“A temptress indeed,” he says, his eyes searching mine. He looks at me for a long time, it feels so domestic, like I just woke up with a partner, not my friend with benefits. I wonder if he feels it too? “I have to meet Ben in a few hours for an employee meeting. We have just enough time to go to the police station.”
“You were serious about that?”
“Kate, you called me over in the middle of the night and I had a baseball bat at the ready. You don’t feel safe in your own home. So, yes, I’m dead fucking serious.”
I swallow thickly, and just let my hands slide up the expanse of his chest, enjoying the softness of his chest hair. “Maybe I’m overreacting.”
“Maybe you’re underreacting. I’d feel better if you did this. It would make me feel more comfortable,” he says.
“You play dirty, Mr. Carlson.”
“I’m sure you say that to all the Mr. Carlsons,” he says with a smirk.
I shove at his chest. “Only the two best looking ones,” I say, and he leans forward and places a soft kiss against my lips.
“Go get dressed before we get distracted,” he says, not moving right away, before he lets out a heavy sigh and falls on to his back, his arm resting above his head showing off his strong biceps.
I think I could paint him like this: debauched, hair messy, muscles and chest hair on full display, giving me that panty dripping smile that has me thinking insane thoughts. Could I enter a real relationship with these brothers? I know I wouldn’t be able to decide between the two of them; I want them both. Does that make me a sex crazed, selfish cunt?
It doesn’t matter, because until they give me any indication they want more, I’ll just harbor my twisted little crushes.
I get dressed, tossing on a simple sundress, and tying my hair up before applying sunscreen and just enough makeup that I don’t look like I didn’t sleep at all the night before.
When I step out of the bathroom, Gavin is wearing his clothes from last night with his keys in his hand.
“We’ll grab something to eat on the way,” he says, and with my stomach in my ass, we drive to the police station.
The idea of speaking to police brings back memories of the accident with my parents, and having cops in my hospital room asking questions. It makes me feel uneasy, and if Gavin wasn’t here, I know I wouldn’t be here. I’d continue being freaked out in my home and suffering over it.
Gavin’s hand reaches across the dash and kneads my thigh.
“I’m here with you. I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he says.
I place my hand on his and squeeze, because that’s exactly what I needed to hear. Promises that things are going to be okay are bullshit, and it’s the last thing I want. He’s giving me facts, that he’s here and that he cares. It might just be as a friend who he fucks, or maybe it’s more.
We do as he says, eating along the way, though I can’t stomach much and stick to my iced coffee.
When we get to the police headquarters, Gavin takes my hand, interlacing our fingers. I feel a sense of safety when we touch, and he explains to reception why we’re there.
We sit in the waiting area for far too long. Gavin is texting about work things and I have a text thread with Savannah and Chelsea, keeping them updated on everything going on. They both seem to be fully on board with the plan, and are praising Gavin on pushing me to come and get a restraining order.
We’re finally called back by an officer and I have to explain everything that’s happened over the last few months. I feel like an idiot, but Gavin reassures me with gentle touches, and chiming in when my details don’t seem sufficient.
“I’ve had my phone checked, they didn’t find any tracking software,” I tell the officer.
“Have you checked your car?”
“My car?” I reply, and he nods with a sigh.
“Very common tactic of stalkers to use airtags or other devices on a vehicle to know where their victim is. Based on everything you’ve said, we’ll be granting you a TRO, temporary restraining order. It will be valid for three months. He can not come to your place of employment, five-hundred feet in front of your home?—”
“Five-hundred feet, are you shitting me?” Gavin interrupts and the officer gives him an irritated look.
“This is a standard TRO. If you both so happen to be in the same place, he will need to stay three-hundred feet away.If any of these agreements are broken then there will be more discussions of expanding or making the restraining order more permanent. I’ll send an officer out to look at your vehicle.”
“My vehicle isn’t here.”
“You can swing by the precinct at any time and have an officer look at it.”
