The Love Syllabus

Chapter 21A Double Date with Darkness – Kerry

Chapter 21

A Double Date with Darkness – Kerry

T he moment we pull into the parking lot, a strange chill runs down my spine.

It’s probably nothing.

Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off tonight.

Krista spots us the moment we step inside, waving enthusiastically from a booth in the back.

We try to make our way toward her, but there are…

obstacles .

I’m stopped at nearly every turn—former colleagues, childhood friends, parents of students I haven’t seen in years.

They pull me into tight hugs, fire off a million questions, and spill all the local gossip.

Townie #1 : We need you and the OGs back at the school Kerry!

Townie #2 : This new batch of teachers?

Handpicked by your ex.

Complete idiots!

Townie #3 : Heard you’re organizing the Fall Festival again.

No one puts together a better town event than you.

It’s overwhelming yet heartwarming, but also a stark reminder of what Cory ripped away from me.

Vic stands beside me the entire time, his hand resting protectively at the small of my back.

He doesn’t rush me.

He doesn’t interrupt.

He just lets me have my moment.

And once we finally break free, we make our way to Krista .

She flashes a bright, eager smile as we slide into the booth.

“Wow,” she muses, tilting her head.

“Guess you’re the celebrity around here, huh?”

I shrug, forcing civility.

“I’ve known nearly everyone here my whole life. I’m sure it’s the same for you back home, right?”

She shrugs, and something in her expression softens.

“I never really had a home,” she admits, her voice quieter.

“We moved around for my dad’s job. Never stayed anywhere long enough to make real friends. Just the online kind... other influencers.”

Vic and I exchange a glance, both caught off guard by the unexpected vulnerability.

Krista shrugs again, but this time it’s less dismissive.

“I’m not complaining, though. I make a lot of money. I get a lot of free stuff. Life’s great… for the most part.”

Cautiously, we ease into normal conversation.

We even laugh a little as we share drinks and appetizers.

Then, out of nowhere, Krista exhales like she’s just gotten something off her chest.

“I know this is all about PR and damage control, and I get that. But… I really want to apologize. I wasn’t trying to cause a mess. It’s just...”

She trails off, then steels herself before continuing.

“I know you don’t remember me, Vic. And honestly, that’s fine. I wasn’t expecting some grand romance. But being forgotten like that? It stung. It made me feel disposable.”

Vic doesn’t react right away, but I see his jaw clench.

He doesn’t like hurting people—even when they piss him off.

Krista lets out a humorless laugh, then turns to me, frustration flashing across her face.

“And then there was you. This woman everyone seemed to love. And I mean everyone—even my damn boyfriend. Or ex. Or whatever the hell he is to me.” She scoffs.

“I didn’t know what to think initially, but he had plenty of opinions. He said you weren’t as sweet as you pretended to be and had a history of manipulating people. And I believed him. He swept me off my feet so quickly. It wasn’t too hard, being in this town all alone and surrounded by people who disliked me. He made me feel like it was me and him against the world. ”

She exhales, her voice tight.

“But now? Now, I just feel isolated. Everyone hates me. And…” She lets out a hollow laugh, fingers gripping the edge of her glass.

“I feel disposable again.”

I find my heart breaking for her.

The way she talks about her boyfriend as if he’s the only person in her corner, the way he makes her believe things as if his word is final, and how deeply she trusts him are all too familiar.

Suddenly, I see it so clearly.

This is how it starts—the manipulation disguised as love.

He hypes her up and makes her feel like he’s the only one who truly understands her.

And then, once she’s exactly where he wants her, he starts to break her down, bit by bit.

First, it’s subtle.

A comment here, a warning there, then before she knows it, she’s lost friends, family, and her sense of self.

And by the time she realizes what’s happening…

she’s trapped.

My stomach twists.

I know Krista’s story.

I know her experience because I lived it.

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry.

“Krista.” My voice is softer now, careful, like I’m stepping through a minefield.

“Who’s your boyfriend?”

She lowers her head in a brief moment of silence until a voice, smug and grotesquely familiar, slithers against my ear

“Hello, wife.”

There it is…

the unease I’d been trying to ignore all evening wraps around my throat like a noose.

I knew something wasn’t right about tonight.

My blood runs cold.

I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.

Vic’s eyes flicker in rage, and he grips the edge of the table so tight I think he might flip it.

He’s seconds away from either storming out or dragging Cory outside by his throat.

Under the table, I reach for his hand and gently squeeze it tight.

“Vic,” I murmur, my voice soft but steady.

“Not here. Not now.”

His nostrils flare, but when he looks at me, really looks at me, his expression softens, and his fingers trace my cheek like he’s silently asking if I’m okay.

I nod.

He exhales, nods back, and forces himself to stay seated, even though every muscle in his body is screaming for a fight .

“Sorry I’m late, baby.” Cory grins, leaning down to press a kiss to Krista’s temple like he’s some doting boyfriend.

“I just needed to make a quick stop.”

Then, with a grand, over-the-top flourish, he hands her a bouquet of flowers.

Krista’s eyes widen, and for a moment, she almost looks surprised but forces a smile.

“Oh wow, Cory. I didn’t know you were coming. These are beautiful. What’s the occasion?”

She’s just grateful for the bare minimum, but I know what the occasion is.

This isn’t love.

This isn’t romance.

Those aren’t “just because” flowers.

They’re apology flowers.

Cory slides into the booth beside Krista.

His energy is loud and performative, but his dark, predatory gaze isn’t on her.

I study her closely, watching as she grips the bouquet a little too tightly.

She’s smiling, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

Her energy has dimmed, completely shut down.

“Krista?” Vic’s voice is softer now, cautious.

“You good?”

She hesitates, just long enough for me to catch it, before she plasters on another one of those empty smiles.

“Of course,” she says quickly, waving a dismissive hand.

“I mean… why wouldn’t I be?”

I know that smile.

I know that laugh.

She’s sitting just a little too stiffly, and her shoulders tense every time Cory moves.

I know that look in her eyes.

Because I wore it for years.

I study her as Cory has his eyes on me.

He doesn’t even try to be subtle, dragging his eyes over my face, down my body, like he has the right.

Like he owns me.

And then, he has the audacity to lick his lips.

Krista notices and subtly nudges her elbow into his side like a silent plea for him to behave.

He barely reacts, just flashes her an amused smirk, but I see her shrinking by the second.

“So,” Vic starts, his voice casual.

“how long have you two been together?”

Krista perks up.

“Three months,” she says quickly, forcing a smile.

“but it feels like forever, doesn’t it, babe?”

“Yep, and we’re fresh out of the honeymoon phase.”

Krista lets out a light laugh, nudging him playfully.

“Oh, don’t say that,” she pouts.

“We’re still in the honeymoon phase. ”

Cory shrugs.

“I mean, you think you’re in love with the perfect person...”

Krista smiles.

“...until you start seeing their flaws.”

Her smile quickly fades.

I tense, recognizing the manipulation for exactly what it is—praise wrapped in a putdown.

Krista swallows, her shoulders sinking ever so slightly, but not on my watch.

“You know,” I say, my voice light, “I don’t really believe in perfect people, but I do believe in the right people. The ones who make you feel safe, respected, valued. The ones who don’t just see your flaws but love you harder because of them.”

I glance at Vic, whose thumb strokes against my thigh.

Then, I turn to Krista.

“The people who lift you up and don’t tear you down.”

Cory’s entire face darkens, and Vic smirks, completely amused by my words.

Cory leans forward, elbows on the table.

“So, Kerry, I heard you’re homeschooling now?” His tone is too casual, but I hear the sharp edge beneath it, the way he’s digging for something.

I arch a brow.

“And?”

“Well,” he shrugs, “I called around, tried to see who you were working for, but no one seemed to know.”

I laugh, sharp and humorless.

“I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that you think I’d tell you anything about my life, or the fact that you actually went out of your way to call around like a damn stalker.”

“I just wanted to know how you were doing,” Cory says, raising his hands in mock innocence.

“You were my wife, Kerry. I’ll always care about you.”

I scoff.

“I’m not your business anymore. And I’ll never care about you ever again. Move on.”

“I have moved on.” His arm snakes around Krista’s shoulders, mimicking the way Vic holds me.

“With the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”

But when his hand trails down her arm, Krista flinches.

It’s subtle, but we both notice.

“Hey,” I say, standing abruptly.

“Come with me to the ladies’ room?”

Krista hesitates, flicking her gaze to Cory.

“Oh, I’m okay—”

I don’t ask again.

I just gently reach for her wrist and pull her along.

“Come with me. ”

Cory groans, shaking his head like she’s the difficult one.

“Hurry back, babe. You know I hate being away from you.”

It’s meant to sound sweet, but it’s a threat.

Krista stiffens, but I don’t wait for her response.

I simply grab her hand and lead her to the restroom.

Krista huffs, glancing at the mirror as she smooths down her hair.

“Can we hurry this up? I don’t want to leave the guys alone too long.”

But I don’t care about the guys.

I don’t care about the fake dinner or the damn PR stunt.

I care about her.

“Are you okay?” I cross my arms and lean against the sink, watching her carefully.

She pauses, fingers stilling in her hair before she catches herself.

Then, slowly, she turns to face me.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“I’m fine. Stop acting weird.” She waves a dismissive hand.

“I was gonna tell you about Cory, you know. I just… wasn’t expecting him to show up tonight after a huge fight we just had.” She rolls her eyes.

“I know it’s weird, dating your ex-husband, but I promise I had no idea until a few weeks in. I didn’t seek him out. He introduced himself to me, and… we just clicked.”

I exhale slowly, choosing my words carefully.

“Krista, I don’t care about that. I don’t care who you date. I only care whether you’re safe—because Cory’s dangerous.”

She bristles.

“Oh, please.”

“I’m serious.” I step closer.

“He can’t be trusted. And if you don’t get out now, before you’re in too deep—”

Krista’s entire demeanor shifts.

Her spine straightens, eyes narrowing as something cold and defensive takes over.

“You know what? He said you’d say that.” She shakes her head, laughing bitterly.

“He told me you’d try to turn me against him. That you’d say he’s a monster. That you still want him. I should’ve believed him.”

“Krista, I swear to God, I don’t— ”

“Oh, save it.” She throws her hands up.

“You couldn’t keep him, so now you don’t want anyone else to have him? Don’t pretend to be my friend just because you lost him.”

My heart pounds.

“Not every man is worth keeping, Krista. And Cory? He’s not a prize. He’s a warning.”

I take a slow breath, pull my phone from my pocket, and snatch hers out of her hand, then dial my number.

“You have my number now. Call me. Anytime. No matter what.” My voice is steady and unwavering.

She stares at the screen like she doesn’t know whether to thank me or throw the phone back in my face, but she doesn’t do either.

She just swallows hard, snatches it back, and storms out.

The second Krista and I return to the booth, the tension is thick with silence—a loaded, suffocating silence.

I sigh and turn to Vic.

“Are you ready?”

“Hell yeah. Let’s go home.”

Cory’s smirk vanishes, and he straightens up in his seat.

“Home?” His voice is low and controlled, but there’s something off in the way he says it.

“So, it’s true. Y’all are living together?”

An eerie silence settles over the table.

Then, he sneers.

“Tell me, Vic… does Kerry still like it rough? Only I know how to touch her the way she likes.” He winks, knowing good and well the only touch he knows comes in black and blue.

One second Vic is sitting, and the next, he’s towering over Cory.

His jaw is clenched tight.

His fists are flexing at his sides.

And his eyes are murderous.

“Don’t.” He warns Cory.

“What?” he shrugs, casually taunting.

“She’ll always be mine, you know. Only I know how to touch her the way she likes.” He winks, knowing good and well the only touch he knows comes in black and blue.

I press a firm hand against his chest.

“Vic. No.”

Cory’s grin widens.

“Listen to your girlfriend, Vic. ‘Cause one phone call to my father, or my uncle, or cousin, will land you in jail. Isn’t that right, my little jailbird, Kerry?”

Krista, eyes wide with panic, grips Cory’s arm.

“Stop it, Cory. Just walk me to my car, will you? ”

Cory doesn’t move right away.

His eyes lock onto mine, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of my gaze, so he finally lets Krista drag him away.

I touch Vic’s arm, grounding him.

“Let’s go.”

He nods, jaw tight.

“I got the bill.”

As he flags the waiter over, I reach for my bag and realize I left my phone in the bathroom.

“Damn it.”

Vic turns to me, still watching the door Cory and Krista disappeared through.

“What?”

“My phone. I left it in the bathroom.”

“Alright. I gotta hit the restroom real quick, anyway. Meet you in a sec.”

My heels click against the tile as I go to the sink to grab my phone from where I left it beside the soap dispenser.

“Oh, dear wife, I’ve been waiting for the chance to get you alone again.”

Cory’s voice slithers through the air, sending a chill down my spine.

My heart hammers through my chest, but before I can even process the nightmare unfolding, he locks the door behind him and clamps his hand over my mouth My heart pounds as I whip around, only to watch him calmly lock the door behind him.

Before I can even form a scream, his hand clamps over my mouth.

“Shh,” Cory coos.

“I’m not gonna hurt you, Kerry. I’d never hurt you like you hurt me.”

His grip tightens, and my whole body goes rigid as he leans in with his hot and sour breath.

“Parading that piece of shit around town,” he sneers, jaw clenching.

“Tryin’ to get me all riled up?” His fingers press bruises into my skin.

“You’re making it so damn hard to get over you. I put up with your shit for twenty fucking years only for you to throw it back in my face?! You let him touch you everywhere, don’t you? You let him touch what’s mine? Why do you do this to me, baby?”

I’m terrified.

However, I’ve fought back before, and I’m sure as hell gonna fight back again.

With every ounce of strength in me, I fight.

I lunge forward and sink my teeth into the web of his hand, biting until I taste blood.

He yells, pulling back, and I don’t hesitate.

I raise my heel and drive it down into his foot with everything I’ve got.

He stumbles with a curse.

His grip loosens .

I twist away and run for the door.

I’m so close, but his arm hooks around my waist, yanking me back with such force I nearly fall.

He snatches me back and raises his hand to touch me in the only way he ever has.

Before I can move, before I can brace myself, a hard smack sends me crashing to the floor, my vision splitting into a thousand broken pieces.

The taste of blood floods my mouth.

My face burns, my lip stings, my skull pounds, but my body knows this pain.

A pain I thought I’d never have to feel again.

I scramble to get up, but Cory is on me again, his grip bruising as he grabs my wrist, lifting me like I weigh nothing.

I twist, kicking him, fighting as hard as I can, but the sick bastard grins and then slams me against the wall, knocking the wind out of me.

“Get the hell off me!” I cry, tears blurring my vision.

He leans in with his hot, putrid breath and whispers, “I love it when you fight back. Just like our last night together.”

I nearly break free again, but he grips my wrists above my head.

“I need you to break up with your boyfriend. I can’t have you teasing me like this. I dream about the things I used to do to you, leaving you helpless under my touch.” He murmurs, dragging his eyes down my body.

“I bet he can’t keep his hands off you, can he? That’s why he lets you run around town with his kids like a happy family. Does he know you can’t have any? You couldn’t hold my babies for shit.”

He laughs at my pain, at my deepest wound, while grazing his lips over my neck.

I try to break away, but he tightens his grip even more.

Then I hear a knock.

“Kerry, are you in there? Don’t tell me that food’s gotten to your stomach already.” Vic jokes from the other side of the door.

Cory freezes instantly, but I don’t.

I knee him, hard , between the legs.

He doubles over with a strangled gasp, his hands flying to his groin.

Then, I shove him back with everything I have, my voice cracking through the fear.

“You don’t scare me anymore.”

I barely get a breath in before I scream.

“Vic! Help! It’s Cory!”

The door rattles violently.

Vic’s body slams into it, over and over, shaking the walls .

Cory panics.

His eyes flick to the door, and then, like a cornered animal, he lashes out.

He shoves me hard until I stumble back and hit the wall with a sickening crack.

Pain bursts through my skull as I crumple to the floor, dazed and my vision spinning.

Blood trickles down my temple.

Then the door flies open.

Vic charges in, and when he sees me slumped and bleeding on the tile, something in him snaps.

The fury on his face is instant, unfiltered, and blinding.

Cory tries to put on a show while still limping in pain from the damage I’m proud to have caused.

“Hey, man. I’m sorry you had to see this. She invited me in here and wanted to — ”

Before he can finish, Vic grabs him by the throat and slams him into the wall so hard the mirror cracks.

What happens next isn’t a fight.

It’s an execution.

Vic’s fists fly.

Cory’s blood spills.

He lands punch after punch with force.

A waiter rushes in and sees everything—sees me, sees Vic, and Cory’s pathetic, bloody mess of a body, but he doesn’t stop it.

No one does.

And when Vic finally stops, he crouches, forcing a beaten, delirious Cory to look him in the eyes.

“ I dare you to call your dad. Call your uncle. Call your cousin. Hell, call your whole goddamn family. I’ll take you all down to the darkest pits of hell. I promise you, if you ever go near Kerry again, if you so much as breathe in her direction, you’ll never be able to do anything ever again .”

When Vic turns to me, his fury melts, into something softer, gentler.

A tenderness that shatters me into pieces.

He rushes to my side and hovers his hands over me as if he’s afraid to touch me, afraid that I’ll break the moment he does.

Then, he cups my face, and I flinch.

It’s just my instinct, a defensive reaction so ingrained into my body that it happens before I can stop it.

“Kerry—” My name is barely a whisper, thick with pain, as if my flinch hurt him just as much.

And then I do break.

Tears spill over, and I don’t even have the strength to stop them.

“I got you, Kerry. I’m here,” he declares, pulling me into his arms.

“I’ll always be here, baby. ”

And for the first time tonight, for the first time in a long time, I let myself be small, vulnerable, and saved because with him right now, I’m safe.

Vic effortlessly lifts me, cradling me against his chest, and making me feel weightless, and for just a moment, the pain I’ve carried for so long doesn’t exist.

Cory, still on the ground, spits blood.

“You won’t get away with this. My dad’s gonna come after you.” He mumbles.

Vic turns around, his voice low and deadly calm.

“Good. We’ll beat his ass too. ”

The restaurant manager quietly ushers us through the back door, shielding us from prying eyes.

Gary pulls up fast, his face falling the moment he sees us.

“Vic? Ms. Kind?” Panic laces his voice.

“Gary, just drive us home.”

With my body aching, exhausted, and raw, I sink into my seat.

I close my eyes, but I can still feel him.

He’s still here, in my bones, in my bruises, in the way my heart still pounds.

“I ruined the night.” I whisper, my self-loathing creeping in like poison squeezing the air from my lungs.

“No,” he says firmly, “he ruined a part of our night. You were perfect. You always are.” He leans in, his thumb hovering over my busted lip, jaw flexing and hands shaking as he forces himself to stay in control.

“I can’t believe he did this to you.”

Vic pulls me into his lap, holding me like he’s afraid I might slip through his fingers.

But Vic needs to know something.

Though he can’t believe Cory did this to me, I can.

He presses his lips against my forehead, and when our eyes meet, my words spill out, raw, broken, and filled with emotion.

“You remember when you asked me how I liked to be touched? I genuinely didn’t know because these are the only touches I’ve ever felt. The pain from these bruises is the only sensation I’ve ever experienced through my body.” My voice breaks.

More tears spill over, and my voice drops to a whisper so fragile, so hopeless.

‘“I’ll never escape him, Vic. He’ll always be in my life, and now he’s in yours, too. I should jus t give him what he wants. I don’t want to put you or the girls in danger. I don’t want to bring my mess into your lives.”

His hold on me tightens. Then, he grips my chin, gently but firmly, forcing me to look at him.

“You’re not giving him a goddamn thing. He’s a coward who’s trying to take your power. He wants you to think you’re broken. He wants you to think he’s won. But that man’s been a loser since the day he was born, and he’s been broken ever since he realized he’s nothing without you. You hold all the power, Kerry Kind. And if you tell me you want him gone, I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen.”

I breathe in deeply, then release a long exhale. Laying my head against his chest, I nod. “Let’s take him down, Vic.”

He doesn’t say anything else.

He simply embraces me, and I allow myself to drift into sleep, feeling safe, protected, and at ease knowing that the last touch I feel tonight isn’t pain, or fear, or the past.

It’s him.

It’s Victor Grimes.