Coraline
Iwatch Gavin’s pained blue eyes stay on Merelyn’s bagged body.
The pain is too much, and I don’t know how to stomach it.
She’s dead because she tried to save me.
Because of someone in my past. Because of Maya.
His only family up here in these mountains is now gone.
A sense of guilt eats at me even though I know it’s not my fault, but still. I feel responsible for everyone’s pain.
I should have left when I had the chance; maybe she would still be alive. I palm my face in my hands as I choke back the sobs in the back of the ambulance.
“That was the last stitch. You took it like a champ.” The paramedic’s lips curve into a genuine, friendly smile. I try to return it with my own, but nothing reflects. Nothing moves. I feel numb and horrified by the past few hours.
My best friend. My co-worker. My shoulder, I thought I could cry and laugh on, was the one after me the entire time. She was in love with Liam to the point that it drove her crazy. She hid her hatred for me so well.
I don’t understand what I ever saw in him. Hell, I don’t know what Lilly or Maya did.
The medic places a warm blanket over me.
“Gavin Ariksen. Half of the town is scared of him, and the other half is trying to date him. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you came into my care.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so protective of anyone who wasn’t Merelyn.
Are you guys together?” She looks me up and down after staring at Gavin.
I blink rapidly at her, dumbfounded. I tighten my grip on the blanket that wraps around my chest and stomach.
“After all that’s happened, you’re asking me about this?” I look at her with evident disgust written all over my face. I shake my head at her disdainfully. I can’t even fathom or accept Merelyn’s death, and she’s asking me about my dating life?
“I’m sorry for asking; that was inappropriate.
” She clears her throat and stands. She pulls off her gloves.
I had to get ten stitches where Maya hit me in the back of my head.
Then she pulls out her phone and taps away on the screen.
I continue to glare at her. “I’ve been a paramedic for almost ten years.
I’ve become a little desensitized to trauma.
I deeply apologize.” She turns off her phone and gives me a small smile. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Those five words don’t do anyone’s grief justice.
Nothing will. I’ve grown attached to Merelyn in such a short amount of time.
Gavin not only lost someone close to him but also the only person he talked to.
Georgia was quickly transported to the local hospital.
She sustained a significant amount of blood loss, but the medics reassured us she’ll be okay.
The paramedic, whose name never settled into my memory, walks away, giving me space and time to think.
Gavin continues to talk to the local policeman, his broad arms resting on his chest. This man makes anything look sexy.
That same butterfly flaps in the pit of my stomach, loosening my tense nerves for a second.
For a swift moment, I forget about the pain.
I forgot about what we just went through.
No one has made me feel that way. Only he has that effect on me.
Whenever I see him take a breath, it silences my insecurities.
The voice in my head telling me I’m not enough goes mute.
My art did that for him, and that’s why he felt inclined to search for me.
I made him feel seen—less alone. The reality of my art leaves gratitude in my soul.
I didn’t fully grasp the impact art has on another broken soul searching for the same things I am whenever I pick up a pencil.
I can’t stop dreaming. If I ever stop drawing for myself, I have to keep going for others.
That is motivation alone to keep going. No matter what.
For the first time in weeks, the sun emerges, shining a bright golden light mixed with purple and pink shades against the stone texture of Gavin’s house.
I glance around the surrounding mountains, drinking in the mesmerizing beauty of the landscape.
The mountains. The snow. The trees and the wildlife that call it home.
Sometimes, I forget just how beautiful this planet is.
The sound of a cop car’s sirens filters through my ears from a distance. I watch the cop slow down as it fights its way through the feet of snow. It stops once it’s behind the fire truck. Gavin’s land is full of cops, detectives, medical personnel, and firefighters.
A man emerges from the backseat, swinging the door frantically. As soon as he steps out, his feet slip, and his forearm connects violently with the hood of the cop car to keep him upright. My brows narrow at him curiously, and a twinge of familiarity pulls in my heart.
What the hell is Liam doing here?
My nostrils flare, my blood turns hot, and I swear I think I could hit something—specifically, him.
He looks straight at me, and I straighten my back, clawing at my thighs, full of anxiety.
He picks up his pace, jogging and tripping over the feet of snow, clearly struggling like he doesn’t know how to maneuver through it.
He’s in a thick coat with jeans and a winter beanie that hangs down the sides of his ears.
“Coraline!” he shouts. I roll my eyes at the sound of his voice.
I turn away from him, giving him a cold shoulder. I don’t want to see, hear, or speak to him unless he’s going to tell me how he got here so fast and that he’s ready to sign the divorce papers. I swear if he had anything to do with Maya trying to murder me...
I’m sure he’ll be investigated.
I look toward Gavin, who is already making his way to me. He stalks thunderously as Matt looks at him with a confused look on his face. He keeps his death glare planted on Liam.
“Coraline! I’m so glad I’ve found you! Are you hurt, my love?
” he pants, leaning on the door of the ambulance with his forearm.
He tries to pull my hand and thread his fingers with mine in a comforting way, but I pull away and flinch.
A gold fleck shines underneath the sunlight. He’s still wearing his wedding band.
Fuck him.
“Liam, what the hell are you doing here?”
His face sinks, full of regret.
“I’m still your emergency contact.” He continues to pant, out of breath.
“Maya told me you were here and that you disappeared! Everyone back home is worried about you. Your mom. Your dad. Your siblings. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for months now.
I-I still love you. I’ve needed to say that to you.
I’m so glad you’re okay, and I’m so damn sorry. ”
Wow. He continues to lie to me, but I see right through him. I scoff, disgusted.
“Maya is dead. She tried to kill me over you.” I tut.
“What the hell? Why would she do that?” he asks, his cheeks reddening.
“Really, Liam? Apparently, she’s in love with you. As if my best friend wasn’t enough, you got with Maya, too? Sign the divorce papers. I want nothing to do with you. I’m ready to close this horrific chapter of my life.”
“I was lost. I was fucking anyone and anything that gave me attention. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.
I promise I’ll do better. Don’t give up on us.
” He leans in, embarrassed. He doesn’t want anyone to hear.
“We’ll talk about this somewhere more private.
I want to make sure you’re okay first, and then I’ll take you to dinner,” he offers.
Liam reaches forward and brushes my hair behind my ear.
My stomach coils at his touch. As soon as he lingers, a massive hand reaches forward and punches Liam straight to the chin.
He falls to the floor, blood already leaking out of his mouth and nose.
He keeps going, assaulting him with plain black fury in his darkened eyes.
Gavin’s fists are bloody, and Liam’s nose is obviously broken by the way it’s in a different direction.
I can’t do anything but watch. The paramedics scatter, and a group of policemen let it happen for a moment.
Gavin lifts him back from his collar and throws him until he collides with the ambulance door, letting out a frustrated whine.
Clearly still dazed, he looks at Gavin with fear and shock.
Before Gavin can continue to pummel, he’s held back by three police officers.
One stands in the middle, using his body as a wall to prevent Gavin from killing Liam.
The other two hold him back by his biceps.
“Get the fuck away from her, or I’ll kill you.” Gavin intervenes, standing in front of me like my guardian knight.
“Hey, you get the hell away from her. That’s my wife! I’m her husband.” Liam stands back up, puffing his chest. He stands at his full five feet nine, compared to Gavin’s well over six feet stature. I want to laugh. Liam couldn’t hurt a fly, and he thinks he can intimidate Gavin? Comedy.
Gavin’s angry, clearly seeing red. The veins in his neck and hands bulge. He doesn’t have his jacket on because it’s covered in Merelyn’s blood.
“You don’t have any claim on her anymore. I made it very clear who has her now these past few weeks—every night, all night.”
My heart flips in my chest. Gavin’s possessiveness drips into his tone. Liam’s scowl transforms into one of hurt as he soaks in Gavin’s insinuation.
“You don’t get the honor of looking at her.
If you ever come close to her again, I’ll bury you.
” He grabs him by the collar and restrains him in the air.
“Now get the fuck off my land.” He snarls before launching him to the ground.
He skids across the icy foundation and stops right before Matt’s feet.
Liam’s confidence drops as he settles on his elbows, flicking his gaze to me, then back to Gavin.
I don’t care that he knows what I’ve been up to these past few weeks. I just found out one of his mistresses tried to kill me because he won’t sign the divorce papers. Who knows how many other women there are?
“Coraline is still my wife, motherfucker!” he spits, his limbs sputtering as he tries to stand. He slips and falls and lands in Matt’s arms this time. He lurches forward trying to attack, but Matt holds him back by his elbows.
“I don’t give a fuck. A piece of paper doesn’t make you her husband. It’s material. It doesn’t mean anything.” With a confident, sly grin, Gavin walks closer to him and leans into his ear. Liam flinches, his face red with anger. “I enjoyed your beautiful wife.”
I’m in a trance, watching Gavin stand up for me. My mouth gapes open, cheeks burning, completely breathless, and in shock.
“Let’s go, buddy. We have some questions to ask you anyway.
” Another officer joins in and pulls Liam by the arms. They whisk him away as Liam continues to bellow insults at us, but I can’t hear him over my thundering heart.
Liam has no effect on me anymore. Gavin fucked it all away and imprinted himself instead with a connection that sparks.
Gavin turns to me with a vacant look on his handsome face. We’ve gone through the investigation with the cops, but now it’s my turn to talk to him about everything.
Where do we go from here?