“Rose is my heart, and spending the rest of my life without her isn’t an option. There are other ways to have a family if it’s what we want.”
“Is that what you told her?” I nodded. “Good, because had your response been anything else, I would’ve had to fuck you up. I’m glad she finally opened up to you because I didn’t like seeing you all fucked up and miserable.”
I chuckled. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“Yes, you were, and I’m glad it’s over.”
“Me too. Once I take care of Preston, we can really move forward.”
We left the conference room and went back to our offices. It was almost noon, and I hadn’t heard from Rose, so I FaceTimed her to see how she was feeling and what she’d been up to this morning.
“Hey,” she answered, but her voice sounded a little off.
“Hey, beautiful. You good?”
“I’m okay.”
“Let me see your jaw.”
She angled her head to give me a better view, and I noticed her face was wet.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?” I asked.
“No. I’m okay. My jaw is still sore, but it’s better than yesterday.”
“Talk to me, Rose. I can tell you’ve been crying.”
“I’ve been crying all day about everything and nothing.”
“What’s on your mind, baby?”
“It suddenly hit me that Preston broke into my apartment, held a gun to my head, pistol-whipped me, and kidnapped me.”
“We haven’t talked about exactly what happened, but are you feeling some anxiety about it?”
“I think so. Yesterday, I didn’t have time to reflect, because my sisters kept my mind occupied for hours. When they left, all I could think about was our impending conversation. I spent the morning with Mama Rush before Daisy, Blossom, and Rue joined us. I’ve been pretty distracted until a little while ago. Russell, I overheard Preston talking to someone, and he planned to rape me. What if you hadn’t gotten to me soon enough? What if he had taken me to?—”
“Baby, baby, shh. Breathe, baby.”
She was on the verge of sending herself into a panic attack. The anger I felt hearing her talk about it had me clenching my jaw, but I managed to keep it together and not express it.
“I’m coming home.”
“Okay.” She started crying again.
“I’m on my way. Stay on the phone with me.”
I grabbed my keys from my desk and left my office, stopping by Rocky’s office on my way out.
“I’m leaving for the day. Rose needs me,” I told my brother.
He frowned. “Did something happen?”
“She’s processing what happened yesterday and is feeling anxious. Hit me up if you need me.”
He nodded, and I continued to my truck, which I’d chosen to drive today instead of my bike because there was rain in the forecast.
“Do you need anything?”
