Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lily
? “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) [Piano Version]” - Henry Smith ?
My body jolts when I feel the car stop. I lift my head off Jace’s shoulder and turn to see him staring at me. On my left, Noah is snoring with his legs spread apart, pushing more of my body onto Jace.
Celeste turns around in her seat, looking at all of us. “I think it would be safer if I go get the keys since all of you look... like that.”
“Come back here if they give you a hard time,” Rowan states.
Celeste pats on Rowan’s shoulder before opening the car door and jumping out. I watch her as she passes by the front windshield, her hand holding her stomach—
“What the fuck?!” I scream, leaning forward to try and get a better look before she heads inside. “Is she pregnant?!” I crawl over Noah with one hand and just as I’m about to open the car door, I hear it lock.
“I’d rather you not run inside looking like you have been kidnapped,” Rowan says, eyeing me through the review mirror.
“I was kidnapped,” I snap.
“Is it kidnapping if you knew it was coming?” My head turns toward Noah, smiling at me, his eyes roaming down to where my hand is planted near his crotch.
My body is pulled backward into Jace as he holds onto my hips.
His lips press on the top of my head as he hums into my hair.
It reminds me of when I first heard him make that noise.
What it makes me feel. How he makes me feel.
I let my body relax into him, melt into him as he holds me tight, and I feel safe again. Like everything else doesn’t matter.
Everything that happened these past couple of days doesn’t matter.
Because I’m safe again. Safe with him.
When Celeste gets back, she opens the car door, holding two pairs of keys in the air. “That is all they had left.”
Her voice snaps me out of my comfort and I remember we are not alone. “You didn’t fucking tell me!” I yell at her from the back of the car.
“Baby, stop yelling. I’m sure you have a concussion,” Jace whispers into the side of my face.
“And you didn’t fucking tell me!” Celeste yells back at me.
Everything becomes quiet as we stare at each other between the seats.
Until Noah whistles. “Anyway, I call a room to myself, so couples—”
“No,” Rowan, Celeste, Jace, and I all say in unison.
“I feel like this is a really fucked-up version of the show New Girl. Have y'all seen it?” Noah questions as he opens the car door, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and hitting them on the back of his hand.
Rowan sighs from the front seat. “Noah can stay with us.” Celeste tosses Jace a set of keys. He opens the door, extending his hand to help me out of the car. I wince when I step out into the light.
We walk into our motel room that smells like mildew and dust. “Where are we now?” I ask as Jace sits down on one of the beds.
“Jewell, Oregon. I think.”
I nod as I look around the room.
“Lily, I am so sorry.” He walks fast toward me but stops only inches away.
My head falls down to look at the floor, my fingers grasping onto his shirt I’m still wearing and twirling it between my fingers until his hand reaches out to cover mine.
“I should have had multiple plans for you. I should have done more than the tracker. Doing the marriage certificate—” He shakes his head. “I knew he would end up pushing the plans, but I didn’t think he knew about the GPS. As soon as we get home, you can file for the divorce. I just— ”
“Is that what you want?” I ask, looking up at him. He is silent for a moment as I watch his eyes pierce through mine.
“No.”
I nod, looking around and trying to not let the tears fall from my eyes. His cold fingertips touch my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“I agreed to this. I knew what I was getting myself into. I saw all the girls we saved and I-I think it was worth it. I’m safe now.
” I look at his face, at the crimson splatters enhancing his blue eyes.
He leans in closer, cutting off the air between us.
I close the gap and let my lips embrace his.
His arms wrap lightly around my body, pulling me closer to him.
I let the electricity flow through my skin, bringing me back to life.
We may have never had an official wedding, but I would marry him again and again if it meant I could kiss him every day. Jace is mine. He always has been, always will be.
I wrap the towel around my head as my arm muscles pull tight at every movement.
I don’t think my shoulder is broken, probably just severely bruised.
I took off the handmade sling Jace made for me before I got in the shower and let the hot steam soothe my muscles.
When I got out of the shower, I saw all the bruises along my body.
From my face down to my legs. Noah dropped off clothes for everyone he bought from a local store nearby.
I throw on a black T- shirt that says Oregon with mountains in the background and a pair of pink striped athletic shorts.
Jace lies on the bed, flipping through channels on the television.
His arm rests behind his head, making his bicep bulge.
He’s only wearing boxers, showing off his abs.
“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you think maybe we should see a doctor?
Get you checked out?” he asks hesitantly, setting down the remote.
He stares at me like I might vanish into this floor right in front of him.
“I’m scared that—” He bangs his head against the headboard, his hands covering his face.
I walk toward him, swinging my legs over to straddle his lap. I slowly rip his hands away from his face. “I’m okay Jace. I wasn’t touched like that, if that is what you’re scared about. I’m here. I’m alive. Yes, I might need a little therapy and yeah, I was worried that you wouldn’t find me—”
“Fuck,” he growls, placing his hands over his face again.
I quickly swipe his hands away. “But you did. You came for me.”
“I would tear this whole world to shreds to find you, Lily. I would never give up. I would do unimaginable things to people to find you.”
“I know.” I place a soft kiss on his lips.
Both our heads turn to the door when we hear three knocks. Jace gets out of bed, grabbing the gun on the nightstand, and hides it behind his back. When he opens the door, Celeste is standing outside with bags of food.
She looks between us. “Can we have a moment?”
Jace turns toward me, nodding before walking out the door.
Celeste walks in, closing the door behind her. “It may not be my cooking, but—”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I cut her off.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she says, holding out her arms.
Oh god, a Celeste hug. I must have never left that building. I died and now I’m in heaven. I run to hug her, but then stop, backing up and placing my hand on her stomach to feel.
“It’s been hard.” Celeste’s hand covers mine on her belly.
She is already pretty petite, so it’s not hard to tell there is a little baby in there.
“I found out late that I was pregnant. I’ll be seventeen weeks tomorrow.
This is my first time leaving the house since finding out.
That is why no one knew I was scared that—”
“I’m sorry I haven’t called. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I say softly.
“I’m sorry too.”
Celeste waddles away to sit down on the bed and pull out the food from the bags. “Congratulations, by the way.”
I stand there, staring at her.
“You’re married.” She smiles at me. “I guess you were right. First comes baby.” She points to herself. “Then comes marriage.” She points at me.
We both snort out a laugh while I sit on the bed, picking out the burgers from the bag.
Both are bodies jump when the front door swings wide open. Three men, all over six feet tall, stand in the doorway. Rowan and Jace are upfront, Noah behind them. “Sharing is fucking caring,” Noah says, pushing
between Rowan and Jace. He jumps onto the bed and grabs a burger.
“Save one for Celeste, she needs to eat for two.” Rowan comes striding in after Noah, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
Jace shrugs his shoulder, closing the door behind him. He walks toward me, picking me up so he can seat himself on the bed with me sitting in his lap.
Tears start streaming down my face as I watch the three large men and my pregnant best friend all squeeze onto one twin bed, snatching food from out of each other hands.
We may be across the country, in a disgusting motel, but everything feels right. I was broken, beaten, and bruised. But everyone surrounding me, at this moment, right here, they’re ready to pick up my broken pieces.
They were never going to give up until I was safe in all their arms. Putting my life at risk for the women I saw outside that building will never be something I will regret.
Everything that has happened can’t be changed or forgotten, so I will never regret what I have done. I will never regret giving my love to the one who has loved me since day one.