I wake with a stiff neck and a thumping headache. I’m half draped across Gemma’s lap, and my feet are tangled over Anna’s legs. A groan slips from my lips as I shift, noticing the uncomfortable positions they’re both in—propped awkwardly against the couch, their expressions serene in sleep.
Reaching for my phone, I’m met with a flood of notifications. Lucas’s missed calls and unread messages fill the screen.
Baby, where are you?
Are you okay?
Seriously, where are you?
Please call me when you get this.
I’m starting to worry. I love you.
The words swirl in my stomach as I read them over and over, bitter and nauseating. “Bullshit,” I mutter, tossing my phone onto the table with more force than necessary, wincing at the loudthud. The sound startles Anna from her sleep.
“Morning,” she says through a yawn, rubbing at her eyes. But the moment she sees me, her expression sharpens, and she sits up rod-straight. “April. You okay?”
“No,” I whisper, dropping my head and curling into myself. My voice cracks, and the tears are there before I can stop them. Anna is quick to scoot closer and pull me in, her arms enveloping me. I lose the battle, my will completely breaking. My body shakes as she holds me tighter. Gemma stirs beside us as her eyes blink open. Her gaze widens in concern before she leans over, wrapping her arms around both of us.
We sit there, huddled together in a tight embrace. No matter what happens, I know that as long as I have these two women, I’ll survive this.
We sit around Gemma’s kitchen table, each nursing a mug of much-needed coffee.
“Have you responded to him?” Gemma asks.
I set my mug down with a sigh, combing my fingers through my tangled hair.
“Yeah,” I murmur. “I told him I’m here and we need to talk.”
Just then, another message from Lucas lights up my phone.
Is everything okay?
I nibble the inside of my cheek, unsure of how to respond. The girls lean in eagerly as I turn the screen to show them his latest message.
“Are you going to tell him you know?” Anna asks.
I take a deep breath, contemplating my next actions. “I think I should … At least he’ll have time to process before I get home. But I don’t know what to say.” I shrug my weary shoulders.
Gemma’s chair creaks as she scoots towards me. “I think you should send him the screenshots and recordings. Let him see the truth.”
God, this is beyond horrible. My stomach lurches at the mere mention of the messages.
Anna nods in agreement, her eyes lighting up. “Yes! Good one,” she says, clicking her fingers. “He won’t be able to talk his way out ofthat.”
I swallow hard. The mix of nerves and caffeine causes me to tremble as I send the evidence. My heart gallops when thedeliverednotification appears. I drop the phone to the table, exhaling a shaky breath. Not even a minute passes before my phone rings. I don’t answer. Instead, I turn it screen down, letting it buzz again and again while I cradle my hands around the warm mug, fiddling with the handle as I try to ground myself.
Gemma reaches for me, brushing her fingers gently over mine. “We’re here, no matter what,” she says.
I manage a watery smile.
Anna moves closer, her hand gently resting on my back as she rubs soothing circles.
These women will be my way through this.
It’s done.
He knows.
