I've Got You

By Bridget Jean

Alexis is being forced to leave everything that she has known all her life because of her crazy ex-boyfriend. Her job, her friends, her home and her sister, Stephanie. In order to accomplish this, she must depend on her sister's boyfriend, Eric, whom she has never met until now. Her sister's life is hanging in the balance and in this man's hands. He moves her hours away into his trusted best friend's guest house. Kaden comes into Alexis' life strong, bold and very protective. She teaches him how to love with humor and acceptance. He teaches her to be strong and have fun. They bring out very different sides to one another. Their relationship builds quickly with emotional explosiveness in and out of the bedroom. Is this a relationship that can survive despite themselves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bridget Jean
• Release date: Feb 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370411641

Bridget Jean

I am a Mama to six beautiful children as well as an undisclosed number of their friends. I have been writing and reading all my life. I love all types of genres. Music is also very important to me. Outside of writing and reading, I enjoy spending family time with playing games and going on new adventures to see what nature has to offer us. Life is beautiful and only limited by our imagination!

Book preview

Chapter One: Stalking Admission

The night dragged on in slow motion, as if it was sand in an hourglass; really slow, descending sand. The rain picked up, hammering against the windows, turning the night dreary and menacing to look at. The thick cloud cover held the moon at bay not allowing it to shine much at all. There aren’t many outside lights, so the street is pretty much dark. Shadows etched all around. They hide what lurks in the dark. Is there anything or anyone lurking out there? It was a pondering question that I did not have an answer to, nor would I. Unanswered questions do not settle right deep within my soul, especially when they were wrapped up in my current situation. A situation, mind you, that I have absolutely no idea how to begin to deal with.

I paced the living room waiting for my older sister, Stephanie, to come home. She should have been here by now, but with her job there was no telling how long she would work after her eight hour shift was completed. We both worked at the little coffee diner down in town, Bella’s Baby. It was small, but the pay wasn’t bad. Customers were usually regular ones and thankfully for us they liked to tip pretty decently. Of course, that’s not always the case, but usually it is. Whatever the case, it allowed us to remain in our grandparent’s home.

Stephanie and I inherited this house several years ago when our parents passed away on a night much like tonight. They were caught out in the torrential downpours. Their tiny car hydroplaned in a dipping curve that sent them airborne into a telephone pole before topping them over into a wooded ravine. They both died at the scene of the accident. They were only about five miles from home.

It was a night that Stephanie and I would never forget in our entire lives, probably wouldn’t forget it in the afterlife either. We had fallen asleep in the living room after watching a movie. We were waiting for them to come home from their friend’s birthday party. The pounding on the door came around midnight. It startled us. I remember opening the blinds to see who was making such a racket at that time of night, especially in that type of horrific weather. Seeing the flashing lights on the cop car at the road, a dread came over me cloudy with dark confusion. They didn’t even pull in the driveway. Till this day, that fact still bothers me. It was so impersonal to me. It was like a light shining in the dark that surrounded the situation. It brightened up and flashed in my eyes. I remember closing the blinds and parking my ass right back down on the old floral lumpy couch that was about as old as time.

Stephanie stretched before she even stood up. She gave me a ‘What the hell?’ look. She crossed to the door opening it with an attitude. My frightened stare watched as she stood there registering who they were. As soon as her sleepy eyes focused, she let out a heart piercing scream that I would hear for months after the accident. At times, I still hear her screaming in my dreams. Her hands were on the side of her face when she fell to her knees.

Both of the police officers tried to gather her up off the floor. I was frozen on the couch staring in complete shock. No screams, no tears and no words. Nothingness captured me like a prisoner, holding me so tight I dared not react to the breathlessness that encased me. The taller officer called out to me, gaining my attention. He almost looked like he had fear on his face when I finally peered in closer on his slackened face. Looking back, I knew it was fear over my reaction to the situation. They both dragged my weeping sister over to the loveseat. It was like she had no bones in her body at that point and I had absolutely no emotions. We were a perfect combination.

Shaking like the leaves on the tree being whipped around in the howling winds, I rubbed my hands up and down my arms. It wasn’t cold in the house, but it was cold outside. Watching the rain in the shadows darkened my mood. The memories of my parents did not help any at all. They were supposed to be here with us. They were supposed to be able to watch us get married, have kids. They would miss out on so much in our lives, but not as much as we will miss them not being here to be able to experience it with us. It was a sad existence that threatened to overtake us at any given moment.

Stephanie slowly pulled into the gravel driveway. It appeared she was going fairly slowly in the weather. That’s good! Neither of us feared driving, but now we take extra precautions in it. The taillights shined in the window before going dark. A few minutes later, she came stomping in the side door through the kitchen. She hollered, I’m home Alex! I sighed a huge breath of relief. I guess that was a fear that I would never truly get over.

My head moved away from the window, How was work? I asked the soaked woman standing in the kitchen. I would have laughed if I wasn’t still kind of caught up in the emotional tirade of the weather outside.

We both have worked in the coffee diner since we were old enough to work. We worked our way up from the back washing dishes to the front waiting on customers. Working there so many hours has taken its toll on both of us with sore bodies and drained brains. You get to know too many folks in town and hear all the gossip whether you want to hear it or not. That’s the price we pay for living in a small town as well. It can be very entertaining at times though.

Walking into the long narrow kitchen, I saw her stomping excess rain from her shoes. She hung up her jacket and umbrella. Not that an umbrella would really matter in the mess outside. The wind whirled the rain around making it impossible to shelter oneself from it. She placed her hands on her waist, a sign of an onset of gripping.

You know I love that job, but not tonight. I swear the weather brought out all the damn crazies! I got stiffed, not much in tips and that new dishwasher tried to make a pass at me. She blew her wet hair out of her eyes. I mean, he’s not my type. Ewww! If it had been any other time in my life, I would have asked her more questions, but not tonight. My mind and heart was heavy with burden.

She poured herself some coffee and embellished it with creamer and sugar. We usually always had some in the pot. Taking a sip, she peeked at me over the rim of the coffee cup. Stephanie would wait for me to talk to her before she ever asked. She learned many years ago to not to push me into talking. Nowadays, Stephanie held on in silence. If I made her wait too long, she’d start fidgeting. Tonight wasn’t a night to antagonize her though. I knew without a shadow of a doubt her mind was also on our parents.

Steph, I’m moving out, my calculated reaction somersaulted in the distance between us. She spit coffee out of her perfectly formed lips across the kitchen flooring. I knew before I seen her react what she was going to do. My fingers traced the marble countertop. Yeah, I wasn’t in the mood to see her sunken, shocked face that would flow to disbelief before settling into a distraught feature.

What’s going on Alex? The truth, she asked and stated after she composed herself while I still followed the broken runaway lines of the countertop. Those last two stated words were the deal breaker for me. If I wanted to cover anything up, there was no way I could do that if she said those words. It has gotten me in and out of trouble numerous times, but I have always stuck to the creed I feel by those two overwhelming words used together.

Inside, I wanted to tell her, but the outside did not want her to see just how bad things have gotten for me. Maybe I should have waited until it was a better time to approach this. With the weather the way it is, we both had our minds on our parents. This kind of weather always reverted us back to that dreadful night that significantly changed our lives forever. Yes, it has been several years, but still we remembered every horrid detail. I inhaled deeply before exhaling trying to contain the outbreak that was going to happen. There would be no stopping it because it will happen. I’m just going to try to make it as easy as possible. If that was even an option, that is.

I grabbed a coffee cup out of the cupboard that really needed to be refinished or painted. It was peeling and stained from being so old just like everything else in this place. It’s something I really need you to hear me out about Stephanie, I had that matter-of-fact look upon my face. I used her full name as well. That would give me the attention required for her to stay glued and focused into the conversation. Her cup was placed down on the counter as I filled mine up. I added the correct flavoring and took a slow sip of it. It flowed down my throat almost making me moan with pleasure. One thing in this world that I adore is coffee. It is the very substance of my life.

Stephanie tapped her perfectly manicured nails on the countertop growing impatient with me. I told you I broke up with Jefferson, I slowly began. Her back immediately stiffened. She never liked him and I mean never, not even an ounce in the beginning. I started dating him two years ago and Stephanie told me from get go that she didn’t trust him. I chalked it up to her being the older overprotective sister. She denied it several times when we would spat about me going out with him.

"There is something sinister about him. Her truthful words sprang to mind now that I had caught a glimpse of who he really was. She didn’t know though. I shielded her from him for so long now. It started out slowly. Doesn’t it always? In the movies, everyone else knows but the woman it’s happening to. Well, that is exactly how it has played out for me in real life. He’s not really been okay with the breakup."

She flipped her hand in the air, I knew that Alex. Remember after you two broke up? He would call a thousand times a day. She rolled her eyes. My eyes stared at a lopsided picture of fruit hanging on the wall opposite of me. Little wooden fruit with faces were on both sides of it. Their little painted on faces stared back at me with smiles. What aren’t you telling me Alexis? Her tone was far off in her questioning.

I craned my head back to her with my chin slightly at an angle making her almost sideways in my vision. I think he’s stalking me, the confession slammed out of me in a normal voice. How can this sound so normal? Like my life is supposed to be this way? My head fell back to face the ceiling, I exhaled hard through my nostrils.

I straightened back up and gave my head a roll around. Sitting my coffee cup on the counter beside me, I crossed my arms over my chest. He’s everywhere I go now. I held my arms tightly so that my tone could match my body language. Silence answered me. She was waiting for me to finish. At first, I thought I was just running into him because I wanted to avoid him, but now he’s almost everywhere I am.

I could see her mouth hanging open in my peripheral vision. Her green eyes were wide. This is a small town Alex, she tried rationally stating. I knew that was coming. I really expected it sooner. My mouth remained closed. She was going to have to let it set in for a minute. Giving her time will help it along. He’s done something, hasn’t he? Her voice was low with the question. She knew I was hiding more than I was saying. That’s one thing about being close with someone, they knew how to read you whether you wanted them to or not.

Without looking at her I lifted the side of my shirt revealing light bruises of his handprint on my waist. She exclaimed out a bit hard, What the fuck Alexis? When did this happen? Her overprotective sister voice boomed loudly in the small kitchen.

Last week, I finally faced her. He was at the grocery store when I came out. I walked past him trying to ignore him. She was at my side inspecting the area. Her fingers lightly touched the bruise. It didn’t hurt anymore, but it hurt like hell when it first happened after I got over the initial shock of it.

That son of a bitch! I will kill him! Her mood darkened like the night. I heard the anger in her tone and knew that she meant to do just that even if only inside of her own head.

I inhaled deeply through my nose and held my breath for a moment trying not to get caught up in her emotions or mine for that matter. Her eyes pierced mine as she stood in front of me. He’s done more hasn’t he? My eyes left hers. She came right back into my line of sight. Through gritted teeth she hissed, Hasn’t he? I blinked and nodded. He is threatening you? No reaction. What did he say?

I gulped back the lump in my throat. I’ll be damned if I’m going to cry over that asshole! I waited a few breaths before telling her, That he would make my life hell if I didn’t come back to him. She was steaming mad. Her nostrils flared as she sucked in air that she blew out between her straight lips. It’s easier if I just leave, I reasoned my motives behind moving.

Her hands were on her hips and her body visibly was beginning to shake. Absolutely not! We know every cop in this town. I’ll stand with you and help. I rolled my eyes at the same time I circled my head around.

He knows the same cops. Remember he is the mayor’s son? My flat voice answered her and asked her. They are too rich. They will pay this off and sweep it under the rug. That would be so easy with their influence and money.

She grabbed my shoulders shaking me. Are you fucking kidding me? You’re going to let him win! Her eyes were dark green now filled with anger. Her fingers dug into my shoulders. My head rocked back and forth as she shook me. I allowed her to do so. Her being upset was much better than burying her in the ground. I wouldn’t breathe a word of that either. He gave me an ultimatum that he knew I would take to heart. If I left he’d leave my sister alone, if I stayed and not go back to him then he’d have her killed making it look like an accident like my parents.

If I had money, I’d fake my death to get rid of him instead of just leaving. He’s tearing my world apart. I couldn’t breathe and he didn’t care. His viciousness when he venomously spat the words at me made me believe he would do as he threatened. That night was almost two weeks ago. I agonized over it ever since. I had no doubt that he could pay someone off to do his bidding. Where that left me was leaving my childhood home, town, and the only family I had left.

I thought about asking Stephanie to go with me, but she loved this town. In the quiet of the night, I played every scenario in my head. Nothing seemed to work out but the one I’m working on. If I leave, she will be safe and I will be out of this place. That was the second thing that I despised about all of this. I love this town. I love the people. I love almost everything here. It was the only place on this Earth that was home and it was being ripped away from me by an insane childish jerk.

You can’t leave, tears trickled down her pale face. I only have you in my life left. The words grabbed my heart fiercely. Controlling breaths weren’t working like they usually did. Of course, not since my parents died have I ever really wanted to cry. Not at movies, not at books, not at break ups, not at anything else and not even over other people that we have known passing away. I’m not stone, but showing emotions was not an option for me. But now, I felt the unwelcome tears well up in my eyes.

I have to go Stephanie. There is no other choice. The thing is I have absolutely no where to go. None! We didn’t have any other family members that we even know. Leaving my sister is going to kill me on such a personal level. I depended on her more than I ever let her know. She was my emotions that ruptured when life got too much. She was the fun easy going one that I lived through vicariously. She wore her heart on her sleeve so I didn’t have to. Where is that going to leave me? It’s going to leave me a mess that I have no idea how to handle. I can handle her with all her moodiness. That’s not me though. That’s not how I wanted to live my life.

Her tears flowed down on my tee shirt soaking it. Her wet hair strands smelled of rain, coffee and cooked food. My body was as stiff as a board. She hugged me harder as she started falling toward the floor. Typical Stephanie, she tried hard to maintain, but her emotions were always from one side of the spectrum to the other side. She was really up or down, literally. I slumped with her to the floor allowing her to hold me as she wept. That’s how it has always been. Knowing that this was a closing to an end, I allowed a few tears to slip down my face.

She hiccupped through the non dripping tear sobbing. Her breathing was slower now that she was calming down. Her body was exhausted from it. She played with a small hole in my pajama bottoms. I’m not sure how long we stayed on the floor. It seemed like forever, but I wasn’t rushing her. She was dealing with something I’ve been dealing with for a few weeks now.

Alex, I have a friend that I think can help. She straightened up, gathering herself. I cocked my head at her not really knowing what to say. He’s a cop. He’s a friend. I trust him completely. Her words were precise as she knew I had questions already swarming in my head and the fact that I am sure I looked as if I didn’t understand what she was trying to convey to me. I narrowed my green eyes at her with my head still slanted.

She averted her eyes down for a brief minute. I saw a ghost of a smile play on her lips. My eyes bored holes into hers. He’s a good man. His name is Eric. He’s only been in town for about six months. Oh, there was so much more to this story. I didn’t pry though. She would come clean about him when she was ready. She probably was already ready, but I held it off until a later date. Let me talk with him before you do anything.

Heavily, I sighed. Okay, her shocked look surprised me. You talk to your friend and we’ll see where we go from there. Leaving was something that I really did not want to do. If she can come up with alternative method, then so be it.

Her eyes searched my face like I was going to tell her it was a joke. It wasn’t. If there was any other way, then I am more than willing to find it out. Oh, thank you! Her arms hugged tightly around me. She pulled back. You have tear stains on your cheeks. You cried? Her astonishment almost made me laugh. I just smiled and shook my head. You really are scared, aren’t you? She tenderly asked.

Closing my eyes, I let my head go up and down to let her know that I’m scared. Now, I’m feeling a bit relieved. If she has a cop friend and I would bet to say that he’s a bit more than a friend, then I feel better knowing that she might have a hero on her side. My side would be left for the birds, but if she is safe then I’m satisfied with that for the moment. I have to give it a try. I have to give it a chance. It might work out in the end. It might not, but right now I have something I hadn’t had when she came home. I have hope.

We both helped one another stand up. We laughed when we almost fell over sideways. She’s clumsy to say the least. I’m the sturdy one. I’m the one she clings to. I’m the younger sister, but it’s me that she seeks her comfort from as well as her strength. That was molded years ago with the death of our parents. She crashed and I stood tall not allowing anything or anyone affect me. I was the strong one that made all the arrangements. I’m the one who provided the eulogy. I’m the one that did everything while I catered to her mindlessly trying to function and she barely done that.

Stephanie’s brown hair hung in strands. She needed to go take a shower. I wouldn’t breathe a word to her about it though. She refilled both our coffee cups. She added the same amount of flavoring to both of them. I smiled knowing that we had that in common as well. She handed me the cup. Her eyes were red from crying and the green was vivid. I followed her into the small overstuffed living room.

With the cup down on the end table, I flopped into the old lumpy couch. We talked about getting rid of it for a long time, but neither of us could part with it. It held so many great memories. If things didn’t go well for me, I would have to leave all my memories like this behind. I would be starting over in a new place with close to nothing that reminded me of home. Sure my belongings that I could fit in my little compact car would go with me, but nothing else. No couch that reminded me of sitting here for many hours watching sappy romance movies with Mom or arguing with Dad over the sports games on the television.

I figured that is what we’d do now, watch television. Stephanie had her cell phone in her hand texting someone. Taking a drink of my coffee, I watched her profile. She looked so small sitting down on her end of the couch. She stole a glance at me, I’m texting Eric to see if he’s home or at work. My eyes furrowed at her questioningly. She didn’t give me an explanation though. Their relationship definitely had more meat in the sandwich than she was letting on.

A few minutes later, her phone chirped out. She picked it up and scrolled through the messages. She texted the person back. He’s on his way over now. Should I ask her now or wait? I think I will wait to see how they interact with one another. It’s the easiest way to go and frankly, I really wasn’t up for conversation. Stephanie did not need to know how messed up I am on the inside.

We both sat on the couch staring at the blank screen of the television. We really needed to get a new one. Even with our little nest egg we didn’t allow ourselves to splurge. The bills were the main objective. Even with both of us working, at times the utilities bills cost us our entire checks if it was a bad week. The nest egg left behind from our parents was enough to ensure the taxes and insurance was paid for. Not sure how long it will last if we both stayed at our current jobs, but we’d make it last as long as we could.

Mother Nature wasn’t letting up outside. The winds shook against the house. The rain was coming down so fast in sheets visibility was about near impossible. Silence filled the room. What is there to say? I’m sure Stephanie’s mind is going a thousand miles a minute. I know mine is. Can her friend help with the situation? Only time will tell. I cannot fathom the idea of leaving and being alone in this world. I am accustomed to my life. I guess everyone is, but it’s what I have clung to. I clung and Stephanie embraced. She grabbed life by the horns and took every opportunity that she could.

Losing Mom and Dad really shook my foundation. It left a void that can never be replaced. I grieved so long over the fact that they would miss out on various prospects of our lives. I sat and held Stephanie many nights. Even if I didn’t shed a tear, I was crushed. For the longest time, I expected to come home and see them. Closing my eyes, I wished they were here now. Hearing my Mom’s soft voice would be music to my ears. Her voice was always soft even when she was fussing at us for whatever we done wrong.

The weather is bad. He has to go through the death curve, Stephanie chewed on her fingers. She didn’t dare touch her nails though. She started relating the deep sunken, curvy road where Mom and Dad hydroplaned as the death curve. The shoulder dipped down in the curve letting rain water gather there. She drew her knees up in front of her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Her hands tightly holding her elbows, worry is starting to take her over.

He’s a cop. He’s trained to go through this type of weather. It was a small hope for her, but maybe she will take it. She needed to. Her face was growing paler as the minutes clicked by.

Bright headlights swung into the driveway. Thank goodness! Now, maybe she will relax. She hurried to the side door waiting for him to enter. His tall self opened the screen door and closed it quickly before the wind blew it off the hinges. I watch him shake off a bit. Then he took his hat off hanging it on the peg next to the door. They spoke in small whispers not allowing me to hear what they were saying. Did she tell him to keep quiet about their relationship? That wouldn’t matter and she knows it. I can read her and most anyone like a book.

He wiped his feet off on the rug before taking his coat off. His wide shoulders peeked out from behind her frame. His dark hair is wet even though he wore a hat. See, I told you those winds let the rain trample anywhere and everywhere. Stephanie walked over to the coffee pot and poured him a cup of coffee. He stood there dripping on the carpet rubbing his big hands together. I wish they’d come in here. He accepted the cup of coffee from her hands with a nice smile.

He took a few sips before nudging his head toward the living room. Stephanie’s brown haired head nodded at him. She turned around with a smile on her face, but it dropped quickly. Oh yeah, there is definitely something more to their relationship. She hasn’t breathed a word to me at all about him. Never once has she mentioned a guy named Eric. Why? Why didn’t she want me to know about him? It’s not like I would have cared either way. I want her to be happy. If he makes her happy then there is no problem.

Standing in the tiny living room his presence was massive. He’s much broader than I first thought. He extended his big hand out to me. I’m Eric Steele, I shook his firm handshake. It’s nice to meet you. I barely tipped the corners of my mouth up as response. I eyed him over. His hazel eyes were friendly with a tint of nervousness. That’s good, he should be nervous. But that also told me more about his feelings. If he is nervous then he wants to make a very good impression. He indeed likes my sister.

Stephanie remained unusually quiet. Her little bubbly personality was in check which means she is waiting for me to access Eric and give away what I thought by my words. Where I knew her, she also knew me better than anyone else. He stood there looking between the both of us. Stephanie took her place on her end of the couch and offered him the chair. Our Dad’s chair. The old thing creaked underneath his frame. He looks well defined underneath that uniform clinging to his body. It gave a girl a nice look at his physique.

Eric moved his elbows down on his thighs holding the coffee cup with both hands between his long legs. Stephanie told me a little bit about what is going on, but can I have your version? No note taking notebook. He’s my sister’s friend sitting there wanting to talk. I sighed heavily.

A long, pregnant minute flew by while I tried to find the words. I focused on the television across from me. I broke up with Jefferson Quick as in Mayor Quick’s son about four months ago. At first, he called a million times a day or would show up while I was at work begging me to come back to him. My head shook from side to side. Am I really sitting here talking about this with a complete stranger? What has the world come to? Of course, he’s a cop though and I really needed his help. He didn’t pry for me to continue. I did see him take a few glances at Stephanie in my peripheral vision though before I continued. Then one night he shows up after my shift being all crazy nice. When I didn’t take to his advances he grabbed my wrist bruising it.

Stephanie’s head snapped my way. You told me that a drunken customer did that! Her words were sharp and rose slightly. The only thing I could do was stare off into space shrugging one shoulder. Eric’s big hand told her to be quiet. Funny thing is, she actually did. Turning to her I narrowed my eyes. We both held our tongues.

I decided to continue. A week later, he pushed me against the wall trying to kiss me. It didn’t end well for him. My knee found his crotch, I proudly stated. Eric chuckled at that. Yeah, I might have thought that was funny if my head didn’t have a knot on it from where he really slammed me hard against the brick building. Elaboration would not help the circumstances though. Now, he’s everywhere I go. Everywhere. I don’t care how obscure it is. He’s there. Defeat threatened the tone in my voice.

Eric tilted the coffee cup around looking down into the liquid that remained. Why do you feel you have to leave? Of course a fucking cop would ask that one question that I could not answer. Thinking quickly, I stood up pulling my shirt up to show him the hand mark around my waist. Jesus, he whispered. When did he do that? My body started to tremble. All this was getting under my skin. Now, here is a strange man looking at what I’ve been dealing with through different eyes. Fresh eyes that seen the threat.

This happened two weeks ago, at least I answered one of his questions.

Eric’s tall figure leaned over the coffee table to get a closer look. Don’t ask me why all of a sudden I felt like an amoeba under a microscope, but I did. He moved his head around at different angles. I clenched my teeth together closing my eyes and turned my head. The threat of tears was stinging my eyes. No tears over that bastard! Inhaling deeply I gained back control as much as I could. I knew my eyes were vivid with the tears pending though. I can make out ridges of his fingerprint. They might be able to get a good example of it and charge him with assault.

My shirt fell back down around my hips when I dropped it. The weight that I’ve lost the past few months was unreal. Who would have thought being scared, worried and every other damn emotion would make someone lose weight? Yeah, I don’t recommend it. At times, I found even drinking coffee was too much for my body. I can’t count how much I’ve bent over the toilet puking my guts out. He’s got to many friends. His father will pay to keep him out of trouble. The sound sounded dead even to my own ears.

Eric sat back down making the old chair groan. I understand. Let me dig around and see what I can come up with. Let me see if I can figure out how far those loyalties reach. I appreciated the sentiment, but knew before he even got back to us about it there would be nothing he could do. The family’s history ran deep and their pockets even deeper. Besides, Jefferson would make his threats true and no one would know the difference. I slighted my head away from them so they couldn’t see my eyes. It gave a tiny shake as I closed my eyes. What aren’t you saying Alexis? Eric prodded me.

I sealed my lips closed. I am not going to say anything with Stephanie in here or even if she wasn’t here. This was my problem and I would do anything to protect her. I can’t live with the fact of her life hanging in the air. Why didn’t I listen to her? If I would have then we wouldn’t even be having this conversation take place. I sighed heavily in the living room. Wasting my life on Jefferson for two years was a bad enough pill to swallow much less the rest of this garbage.

It was very good at the beginning. At first, he was absolutely sweet. He was funny and laughed more than anyone else I knew. His eyes would light up when he talked animatedly about various subjects. His love of fishing, his love of fast cars was on the top of his list. He was so boyish when he asked me out. He was playful when we went out on dates. A year ago, he changed. His moodiness was something to behold. He snapped all the time. He missed date nights and stopped trying to even hold my hand. Out of the blue, his backhand found my cheek one night when I did not let him have sex with me. That was it for me. I bowed out of the relationship quick, fast and in a hurry.

He’s really changed, it was the only answer I could come up with. Talking about my feelings was a foreign concept. It wasn’t something I indulged on. There was no point to it. It caused more hardship than what it was worth. That’s what I thought as the fear started shaking my body. Pulling my knees up, I laid my head down on them.

Alexis, is there something you’re not saying? The truth. Stephanie just had to keep on trying to get to the bottom of whatever was going on in my life. I blew out a deep breath in between my drawn up knees. She knew how to get at me with those words.

With a few tears escaping, I inhaled again controlling my reaction. I steeled my entire body. I then did the one thing that would haunt me forever. I actually lied to them both, That’s all. Even when I said the words, I felt her brace against them. She knew they were a lie. My forehead pressed into my knees as my hands closed into a fist. That degrading motherfucker had me lying to the one person who was all I had in this world! Still trying to control my breathing, I felt like I was going to pass out.

Stephanie harrumphed. Yeah, she knew it was a lie and I know it totally crushed her that I would lie to her. You’re lying, she finally hissed at me. My insides cringed. She called me out and I wouldn’t answer her. I made no movements to respond. I felt her fist slam down at her sides on the couch. Why are you fucking lying? Her shriek barreled in the quiet room. Even the howling winds outside were quiet.

Stephanie, Eric called out her name in a low tone.

Straightening up I dropped my feet to the floor. They both watched me pick up my coffee cup. My hands were a little shaky but not bad enough to tell them how I was really feeling. I took a sip of my coffee. I’m not lying, my voice controlled. I’m so damn proud of myself I could have fist punched the air. My eyes were dead on the television.

Stephanie inclined her head toward me looking in my face. I showed her my face with a little inclination of my own. Time to face the music and see how well I have handled this situation, I swallowed hard. We stared at one another for a good fat minute. I returned to drinking my coffee, crisis averted. She believed the lie or she’d be ranting and raving by now. Okay, her indifference slapped me in the face. Maybe she didn’t believe me as much as I thought she did. Her tone was all I needed to hear.

I’ll be in touch, Eric put his hand over Stephanie’s. Instantly, she turned to face him. She walked him to the door. They talked in low whispers while I sat utterly numb to it all.

Chapter Two: Threats

The time vanished around us the following week. Stephanie and I worked alternate shifts this week. I got the morning birds and she had the night owls. The coffee diner, Bella’s Baby was open twenty-four hours a day all year round. It’s