Chapter 16 #3
“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I’m so, so sorry, Shaw!”
“What? Sorry? Why?”
She turned her face toward his chest, the soft cotton of his henley wet from her tears. “For the last time we talked,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “For what I said. I was so mean.”
Shaw’s hold on her relaxed, and she braced herself for his anger. She was surprised when he cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“Those weren’t your words. They were Briggs’s. I knew that.”
“I still said them.”
“It’s okay, Gretchen. I know you didn’t mean it. None of it. I’ve been worried about you. Really worried. I’ve tried to call you countless times,” Shaw said.
“I blocked your number after our last conversation,” she was forced to confess. “I don’t know how to explain…”
“I called Briggs once, after my calls went unanswered again. He said it was better for you if I stayed away, if I basically showed myself to the door. He said I was a bad reminder of a painful past.”
Gretchen’s tears turned hot with anger. “He said that?!”
“It didn’t stop me from trying to call or email,” Shaw said.
“I didn’t get any emails.” She was pretty sure she knew why. Briggs had most likely gone into her account and deleted them. She rarely checked email because no one ever wrote her, and she didn’t bother using it to talk to anyone because she knew Briggs monitored it.
Gretchen swiped her nose with the back of her hand, wishing she had a tissue. She was a blubbering mess.
“It doesn’t matter, Gretchen. I never listened to anything that man said.” Shaw also had never bothered to hide his disdain for Briggs.
“I’m still sorry. I’ve wanted to call you for months, but I was so ashamed of myself. I was in a really dark place when I said those things. I don’t blame you if you’re angry or if,” she swallowed hard, “if you hate me.”
“I could never hate you, sweet pea. It’s you and me. It’s always been you and me. Us against the world, remember?”
He used to say that to her whenever Mom said something cruel to her, and then in the residential home, whenever she had a nightmare or Marci picked on her.
She’d been devastated when Shaw left for the Navy, even though she understood why he had to go.
“Us against the world,” she repeated. “Wait. How did you know where I was?”
“Theo Storm called me.”
Just when Gretchen thought she’d gotten her tears under control, something else happened to open the floodgates. “He did?” she whispered.
Shaw nodded. “He said Briggs isn’t here with you.”
“I finally got away.”
His eyes darkened with an anger so intense, it took her aback. “There are two parts of that sentence you’re going to have to explain to me. Got away ? That’s a hell of a way to say you left him.”
She bit her lip. “I know.”
“Gretchen…did he hit you?”
She nodded.
Shaw’s expression was pure fury. “Once?”
She hesitated, and Shaw deflated like a balloon.
“He was abusing you? For how long? The whole time?”
Gretchen bit her lip. “No. He didn’t touch me the first couple of years.”
“You were with him for six years , Gretchen. And whenever I talked to you, you acted so happy and in love.”
She didn’t have it in her to confess the truth. In the end, she didn’t have to.
“He was always listening to our conversations, wasn’t he?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I should have known.”
“How? I told you nothing.”
“I knew the guy was way too fucking old for you. It wasn’t okay for a man in his mid-thirties to take an interest in a teenage girl.”
“He never touched me until I was legal,” she said, because she felt like it was something Shaw needed to hear.
“I don’t care. He was a controlling asshole. I should have seen.” Shaw raked a hand over his close-shaven hair, regret cutting deep grooves into his face.
“No, you shouldn’t have. At the beginning, I genuinely thought I was in love with him, and I was happy—or at least, what I thought happy felt like. Since moving to Gracemont, I’ve learned what true happiness is.”
Shaw considered that. “You said you finally got away. You tried before?”
Gretchen quickly recounted the times she’d tried to escape Briggs.
“That woman,” Shaw said, jerking his thumb toward where Destiny’s car had been parked. “She was the friend you ran to the first time?”
Gretchen nodded.
“I really should have let Hellraiser tear into her,” he muttered.
“Remi’s a good friend. She had my back tonight.”
“She did. And I’m glad. So—who’s Theo Storm and why is he saying you’re his?”
Gretchen’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. He said that?” She threw her eyes heavenward, grinning from ear to ear, uncertain why she should be surprised. “Theo’s a big part of the reason why I’m so happy these days.”
Shaw crossed his arms, and he seemed to grow at least six more inches. “He and I are going to have a long talk tomorrow, and believe me, if one single thing about that man feels off, I’m not going to ignore my gut this time, Gretchen—and I don’t give a shit what you say.”
She should probably be annoyed by his highhandedness, but it felt too good to have her big brother back, watching out for her. And, to be honest, she didn’t blame him for not trusting her words. She’d lied to him about Briggs for years.
“I understand.” She gripped his forearm. “Shaw, I promise I’ll never lie to you again. About anything.”
He tapped his knuckles under her chin. “I’ll take that promise. And I’m going to hold you to it.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Nowhere yet. My flight landed a couple hours ago. I rented a car and drove straight here from Dulles. Figured I’d grab some dinner, then find a hotel. Didn’t realize this town was as big as a postage stamp. Is there even a hotel around here?”
Gretchen grabbed his hand. “You can stay with me at Edith’s.”
“Who’s Edith?”
“Technically she’s my landlady, but in reality, she’s my roomie and bestie. She has plenty of rooms, and I know she’d love to meet you.”
“If you’re sure,” he hesitated.
“I’m a million percent sure.”
“Good.” Shaw wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the bar. “Now that I’ve got you back, I’m not in a hurry to let you out of my sight. I was hoping this place served food,” he said, gesturing at Whiskey Abbey.
“Best wings ever.”
Shaw laughed, then placed a kiss on the top of her head.
Just when Gretchen thought life couldn’t get any better.
In one night, she not only had her big brother with her but realized she really did have four true, amazing friends, who would always have her back.
It was all wonderful and perfect…and it was all she could do not to reach for her phone to call Theo.
Because the only thing that would make this night better was if he was here too.