“Yours, honey. Always yours. Come on, let’s go to bed. You can sleep with me tonight. I’ll cuddle you if you can keep your hands to yourself.”
“That’s got to be the first time you’ve said that to a girl,” I snort.
Wrapped in Ian’s warm arms, I feel better, a little less lonely. But as I drift off to sleep I dream of thick biceps covered in tattoo flowers.
I wake with a new determination to get on with my life. It’s not the first time I’ve had my heart broken. Maybe someday I’ll actually learn from it. Ian makes me promise to call him every day when he drops me at my apartment.
At least I have my book group as a distraction. I don’t want to spend any more time thinking about Mason. After a quick shower, I head to Bellini’s to meet up with everyone. The back dining room is buzzing with laughter and conversation as the half lit women discuss the latest erotica book.
“The writing was awful!” Janet exclaims. “I’ve never seen so many adverbs.”
“Who cares?” Bridgette challenges. “The sex scenes were scorching. I don’t read erotica for the grammar any more than I watch Magic Mike for the stellar acting.” Everyone laughs and the discussion rattles on. Marie signals for me to join her in the back, and she doesn’t look happy.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She grabs my arm and tugs me onto the patio. All the tables are empty except for one. Macy sits slumped over in her chair, her head in her hands as her elbows rest on the table. “Show her, honey. You can trust Ev.”
Pitiful bloodshot eyes meet mine and I’m filled with anger at the sight of her face. Her bottom lip is split and her top is swollen and puffy. She sighs as I sit beside her. “What happened?”
“It looks worse than it is. Marie’s making too much of it.”
“Who hit you?”
“He’s so pissed because I won’t take him back.”
“Al did this?”
“He calls my job all day. I’m lucky I haven’t been fired. I’ve been staying with a friend, and he bangs on her door every night, then parks across the street for hours when I won’t answer.”
“Have you called the police?”
“No! Who knows what he’d do!” Her eyes are wide and terrified as she stands to leave. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Stop.” I grab her hand and stare her in the eye. “We aren’t going to do anything you don’t want us to.”
“Ev, he’s stalking her. He hit her. She needs to press charges,” Marie insists.
“And he’ll be out of jail the next day looking for her.”
“Exactly,” Macy sighs, relieved I understand her position.
“Is there somewhere safe you can stay tonight? You’re welcome to come home with me.”
“I…you don’t have to do that.”
“Please, let me help.” I explain all about Striking Back and the services they provide. “They can protect you. Get you the legal help to keep him away from you. I work with them, and they’re wonderful people. We can go in the morning.”
“Thank you.” She hugs me. “I feel so stupid.”
“Don’t. You didn’t ask for this, and you were smart to leave when he got controlling. Come home with me. I’ll tell you about my month. Show you the true definition of stupid.” We laugh and after Macy calls her friend to bring her a change of clothes, we head to my apartment.
We’re relaxing with two huge bowls of ice cream when Mason texts me.
-Evie, please call me. It’s not what it looks like.-
Noting my expression, Macy asks, “Is that him?”
“Yes. I’m not calling him.” It’s so hard not to talk to him, but I won’t let this go any further. I’ve been cheated on before and I won’t deal with it again.
