Page 92 of Hating the Boss

The words sounded so foreign on his lips. I almost didn’t believe what I was hearing, even though I knew the truth.

The cop considered what Brad said, hosting an internal debate within himself based on the tight-lipped expression he bore. He let out a sigh and unhooked a small hoop of keys from his belt. He leaned down and unlocked the handcuffs that secured Brad’s wrists.

“Thank you,” said Brad gratefully. He quickly pulled himself to his feet and ran toward me. He knelt in front of me, ignoring the EMTs, who weren’t all that happy he had pushed them aside. Brittany reluctantly stood up and walked toward the ambulance, asking for ice.

Brad reached for my hands still pressed to my stomach, and held them tightly. His eyes searched mine, a frantic storm of gray.

“Sarah…” he breathed.

I swallowed hard. Lifting my chin slightly in silent protest.

“Please,” he said pleadingly. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

I stayed silent.

“Please, tell me what I can do.”

“I don’t know!” I cried out, my cheeks wet with tears.

I was so scared in that moment. So overwhelmed by the cocktail of feelings that had been mixed up inside me.

“Hey…” he said, reaching for my face. His thumb stroked my cheek and I couldn’t help but lean in to his touch.

“Why didn’t you just tell me you were going back to her?” I whispered angrily. “Then maybe she wouldn’t have come to terrorize me.”

“I wasn’t going back to her,” he said, shaking his head firmly.

“But she…” I started, my confusion growing.

“She’s a liar.” Brad scoffed.

“I’m not a liar!” screamed Angela from where she sat on the sidewalk, being babysat by the female cop.

“I almost feel bad for you,” said Brad, turning to face her.

Angela’s face was seething.

“You have nothing. No one. And because of this, you have stooped lower than I ever thought I would see you go. You have no one to blame but yourself,” said Brad calmly.

“Baby, please,” she cried out, her face softening as her eyes began to water.

“I’m not your baby. I’m not your anything. I saw through you then, and I see through you now,” said Brad, his voice cool.

“You don’t mean that…”

“I do. And you know what? It took falling in love with someone else to realize that I didn’t have to be plagued by you forever. There are good people in the world. People who are beautiful inside and out. People who see me for me and not someone they can gain something from. Well, not people…”

Brad turned to me, a sad smile on his lips. My heart broke and healed all at once.

“One person.”

“We have to get her to the hospital,” said one of the EMTs interrupting, placing a hand on Brad’s shoulder.

Brad nodded and stood to get out of the way of the gurney that was rolled over.

As the EMTs helped lift me onto the bed, I reached for Brad, my fingers grabbing onto his coat jacket. He looked at me and tilted his head slightly.

“Did you mean what you said?” I asked.