I nod. “Alright. You can call me Theo.”
Until I got divorced from Damien, I didn’t hate my full name, but healwayscalled me Theodore. It doesn’t matter how someone says it; it sends the same icy chill down my spine that it did back then.
“So,” Millie says, turning back to the stove. Hunter pulls out a chair and gestures for me to sit down. “What brings you to Silverpine?”
How do I answer that?Yeah, the man I was married to for six years, who repeatedly beat the shit out of me, raped me, and then tried to murder me, was killed here. Oh, and I’m meeting the man who got caught in his abuse right after.“A friend,” I settle on instead.
I can feel Hunter’s eyes on me, so I glance in his direction, and he looks away. I study his profile for a second. I’m feeling better than I’ve felt all week, so I take a chance. Clearing my throat, I tip my head toward Hunter. “Do you know Luca Pierce?”
He nods. “Yeah, I know pretty much everyone around these parts.”
My lips twitch in what feels like the start of a smile. “Is he… nice? He’s the friend I’m here to meet.”
Ugh. What a stupid question. Obviously Luca’s nice. He invited me here.
Hunter smiles, his eyes going a little hazy. “He is. He and Austin both.”
It’s wild to me that Luca already has a boyfriend. I haven’t so much aslookedat another man since Damien. Though these days, it’s more that I don’t have the energy for it rather than just not wanting to. At first, sure, I was too scared out of my damn mind to even think about another man, but now… Now it’s mostly that I don’t want them seeingme.
“Are you nervous about meeting them?”
I shake my head, but then nod. “Yeah, kind of, I guess.”
Hunter gives me a smile. “Understandable. But they’re great people.”
I’m not really sure what to say to that, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I look down at the table, waiting for dinner to be served. I’m so hungry that my stomach is eating itself, and I’m getting a little lightheaded, so when Millie places a plate in front of me after bringing dishes to the table, telling me to dig in, I don’t waste any time.
I eat until I’m so full I couldn’t possibly handle another bite, and when I shove my plate away and glance up, I find Hunter staring at me with a slight grin.
WhenthedoortoLuca and Austin’s house swings open, I’m met with a grin and the most unusual set of gray eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Theo, I’m so glad you could make it,” the man says, his already impossibly wide smile somehow growing bigger. “I’m Luca. Come on in.”
I swallow hard, trying to tamp down my nerves. I didn’t sleep worth a shit last night, and I wasn’t expecting this level of excitement.
Stepping through the door before I can talk myself out of it, I take a look around. This place is cute. Small and homey, with none of the clinical touches I grew so used to with Damien. It’s also nothing like my run-down apartment at home.
Luca waves me toward him and sits on the couch. “Have a seat.”
Following him, I sit down beside him, crossing one knee over the other and wrapping my arms around my stomach in an attempt to shield myself. From what, I’m not sure. But it feels necessary. “Thank you for inviting me.”
He nods. “I’m glad you decided to come. Austin’s working today, but I thought we could hang out. Maybe I could make lunch?”
“That would be alright, I think.” Although I ate so much last night that I spent the first few hours in my rented bed wondering if I was going to throw it all back up. I’ll have to be careful to pace myself.
Luca pats his thighs. “So…”
“So,” I echo.
It’s strange being here, staring into the eyes of the man who suffered the same fate as me. I don’t know what to do or what to say or how to act. I thought this would feel different. Not that this feels bad per se, but… I don’t know.
“Is there anything you want to talk to me about?” Luca asks softly, his voice dropping like he’s trying to keep from being overheard even though no one is around.
The only thing that comes to mind is, “How long did he abuse you?”
He bites his bottom lip. “Seven years.”
I blink, then blink again. “Our divorce was finalized seven years ago.”
