“It’s okay,” I say. “I’ll get him to leave.” I push past him and step out onto the covered porch that overlooks the evergreen forest. I’ve always liked Kit’s property this time of the year. The snow resting on the tops of the pines makes it look like a magical world that lives within the forest walls. I wonder if I can summon it to get this guy to leave.
When I’m outside, I turn toward Richard, my arms crossed, my toes icy cold against the freezing wood. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been home waiting.”
I narrow my brows. “You have bowling tonight. I told you I was going to Kit’s.”
“No, I told you I’d be home. I made dinner, cleaned the house, checked the tracker, and you’re here.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Have you lost your fucking mind? We just had this conversation at the bookstore. I told you I was coming here. You were supposed to be bowling.”
He steps forward and tightens his jaw, the look in his eyes dark and empty, and I get the feeling he knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s then that he grabs me by the shirt and shakes while he screams. This has happened before, more times than I’d like to admit. It’s funny what you accept when you’re falling apart inside.
“Act fucking right!” He spits the words so frantically that I feel the spray against my face, but I’m not here. I’m somewhere else. I’m lost in the place I go when things get crazy like this.
I must be, because I see Tex in his bright flannel. I see him wide and strong, walking up the driveway. I see his gaze lockedon Richard. I see his fists balled at his side. He climbs the steps and suddenly Richard releases his grip on me.
The delusion continues because a moment later, I watch Tex drag Richard off the front porch and into the woods, digging deep divots into the snow behind them.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Kit’s voice echoes into the silence. “I called the police. They’re on their way.”
Is that real? I can’t tell. Nothing feels real.
The warmth of a tear slides down my cheek as I hear footsteps crunching back through the woods, and there he is again, this time alone.
Tex. The man in flannel. The man from my past that I shouldn’t have called.
“You ready? I’m taking you back to my place, honey.” His hand reaches out for mine.
Then all at once, without another word, Tex lifts me off my feet, cradles me in his arms, carries me to his truck, and I come back to life, warmer than I’ve felt in a long damn time.
Chapter Six
Tex
I’m sure I blacked out, but I know I didn’t beat that piece of shit half as hard as he deserved. He’s lucky he’s still alive.
Marley hasn’t said a word since I picked her up from Kit’s. She just stares out the window, watching the blur of Christmas lights as we head up the mountain and toward my rental in the woods. It’s not a huge place, but it’ll do fine to hold us in for a few days while I figure out the next step.
I knew that fuck was bad news. I could see it on him the second he walked through the door with that stupid fucking grin and that gross bowl haircut. I should’ve killed him right then, saved everyone the trouble.
I tighten my grip around the wheel as we pull up to the rental I’ve got for the next two weeks. The front porch is strung with red and green lights, and the Christmas tree still shines through the front window. I didn’t expect these touches, but the owners went all out with the Christmas theme.
Without a word, I slide from the truck and make my way around to Marley’s side, noticing now that she’s crying.
“I can walk,” she squeaks.
“I know you can walk, but I’d like to carry you. The snow is like four feet high here. You’ll get your legs all wet. I think you’ve had it hard enough for tonight.”
She hesitates but eventually nods, and I lift her into my arms, carrying her to the porch before settling her down while I unlock the door.
“I’m sorry about this,” she says, shivering before the door pops open.
I help her inside. “Don’t you ever be sorry about anything. I’m the one who’s sorry. I… I was following you.”
“Kind of figured. I was going with that or this whole thing is a delusion. Still on the fence, really.”
I take her jacket and hang it on the hook next to the door, then walk her to the couch, settle her in with a blanket, and make my way to the kitchen for some tea. “You still love chamomile? I see there’s some here.”
