A week later, the bruises on my face have subsided enough to be hidden by makeup. However, Bryce continues to act like I’m about to shatter at any second. He won’t let me touch anything heavier than a fork if he can help it.
“You know I’m not going to break, right?” I say over dinner of beef and cheese burritos at Manny’s Tacos.
“Doesn’t matter. Don’t move. Just let me get you the guacamole.”
I give him a look. “It’s literally right in front of me.”
“Exactly.” He reaches all the way across the table, scoops it up from the bowl and places it on my plate.
When I whine to Lareina, she says it’s just the way it is. “Ares was the same when my cousin nearly killed me. And I was hurt less than you. And I wasn’t pregnant. Bryce will get over it once he realizes you’re okay. It’s just that…you know, with the baby, it may take longer.”
I sigh, half exasperated and half affectionate. I know he means well, but does he have to bethisimpossible?
“He was devastated when you wouldn’t wake up at the hospital. I’ve never seen a man look so lost. I mean, I was scared too when you didn’t wake up for days. I can’t imagine how Bryce must’ve felt,” Lareina says. “Just indulge him for a bit.”
I sigh again, but she makes sense. Unlike his family, he learned the truth about what happened ten years ago, and that must be weighing on him, too. Just like I needed time to heal, he’s going to need time to sort through his emotions. If he wants to work it out by being overprotective… Well, I can deal with it.
Jeremiah visits me at the house and tells me Jude and Aaron got out on bail. Disappointing, but not shocking—they both must’ve hired top lawyers. Although Bryce promised they’d go to prison for life, it isn’t something he can control.
Sherry seems to be siding with Aaron. She hasn’t contacted me since we ran into each other outside Merry. It should hurt, but the pain is a barely perceptible throb. The old panic, the sheer terror that I might not be wanted, doesn’t circle in my head like a vulture anymore.
I look at Jeremiah. The woman wears a cool, detached expression,but she speaks with patience, her eyes studying me from time to time to gauge my reaction.
“There’s a restraining order, but those don’t do much good. If I were you, I’d get bodyguards. Or at least don’t go anywhere without the cane. It’s perfectly weighed for swinging. As good as a golf club. If you want, I can teach you. Or Bryce can.”
I realize this is her being family—no hugs, just solutions. I smile. “Thank you, Auntie.”
The tips of her ears redden. “It’s nothing.” She stands, clearing her throat. “I need to get going. Deposition.”
“Thanks again.” I hug her.
She stiffens, then pats me awkwardly. “Take care of yourself. And don’t forget: we stand with you. Always.”
After she’s gone, I look at my phone. The police want to talk and are coordinating a time with Jeremiah. She hates it that I have to relive the trauma, but I told her I’d do whatever necessary to make the two pay for their crimes.
My phone buzzes. I look at the screen and frown.
–Unknown: Finally. I can’t believe you blocked me. How could you?
I lick my suddenly dry lips, my gut churning. The only people I blocked were Jude, Zoe and Aaron.
–Me: Who is this?
–Unknown: Me! Your mother!
–Me: Sherry?
–Unknown: Of course. Do you know how many times I had to text you and call? None of them connected. I had no idea until Aaron told me.
I don’t remember blocking her, but my phone broke during the kidnapping incident, and Bryce replaced it. Didheblock Sherry?
Annoyance fleets through me at his high-handedness, but I focus on how she said Aaron told her she got blocked. So she’s with him now. That explains why Bryce didn’t want her to be able to reach me. I also note she hasn’t said a word of concern for me. She has to have heard what happened. After all, it isn’t something Aaron can hide.
She didn’t visit me at the hospital, didn’t even sendflowers. Nobody from the Huxley family brought her up, either. Maybe Bryce’s family—no,myfamily—already knows she doesn’t really care about me and wants to keep her away.
–Me: What do you want?
–Unknown: How are you?
