop them now. He leaves right after, not bothering to give me a second look.
He’s never hit me in the face before.
I pull myself up, scrambling for my phone. I can’t believe how stupid I was. I know better.
My face is throbbing, and honestly, everything hurts when I try to fix the stools, but I think a leg must be broken because it falls to the ground again after I stand it up.
I should call the police, but will Bradley really hurt Jack? I wouldn’t exactly put it past him, especially after this. A part of me had forgotten what it felt like to be so powerless.
The door swings open and I hate how I flinch, spinning to see out of my good eye who’s there. “Sorry, Nate has so many plants, and you wouldn’t believe the detailed instructions he left, but I’m ready for this surprise! Is Macy back yet?” Ellie asks, kicking her boots off, but her hand flies to cover her mouth when she turns, spotting me. “Oh my god, what the hell happened?” The coat in her hand falls to the floor, and she moves to look closer.
I inhale a ragged breath, wiping my nose on the back of my sleeve, but I wince, the pain in my face spiking. “Looks worse than it is,” I say, wishing I’d never filed the restraining order in the first place.
I should have left things alone.
“Al, we need to call the police. This isn’t okay,” she says, her voice trembling.
“We can’t,” I whisper, my voice hoarse as more tears fall.
“They can help,” Ellie argues, and I shake my head, but it causes my face to throb.
“I’m okay,” I say, but it might be the most unconvincing lie I’ve ever told.
I hate myself for being weak enough to think Bradley ever loved me.
“Let’s get some ice on your face, and you can tell me what happened,” Ellie says, and I catch a glimpse of the front door.
“Did you lock the door?”
Ellie steps away, checking the door, but she looks wary when she turns around to face me. “Al, are we safe to stay here?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think he’ll come back here,” I say, but I’ve been wrong before. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?” she asks, an incredulous look forming on her face. Ellie moves into the kitchen, grabbing an ice pack, and wraps it in a hand towel before offering it to me. “Do you want me to call Jack?”
“No,” I blurt out, because the last thing that needs to happen right now is for one of us to tell Jack when there’s nothing he can do about it. “His game is in a few hours, and they’re flying back tonight. He’ll find out then.”
I’ve never been more glad Ellie wasn’t home when Bradley showed up. I don’t think having a witness would have changed anything.
“Should I take you to the hospital?” Ellie asks, but then she kneels down, picking up the piece of paper that ruined everything. “What is this?”
“A restraining order,” I say, turning around to move toward the bathroom in my room with my phone in hand. “Be rightback,” I mumble, shutting the door behind me, giving myself a few moments to not be fine.
When I look in the mirror, I don’t feel better seeing my reflection. My eye is completely swollen shut, and my cheekbone is bright red. I take a few pictures, trying to get this over with, but my side has a red mark, and I’m positive they’re bruised, but hoping they’re not broken.
The pictures are especially important now after filing the restraining order. I don’t know if I’ll use them because I don’t want anything to happen to Jack, but it’s comforting to know I have proof. I’m not crazy or imagining it.
