Page 125 of Slapshot Bride

She closes the laptop. “What did he say?”

“I want you to hear it directly.” I pull my phone out, open the recording. I set it on the coffee table between us. “I recorded it…”

She looks at the phone. Then at me.

I press play.

I watch her face while she listens. She goes very still. Her face hardens, and for the first time, I see it in her.

The instincts to fight back. No longer fear or flight.

When the recording finishes, the room is quiet.

“He mentioned your parents,” she says.

“He’s now playing cheap tricks. He desperately wanted a reaction from me.”

“He still believes you’re keeping me against my will, encouraging me to leave him. I think it’s time I face him directly. Cut off all of the power he has over me. God, I should have done this already. I’ve given him so much power, and he’s taking more and more. But not anymore. I’m done with him, and it’s time I make it clear.”

She grabs my phone off the table.

“Can you send this recording to me?”

I see the fire in her now, and I nod slowly.

She places the laptop on the table and rises to her feet.

“Riley…”

“I need to drive to my parents. I need to see them and tell them the whole truth, and it has to be now. I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of cowering in fear of what he’ll do. He’s gone too far by going after you. I won’t let him ruin you. No, not this time. It’s over, and I need to make it crystal clear.”

I stand up and hold her hand to stop her from heading up the stairs.

“Riley, you don’t have to do this because of me. I can handle myself, and Preston is the least of my problems.”

“I know.” She meets my eyes and releases a deep breath, visibly relaxing. “I want to do it because if I don’t say it now, out loud, to the people who need to hear it, he wins the narrative. And I’m done letting him win anything.”

She shakes her head. “God, I can’t believe I let this go on for so long. I’m so dumb. A simple recording is all it could have taken to take him down.”

“Hey…” I pull her into my arms. “Come on, don’t say that. It’s not normal to record someone you love and trust. It’s completely normal that you never considered that. You loved him wholeheartedly. Don’t blame yourself. You’re smart and stronger than you know, baby.”

I instinctively lean to kiss her temple.

Her arms circle me.

“It’s just… I really could have ended things long ago, but I kept giving and giving, and hoping… thinking it was all for the best. I should have… I should have known better. Walked out the moment it became toxic for my mental health.”

“Shhh…” I place a finger on her lips. “You’re out now, that’s all that matters. And you’ve finally decided to fight back and reclaim your life.”

She nods. “Thank you, Easton. I don’t think I’d have been able to get very far without your help.”

I laugh. My eyes rest on her face, and I laugh again. She looks so cute, second-guessing her strength and intelligence.

“I don’t think you know how strong you are, baby.”

I pull her to my chest, and her arms tighten around me. We stay still for another minute, and I let myself drown in her sweet fragrance, nuzzling her soft, silky hair.

“I'm going to call my mom tonight,” she says, pulling away. “And I’m going to ask my dad if I can see him this week. I need them to see my face when I tell them. I need them to know he’s not who he claims to be. I need to put an end to this.”