“I have considered it,” I admit in between gulps. “But after he threw a hissy fit when he discovered I was Byron Stanley and he ripped the inscription from the book Stevie had been saving for him, I decided it was probably wise to steer clear of the guy.”
“Shit. That must have upset her.”
A muscle pops in my jaw as I recall that day last week. “He threw the book across the room and screamed at her.”
“Now I’m having visions of punching him.”
“She was a mess when she came home. Sobbing against my shoulder for hours. I begged her to walk away, but she says she can’t.”
“I know it’s already been established I’m shit at offering advice, but can I tell you what I think I’d do if I was in your shoes?”
“Go for it. I’m at a loss what to do. All I know is if we keep going like this we’re not going to have anything left to salvage of our relationship.”
“I saythinkbecause no one knows how they will react until faced with a situation, but if it was me and Jenny, I would walk away.”
I open my mouth to tell him he should get a Razzie for worst advice in the history of the planet, but he holds up one palm, stalling me, so I clamp my lips shut.
“You said it yourself; if it continues like this, your relationship will be ruined. But she’s not going to walk away, and I understand that, dude. I can see it from her perspective as well as yours. Stevie has a big heart, and she feels things deeply. As long as Garrick is saying he needs her, she’s not going to abandon him, and I’m not sure she should. That could hammer the final nail in the coffin of your relationship anyway.”
“What are you saying?” I tip more beer into my mouth.
Law sits up straighter and leans his elbows on the table as he looks at me. “Stevie loves you, man. I don’t think that will change. I don’t think she loves Garrick or that she ever loved him like she loves you, but who knows?” He shrugs. “I gave up trying to figure out the female brain a long time ago.”
“You’re right,” I say. “You’re so shit at this.”
He shoves his middle finger up. “Let me finish. I think you need to walk away to save your relationship. If she’s going to fall in love with Garrick again, it will happen whether you want it to or not. You can’t stop these things. Just like if she’s always going to love you, you walking away won’t change that. Except this way, you protect yourself. It’s impacting your health and your work and maybe, just maybe, the best thing you can do for the woman you love is to give her space to figure out what she wants by herself.”
* * *
As much shit as I gave Law on Friday, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what he said. The thought of walking away from Stevie kills me, but what if my buddy is right? What if setting her free is the best way to ensure she comes back to me? I don’t know. I just know I can’t take much more of this.
On Thursday afternoon, I return to the apartment after a trip to the grocery store to find Stevie curled up in a ball in the living room, on the floor, crying her eyes out.
I dump the grocery bags in the hall and rush to her side, dropping to my knees beside her quivering form. “Honey, I’m here. What happened?”
Anguished howls tear from her throat, and it’s the kind of sound that destroys my battered heart. I have never heard such heartfelt pain.
“Beck,” she gasps, letting me lift her into my arms. Choking sobs echo in the room as she clings to me and cries. Her pain is visceral, and it’s killing me inside. I rock her in my arms, holding her tight and pressing kisses into her hair as she purges her grief.
After a while, the sobs subside, and I carry her to the couch. Silently, I pass her some tissues, watching as she blows her nose and rubs at her red-rimmed eyes. Maybe I should take a picture of her like this and show the asshole what he’s doing to her because I don’t need her to say anything to know he is behind this latest meltdown.
“What did he do?” I ask when she has fully calmed down. I brush damp strands of hair behind her ears.
“You’re going to be so angry,” she whispers, and my heart stutters in my chest.
“What did he do?” I ask again in a much harsher tone.
“He kissed me.”
Her words light a fuse inside me, and all I see is red. How fucking dare he touch her against her will! Fuck punching the prick. I’ll fucking put him back in a coma where he should have stayed.
I don’t even feel bad for thinking something so hideous.
I’m that angry.
Her lower lip wobbles. “I didn’t consent or kiss him back. He surprised me, and then he was upset when I broke away from him and told him he couldn’t do that.”
“Enough is enough,” I say through clenched teeth. “You’re not visiting him again. You call him and tell him you can’t be friends.”
