29. Lily
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
lily
A fter another wild and exhausting week, I’m enjoying a lazy day. It’s 3:30 and I am still happily in bed in my pajamas with no intention of moving. Shadow has been curled up next to me all morning while I read and slept and played tug of war with her.
Sunday evening, we went to Thoren’s parents for dinner where Evelyn mothered me the whole time. She made sure I felt love and support, and of course, asked if she could get an early copy of the new book. On Monday, I got a photo from Kinsley of a very red faced Tyler getting served at the office, which was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Tuesday, I closed the store for Amber because Jana was having an especially bad day. Michele stopped by, and together, we worked on a plan to help Amber through this all. The financial burdens are crushing her on top of the added work and stress from running the boutique solo. Wednesday and Thursday, I holed myself up in the office for over fourteen hours each day, completing my editing and sending it back to Andrea. Knowing that it was submitted and out of my hands from this part on was both terrifying and a huge stress relief.
Hence the mental health day today to relax after the week I’ve had. I should probably shower before Thoren gets home, but I told him dinner would be of the frozen variety tonight. Movies cuddled together while eating junk food sounds like the perfect end to a long week, and he agreed. This week was just as taxing on him, with a hard SAR case on Tuesday. Someone’s child disappeared from their campsite, and it took sixteen hours, the SAR team, local law enforcement, and civilian volunteers to find him. Thankfully, he was okay when they located him.
Shadow jumps up from beside me, giving me her best puppy eyes. “Potty time? I guess I should put my pretty new bathroom to use, huh?”
Her tail thumps against my comforter as I slip from the bed. I follow her down the stairs, letting her out the back door to do her business, before turning on the shower. This thing is downright luxurious now, with dual shower heads and pristine tiles. After letting Shadow back in and giving her a bone, I hop into the warm water.
Showers have always been where I do my best thinking. My book ideas always seem to come to me when I am in the middle of a shower, and life seems less scary behind that curtain. The longer I spend under the spray of the water, the more I feel like I had a great week overall. Were my emotions all over the place? Sure, but it was all good things. Maybe things are finally turning a corner for me.
I can’t help but see the abundance of good in my life lately. My book is done, my house is updated and cozy, I have good friends, a relationship with a man I love, and things are moving in the right direction with the lawsuit. Letting go of the past hurt from my parents and Tyler is getting easier every day.
Stepping out of the shower, I feel a renewed sense of energy. I jog upstairs to get dressed before hopping back down the stairs to whip up some snacks and desserts for movie night. Pulling out my blueberries, blackberries, and huckleberries from Evelyn and David’s garden, I decide on a berry pie. I find an easy recipe on my laptop and start on the dough.
I’m so ingrained in what I’m doing, it takes me a moment to realize Shadow is growling by the front door. I wipe my hands on my apron when someone knocks and Shadow’s growls turn to barks.
“It’s okay, honey,” I nudge past her, opening the front door. I’m not expecting anyone, but no one drives all the way out here without a purpose. Shadow refuses to leave my side, pushing into my leg, snarling in the entryway. I’m so focused on keeping her settled from the odd display of aggression that it startles me when a familiar voice greets me.
“Hi Lily,” Tyler says.
Ice fills my veins as my eyes snap up and I feel the blood drain from my face. He shouldn’t be here.
“You can’t be here, Tyler. I have a restraining order.”
“Oh, come on with that bullshit. What the fuck were you thinking with that? Do you know what it looked like being served with that at work?” he spits out.
Shadow’s hackles are up, her growl low and incessant, but she doesn’t move from my side. I should have known not to open the door with her reaction. I really shouldn’t poke the bear in front of me, but to hell with this arrogant and belittling man. He deserves a taste of his own medicine.
Casually leaning against the door frame, I cross my arms to fake my bravado. “I know exactly what it looked like. My lawyer sent me a photo of the encounter,” I smirk. “Say your piece and leave before I call the police.”
Anger flashes across his face and a sneer settles on his lips. “You little bitch. This is what you left me for? This piece of shit house in some podunk town? You could have been in my position in ten years, making life-changing money, and I was going to make it happen. You were perfectly happy with what we had before you saw Angela on my arm. You wanted to use me to further your career, Lily, and no court is going to see it any other way. You had it all and your behavior got you fired.”
I am stunned by his words, because what the actual hell? He never spoke to me like this, always posing as the proper, well-educated man. The anger in his eyes and absolute vitriol in the way he is speaking are scaring me. His words deserve no justification. I never wanted that. I wanted love, not a step up in life.
Subtly, I try to feel my pockets for my phone when I realize it's still on the kitchen counter. There is no help up here, and it hits that he could do anything and no one would hear me scream. He’s never been violent before, but the hate in his eyes holds threats beyond bitter words.
“Okay, you got it out of your system, now you need to leave,” I try to take a step back to shut the door. His hand slams out to hold it open, my eyes trailing to it and its smooth soft lines. Hands that I used to let touch and take from every part of my body. Hands that haven’t done a single day of hard work in his life. I want to rip everything from those hands, but I need to do it in court, not when he is a real threat to me.
“Move, Tyler,” I try to keep my voice steady.
He shoves harder against the door and reaches for my arm. His hand clamps around me in a vice grip, surely leaving a mark. Shadow’s sharp bark startles him, but he doesn’t let go, gripping tighter instead.
“Drop the goddamn lawsuits, Lily. All of them,” he yells, as his eyes harden. “I should have known better than to fuck a desperate little slut like you. No pussy is worth this shit.” He accentuates his words by shaking me like a ragdoll with his nails digging deeper into me.
My eyes screw shut as my head smacks against the door frame and I let out a sharp cry of pain. I have no escape from this man with my phone too far away. His hand is suddenly ripped from me, tearing my flesh as it goes.
“What the fuck did you just say to her?” Thoren growls out as Tyler screams.
“Your dog just bit me!”
Thoren smiles down at Shadow with pride, as the pup stays crouched and ready to pounce with eyes locked on Tyler, a snarl back on her lips. There’s a small tear in Tyler’s slacks where Shadow must have nipped at his leg in warning. I was so focused on Tyler that I didn’t even hear Thoren drive up. Looking around, I see his truck parked halfway down the driveway, his door still open. He must have seen the scene and rushed out to get to my side. On shaky legs, I make my way closer to them, trying to calm my anxiety now that Thoren is here.
He’s gripping Tyler by his throat, hovering over him. “I don’t give a fuck what my dog just did. What did you say to Lily?”
“I just told her to drop the suit,” Tyler chokes out as Thoren squeezes tighter.
Thoren’s laugh is sinister, the smirk on his face equal parts sexy and terrifying. “Apologize to her, and mean it, because those are the last words you are ever going to say to her.”
Tyler sneers in my direction, not saying a thing. Thoren follows his line of sight, drawing his eyes to mine. “Are you okay, baby?”
“I’m okay.” I put my arm on his free one to reassure him, but that’s when I notice the blood. Thoren’s eyes lock on the streaks of red dripping down my arm where Tyler ripped chunks of my flesh out with his nails.
“Motherfucker!” Thoren roars as he cocks his fist and punches Tyler in the gut. He doubles over in pain and Thoren knees him in the face, causing a sickening crunch. Tyler falls to the gravel, howling as he clasps his nose that is pouring blood. He lunges on him again, alternating punches between his gut and face.
Blood sprays from Tyler’s face, splattering on his shirt and arms. Tyler grunts, trying to block his face, but his movements quickly go lax, his arms falling to his sides. “Stop, Thoren, stop!” I scream, trying to pull him off. “You’re going to kill him. Please stop!”
His hazel eyes are glazed over as he slumps into the gravel. Tyler’s body is lifeless beside him, but I don’t care enough to check if he’s alive. I drop to Thoren’s side, wrapping myself around him.
“I’m okay. We’re okay,” I whisper as his strong, familiar arms wrap tight around me. I slide my hands through his hair, trying to tame the wild strands. “We’re okay.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you.”
“It’s okay, baby. But we need to call the police and probably get him an ambulance.” I look over to where Tyler is starting to groan in pain.
“Jake’s on it. I was on the phone with him when I drove up.” He lightly lifts my arm, examining the deep gashes with an angry scowl. Shadow nudges her nose between us, licking my face.
“Good girl, protecting your mom.” He scratches behind her ears. “I have a lot of questions, starting with why you opened the door for him, but I’ll wait until you recount it to the police. Just promise me you’re okay.”
“I am now, because of you.”
“Is she okay?” Jake shouts out the window of his truck, stuck behind Thoren’s that is still running and blocking my driveway.
“Yeah, he’s not though,” Thoren yells back, nodding toward Tyler.
“Who cares? Move your damn truck. The ambulance isn’t far behind me.”
Giggles rise up in my chest, quickly turning into an unstoppable fit of laughter. It’s not funny, none of this is, but if I don’t laugh I might scream until my lungs give out. Thoren eyes me suspiciously before dropping a kiss on my head.
“Crazy girl. I’ll be right back.”
He jogs to his truck, pulling it up next to Marge, with Jake’s truck following. Sirens sound in the distance as I get up and step away from Tyler, who is still slowly coming to. Shadow chooses not to follow, instead sitting and growling at the man writhing in pain.
I can’t believe he flew out here to threaten me. His actions have been stupid lately, but this was monumental. Blood is still dripping from his nose and mouth, and his eye is starting to swell already. I don’t feel bad for him. If Thoren hadn’t come home when he did I don’t know what would have happened. I rub at the tender spot on my head where a bump is already forming.
Jake looks over the whole scene before narrowing his gaze on my arm and the wince of pain as I prod at the goose egg. “I’m going to kill him,” he steps forward, only to be held back by Thoren’s quickly swelling hand.
“I nearly did already. We don’t need to be sharing a jail cell,” he jokes, but it lacks humor.
“Fuck,” Jake grits out, pulling me in for a tight hug, not caring that I’m getting blood on his shirt. “I’m sorry, Lily, we’ll get this taken care of.” He lets me go, passing me off to Thoren’s waiting arms as his boots kick up gravel on the way to Tyler. Leaning down, he gives Shadow a head scratch before saying something to Tyler, too low for me to make out. I don’t miss the way Tyler cowers in on himself trying to move further from Jake.
An ambulance pulls into my driveway, followed by two police cruisers. Jake meets them, pointing over to Tyler and then to Thoren and I. The EMT’s grab a gurney and rush over to Tyler’s side with one officer, as the other two make their way over to me.
The first one looks a little older than us, the other looks like this is his first day on the job. The first reaches out to shake Thoren’s hand, taking note of the split knuckles. “Good to see you man, sorry it’s like this. Everyone okay?” he asks, his eyes roving over us, only to stop when he sees my arm.
“Hey!” he shouts toward the EMTs. “I need one of you over here.”
I go to wave him off, but Thoren grips me tighter. “Let them clean you up and bandage you,” he says into my hair. “That piece of shit doesn’t deserve the care he is getting.” The nodding heads of the cops seem inclined to agree with him. “Bobby, this is my girlfriend, Lily. Bobby and River played baseball together.”
“Nice to meet you, Lily. I need to take a few photos of your arm before it’s cleaned up. Then can you tell me what happened here?”
“Yes.” I will tell them everything and anything to keep Thoren from getting in trouble.
“She has a restraining order against him,” Thoren adds as the young kid snaps some pictures. “Pretty sure it’s his rental parked out by the road there.”
“That makes this a lot easier,” the cop grunts, as the EMT comes over with his medical bag. “Let’s get you taken care of, then we can sit down and talk.”
The rest of the evening passes in a blur of activity. My arm was bandaged, and Thoren’s knuckles were cleaned where they had split open on Tyler’s face. I recounted everything to the police, starting from when I opened the door to when they pulled up. I might have held back a little on how badly Thoren beat Tyler, but the evidence was there.
Luckily, they seemed to agree with Thoren’s use of force, and Bobby talked all about how much he respected David, who had trained him when he was a rookie. I totally forgot that he used to be an officer until that point. After taking our statements and convincing me to press charges, they left us around 6:30.
To my surprise, Jake stayed the whole time, making my discarded pie for me and cleaning up the mess. Seeing the burly tatted up man moving around my small kitchen baking for us eased some of the tension. He cut us each a slice and brought them to us on my new couch.
“Thank you,” I say, taking the offered goodness. “I didn’t know you could bake.”
“I’m good with precise measurements. I have to be with building furniture, and it just so happens to correlate to baking,” he shrugs nonchalantly. If a woman can look past his quiet and surly nature, they are going to find a real treasure with him.
“You’re staying with me tonight, Lily. I need you in my home after today,” Thoren says around a bite of pie. He won’t find me arguing. I’m a bit shaken up and his bed sounds like exactly where I want to be.
“I can find somewhere else to go,” Jake offers quietly. I look questioningly between the two of them, confused.
“Jake has a gas leak at his apartment complex and needs somewhere to stay for a bit. It’s why we were on the phone and he was on his way over already. I said he could stay with me, which you can and you will,” he gives Jake a pointed stare.
“Or you can stay here,” I offer. “I have a change of sheets in the closet. Both options are open for you.”
“Your guest room is right across from the master. No offense, but I’d rather stay here and not listen to you two fuck all night. Thanks for the offer, Lily.”
“Good, now that it’s settled, I’m taking my girl and going home. We’re taking the pie, too,” Thoren says, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. “Her keys are on the counter. Come over in the morning for breakfast.”
With that, he grabs the pie plate in his free hand and carries me out the front door with Shadow hot on his heels.