“We have video of him driving past her house,” Gavin says, holding out his phone to the officer, who looks like it’s the weakest piece of evidence there could possibly be.
“What if there was an instance of physical abuse in our marriage?” I say softly.
Gavin looks pissed, and the officer looks like he pities me.
“Did you file a complaint when it happened, and do you have any evidence?”
I shake my head, feeling like an idiot for bringing it up. It was one time things got out of hand, but that one time is what has this sense of fear creeping up my spine. He slapped me one time when we were married and the way he gripped my arm at the restaurant.
“He hit you?” Gavin says in shock.
The officer taps the table once and gives us a tight-lipped smile. “I just need you to sign a few things.”
I nod, and give him a weak smile, but when I look over at Gavin, he looks lost. He doesn’t question the man as I sign a few things. Before long I have a temporary restraining order in my hand, and Gavin’s fingers interlaced with mine in the other as we leave the station.
He opens my car door for me. He doesn’t slam it, but when he rounds the vehicle and takes his seat in the driver’s seat, he glances over at me.
“You should come and stay with me and Ben.”
“What?” I blink at him no less than eight times.
“He’s put his hands on you before, and clearly, they aren’t taking this seriously. What the fuck is that? They have no plan to enforce this TRO or whatever the fuck. This man has been stalking you. Fucking harassing you and making you feel unsafe. You should move in with us.”
“I…Gavin. I can’t move in with you guys.”
“Why not?” he demands.
“First and foremost, I have four cats who would be a nightmare to move to a new home. Second, I really love my house. Third, that’s a big fucking step, don’t you think?”
He clears his throat, his sunglasses hiding his face as he shrugs.
“Let’s just check my car, let them serve him papers, and see where it goes.”
“Can you honestly tell me you think he isn’t capable of hurting you?” he asks.
He is capable. He’s already done it.
“I’ll be fine, Gavin, I promise.”
“I don’t like it,” he grumbles, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel like someone is truly looking out for me and not afraid to put me in my place. I’m not sure if I’ve felt this way since my Aunt Helene was alive.
“I’ll get a security system and I promise to tell you about anything suspicious.”
He glances over at me, my reflection in his sunglasses.
“For now,” he says, as he turns into my driveway.
“For now. What does that mean?”
“It means for now. I’ll send over the guys who did security for the bar and marina. Maybe they can come out today,” he says, as he types away on his phone, before starting the engine and driving back to my house.
I stare out the window the whole ride and think about Gavin’s reaction. Have I not been taking this seriously enough?How dangerous is Will? Would he escalate things further? Should I take Gavin up on his offer and go live with them until everything is sorted out.
Before I know it, we’re parked in my driveway and he’s turning on the flashlight of his phone and getting down on his knees.
“I’m going to take a look around your car before I have to leave,” he says.
“Yeah…I’ll be right back.”
