“Yes,” I confirm with a smile, “take me home.” I swallow down the lump in my chest as I look out of the window. It was supposed to be my night. I worked my ass off to make tonight the most successful fundraiser the hospital ever had and, in the end, he ruined it for me.
My eyes go dry as the tip of my nose stings. I put my hand on my stomach as I watch the city fade away as he drives me closer to my house. The last thing I want tonight is to fall apart in the car in front of a stranger.
I close my eyes as I blink away the tears. My head goes back to that moment outside with him and Kirby, I will never in my life forget. A moment I will never in my life forgive him for. The minute I got the flowers and I took a step back, I looked toward where Trent was supposed to be sitting but saw it was empty. I smiled at everyone as I handed the flowers back to the waiter, and he told me where he would put them until I was ready to leave. “He’s so thoughtful,” Cheryl praised Kirby, and all I could do was nod because it was more than that.
I looked over and saw his date was chatting head to head with Darryl, and instead of sitting down, I walked out of the ballroom, coming to a stop when I saw Tatum, one of the surgery coordinators, walking in from outside. Her red dress hanging too low in the front, low enough that you could see her fake, round tits. Her face was pale, as if she was caught doing something, as she hurried back into the ballroom. She stopped when she saw me. “Is my husband out there?” I asked her and whatever color was in her face was totally gone. She couldn’t even answer me, all she could do was nod her head and quickly run away.
I rolled my eyes and wondered if I should even go out there. I knew I should have turned and walked back into the ballroom, but instead I was pulling the door open at the exact moment I heard the words that would change everything, “For fuck’s sake, her father is a fucking drug addict. She should be thankful I took pity on her.”
Everything happened so fast after that, I had to make sure Kirby didn’t do anything he would regret in the morning.
I open my eyes when I feel the car coming to a stop and the sound of the door being shut. Looking out of my window, I see I’m in front of my house. The door is pulled open as the driver holds out his hand. “Thank you.” I nod at him once I’m out of the car, and he lets go of the door. “Have a nice evening.”
I walk into the house, not bothering to take off my shoes or even turn on the light as I make my way to my bedroom. The purse slips from my hand and smashes onto the floor, making it spring open, my lip gloss skidding across the floor and the white card falling out.
I squat down in front of the purse and take the envelope in my hand. My finger moves over my name before I turn it over and open it.
Pulling it open, I see Kirby must have written this.
Lexi,
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
That’s my favorite quote and thought I would share it with you.
I dare you not to let anyone darken your light.
K.
The minute I read the last sentence, I’m sobbing out loud. Bringing the card to my chest, I can’t help but cry. The pressure is so much that I’m knocked on my ass. My head feels like it’s a washing machine spinning around and around.
“You’re beautiful.” I hear his voice but then at the same time I hear Trent. “She should be lucky she has me.” I close my eyes to not hear the words. “You deserve better.” That is the last thing I hear before I open my eyes and I grab my phone.
Pulling it up and not even thinking about what time it is, I call him. It takes him four rings to answer the phone, and when he does, his voice is filled with sleep. “Lexi,” he says and I can’t help it; instead of saying anything, all I do is silently cry. “Lexi, honey.” The worry is filling in voice.
“Daddy,” I say, the tears rolling down my cheeks, one after another. “Daddy.”
“Lexi, baby, where are you?” His voice that was worried is now filled with a more frantic tone.
“I’m home.” I look around the room. “Dad, I need your help.” My hands shake as I say the words. “Dad, I need help.”
“Baby,” he says tightly, “where is Trent?” He’s probably fucking some girl in his apartment I almost say, but I stop myself.
“Daddy,” I repeat and I can feel the panic starting to come as my breathing is starting to get a bit harder. “Daddy, I need to?—”
“Lexi,” he says, snapping my name, “where the fuck are you?”
“I want to leave him, Dad,” I tell him and close my eyes. “He?—”
“Did he touch you?” he asks and I can hear the fear and anger in his voice.
“He says I’m not good enough. That I need him.”
“He’s lying to you.”
“That without him, I’m nothing.” The words come out. “I don’t dress good enough. I don’t smile enough. I am not skinny enough.” My body shakes uncontrollably, my teeth clattering as if I’m in ice-cold water.
“Baby,” he soothes. “I’m calling Uncle Matthew and the two of us are coming to get you.”
