Chapter Thirty
Two months later
Ipuff out a breath and touch up my lipstick a little before flipping my visor back up. I sit back in the driver’s seat of my parked car and take in my surroundings. I can’t believe I’m really about to go inside…
I haven’t stepped foot in a fucking bar—hell, anywhere near one—since the night of my rape.
Here I am now, however, outside Portside Pub.
And I know—damnit, I know—that Caleb and Marcus are both in there and neither of them would let anything happen to me.
Heck, I know half of the people inside there now—the guy that owns this place frequents the gym, for crying out loud—and logically, yes, I know I can trust them, but fear still has me all coiled up in knots anyway.
I just need another minute, I think. I need to take in some deep breaths—in through my nose, hold for four seconds, and then puff it out slowly—just like Brooks taught me. Suddenly, movement underneath the fire escape catches my attention.
There’s a younger girl there. I say young, but she looks like she could be in her late teens, maybe her early twenties. I squint. Has she got—bubbles?
How silly is that?! She’s outside the fire escape, just blowing bubbles. She grins to herself, watching them float up into the air.
What’s that even like, to be that carefree?
Instinctively, I find myself immediately wishing that she’s able to carry that kind of whimsy about her throughout her entire life, that she never has to endure the harsh realities of just how cruel and senseless some people can be.
Odd, yes, because I don’t even know her.
But, I suppose one could say that means that my thorns could possibly be softening a touch, if I’m not reacting to the sight of her with bitter jealousy, the way I would have in the past.
Someone else peeks out the back door, he scans the surroundings, and then smiles when his eyes catch on her. Wait—hold up. Is that—
“Brooks?!” I call out, stepping out of my car.
The man looks up and over at me, in the direction of my voice. It is him! What on earth is my dang therapist doing here?!
“Lauren? Hi! Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?” he calls back, coming over to greet me.
“I was just wondering the same about you! I’m late because of work, but I’m supposed to be meeting up with—”
“Oh, seriously, My-lanta… how did I not put two-and-two together?! Caleb and Marcus, duh!” He cuts me off, gasping. “I just met them earlier, and I can’t believe it didn’t click!”
He surveys me up and down now, eyes wide as he takes me in, here, in the flesh. We’ve only ever had sessions over telehealth. I can’t believe it myself, because I finally get to meet the man who has worked tirelessly to make me feel somewhat human again after my attack.
I seriously owe Brooks Gallagher so much; this guy right here is a fuckin’ miracle-worker.
“You’re here… at a bar,” he notes, his lips curved into a proud smile. “I feel like we just had a session about this—ope!” He claps his hand over his mouth, glancing over his shoulder at the girl with the bubbles. “Morgs, you didn’t hear that, okay?”
She titters. “Daddio, I just assume you know everyone by now,” she snarks.
Brooks chuckles. “Lauren,” he says to me, “this is my daughter, Morgan. Morgan, this is my friend, Lauren.”
Morgan caps her bubbles and approaches me, holding her hand out. “Pleased to meet you, Lauren!” she chirps. “Welcome to Portside Pub too! My boyfriend, Taryn, just took over ownership from his dad today. It’s his grand, soft re-opening!”
“Well, congratulations are in order for Taryn then, I presume,” I state. “Small world, I guess.”
She nods, and Brooks asks her, “Why are you out here blowing bubbles, anyway?”
“Oh,” she says, glancing down at the bubble wand in her hand, “I don’t smoke. I just needed to come out for some air. Figured I’d jazz it up a bit while I’m at it.”
Brooks grins, then looks back at me. “Well, Lauren, wanna come in? We just cut into the Pride cake, but there’s still plenty left.”
“Pride cake? That’s seriously a thing?” Shit, I just thought Caleb came up with that for Marcus on his own…
Brooks shrugs. “I don’t really know; it’s some inside joke with my hubby and his brother.”
“Wait, wait—who is your husband and your brother-in-law?”
“Evan Waters is my husband,” he explains, full of pride. “Gannett would be his goofy as all get out brother.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Wow. This really is a small world.”
“I know, right?” Brooks chuckles. “Speaking of, come on. Your men are inside waiting.” He winks at me, holding out his hand.
As soon as I step inside, Caleb spots me. Grinning from ear-to-ear, he weaves through everyone to make his way over to me. Brooks smiles to himself before leaving my side to go sit next to Evan.
“First day on the job of your new project,” Caleb notes with his hands. “How did it go?”
We had our very first, local and in person, support group meeting for those, like me, who live with the trauma of sexual assault.
There were only a few folks in attendance today, but I’m told that could be expected.
I’m so proud of the few who did come… even the ones who chose not to speak up. They were still engaged, I could tell.
Sometimes, just like now, the biggest step is the first one through the threshold.
It’s huge, actually. In time, I can see this blossoming into something so much bigger, and, while my guard was up initially about leading something like this, I can already tell it will be just as rewarding for me in the long run.
For the sake of confidentiality, I keep my response to Caleb short and sweet…
and in sign. “The support group went really well for our first meeting. Cathartic, I believe. Small turn out, but I think what we’re doing will end up being a good outlet to be able to share coping mechanisms with one another. ”
“That’s wonderful, babe,” Caleb signs back. “I hope you know what a champion you’ll become for those women.”
“It’s not just women,” I remind him. “Men, though less frequently, are also victims of sexual assault. And they’re less likely to speak up about it if they are, as well.”
I spare a glance over Caleb’s shoulder, feeling eyes on our conversation. The big, burly, tatted guy who frequents the gym a lot—Gordy might be his name, if I’m not mistaken—is watching us. More specifically, our signed conversation.
“Pardon me for eavesdropping,” he signs, and instantly I’m stunned. “But I couldn’t help but notice that you mentioned you went to a support meeting for victims of assault?”
I blink at him, my lips parted in stunned fascination—he signs. I know he’s hearing, but he signs. I probably should be a little annoyed that he was eavesdropping, but I can’t help but be impressed instead.
“I do. It’s a project of mine, through work, that I’m just piloting,” I explain with my hands.
“When and where?” he asks.
“Second Sunday of every month. We’ll be there from noon until two. Down at the Tern-Inn, in their conference room,” I tell him, baffled.
“May I come?” he asks, his normally cold expression suddenly appearing more sheepish than anything.
“You?” I point to him and ask.
He nods.
“Of course you may. It’s completely anonymous. Stay as long, or as little, as you’d like. You don’t even have to say a word, if you’re not comfortable.”
He mouths the words thank you to me before turning back to a perplexed looking Gannett and whispering something in his ear. Gannett glances over to me and smiles before kissing Gordy on the cheek.
Oh…
Oh!
“Wait,” I blurt out loud to Caleb. “Are they dating?”
Caleb smirks and nods.
“Where’s Marco?” I ask, scanning the room.
“Cam has to head into work, so Marcus went back to the house to go get Aaron and bring him here.”
I smile at that. I figured, and wasn’t perturbed by it at all, that when Aaron moved in with us that I would be his primary caregiver throughout the day.
In fact, I was positively thrilled that I would have someone to hang out with now that I had all these huge gaps in time, wherein I am only part-time at my new job.
However, what I didn’t count on was that Marcus would be just as invested as me, Caleb, and, heck, even Brody.
Not that I should have been surprised. Marcus is a caretaker through and through.
But the relationship Marcus and Aaron have is one of true friendship.
Honestly, I think Aaron is the most lucid when Marcus is engaging with him, and that’s likely due to the fact that Marcus carries on with him just like he does—like they’re best buddies.
I know, through our many conversations about it, that Caleb falls more and more in love with Marcus every day because of Marcus’ tireless efforts to provide Aaron with a more meaningful life than one just stuck in bed.
As for me? I already knew the type of compassion that Marcus embodies.
I’m just happy to be able to witness their relationship bloom into what it has, and, I’m sure, what it will continue to grow into.
Caleb flashes his hands. “Are you hungry?” He gestures over to a huge brunch buffet spread across three tables.
I shake my head. “We had lunch catered at the meeting.”
“Want to come sit then? Sarah is here too, by the way. Not sure if you caught that or not…”
I peer around Caleb and she waves at me, then makes a sweeping motion as if to present me with the sight of the man by her side. She points and mouths Steve at me, while he chatters with the others around the table.
My eyes flick between her and Gannett. She smirks and gives me a thumbs up. All good she mouths again.
Terra, one of Sarah and Gannett’s twins, comes out of nowhere and tugs on the hem of my shirt. “Miss Lauren, where’s Brody? Is he comin’?”
I shake my head. “Not today, sweetheart. He’s with his friend, Harrison.”
Her face scrunches, and she scowls a little.
Tatiana, Terra’s twin, peeks up at me from where she now sits on Gordy’s lap. “Terra has a crush on Brody!” she whispers, none too subtly, to him.
“I do not!” Terra huffs, stomping away.