Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sloan
I’m sitting on a stool behind the register sipping my second iced toffee latte of the day, writing in my journal.
Quinn left around lunch time to go run some errands because it’s been such a slow day today.
It’s been nice though.
It’s allowed me to sit with my thoughts and reflect on how different I am around Beck. Different in a way that I’ve grown to love myself.
There may be times when we unintentionally do something that causes the other to pause briefly, but we’re both learning how to communicate in ways we were never able to with others before.
Beck provides me with a sense of fierce protection to just exist in his presence, while also allowing me to work through my own hurts and fears.
Giving me a safe space to figure out who I actually want to be.
Teaching me to use my voice and express my needs to him.
Something I would have been terrified to do with James, and even my own father.
Beck holds my hand and shows me just how capable I am on my own but offers his silent support always.
I never saw the value in a man this way. Because I had never encountered one this grounded and self-assured. This must be the balance the girls were talking about when I lived in Boston.
Beck and I spent the day at his apartment yesterday and I couldn’t help daydreaming about what it would be like to wake up to him every day.
The perfect lazy Sunday, the only time we moved from the bed was to shower together. Beck took me in positions I never knew my body could bend, bringing me pleasure, I never even knew existed. Allowing me freedom to express my desires. Some I didn’t even know I had.
Feeding me tacos while I was wrapped in his sheets.
Belly-laughing at the most ridiculous things.
One of which was waking up this morning thinking Beck was sprawled out on top of me. Only to find Mayhem stretched out like Superman across my entire body sleeping peacefully.
“Mayhem might actually be as tall as you, Little Dove.” Beck lets out a deep chuckle. That sends instant shivers down my spine.
“Oh, he definitely is. Who’s my handsome boy.” I giggle, wrapping my arms around Mayhem, giving him kisses all over his face.
“I thought I was,” Beck growls, nuzzling his face in my neck.
“You are. You are!” I let out a deep belly-laugh, at Beck’s short beard tickling my neck.
Mayhem hops up, barking, joining in on the fun.
Beck immediately crawls over top of me and takes over Mayhem’s spot. Tickling me to death.
I let out a yelp and can’t catch my breath. I'm laughing so hard.
Beck stops tickling me. Leaning down to kiss me. “I love your laugh, Little Dove. It’s become my new favorite sound.”
You’ve become my new favorite person, Beckett Scott.
A girl could rise in love with a man like you.
The last customer of the day finally closes her book and heads toward the door.
“Have a nice evening, Sloan.” Lucy waves goodbye on her way out.
“You too, Lucy.” I wave back, following her toward the door to lock it.
The sun is setting. The sky is painted like a canvas of cotton candy, pastel pinks and baby blues mixing into a perfect fluffy texture. Like you could reach up and grab it and it would be the perfect sugary concoction.
It’s such a beautiful, balmy evening. Closing my eyes I take a deep breath and just enjoy the moment before locking up WaggingWithWords.
My phone chimes with a text from Beck, that has me smiling even harder to myself.
Him and Mayhem are on their way over from the gym and are grabbing dinner for a movie night in. Falling into a routine with Beck and Mayhem has become natural. Like we were always meant to be doing this. I’ve grown to really love spending the evenings with them.
August and Sutton have been spending late nights at the recording studio, so I don’t expect they’ll be back anytime soon.
Heading toward our apartment stairs, I rush up the steps to the door so I can freshen up really quickly before Beck and Mayhem get here.
The door’s unlocked when I twist the handle which makes me pause for just a second.
I shake off the discomfort. Figuring Sutton, August or Beck must’ve accidentally forgot to lock it this morning.
When I turn around to lock the door, my hair stands up on the back of my neck.
My senses are on high alert.
Something feels off.
Whipping around, a dozen white roses stand at attention in a vase on the island.
Beck knows I hate white roses.
August only ever gets Sutton purple flowers.
I turn around and go to rip the door open to run. But my feet become paralyzed at the sound of his voice, as my hand grips the doorknob.
“Take one more step, Reesey and the blonde girl gets hurt.”
A whoosh of air leaves my lungs. “No.”
Not Quinn. James better not lay a single finger on her.
“Yes.” His single confirmation causing bile to rise in the back of my throat.
“Don’t make another move. Don’t say a fucking word or I will kill you both,” James rasps in my ear, sneaking up on me.
“Where is Quinn? What did you do to her?”
“I’m sure you’d like to know where I took your little friend when she left work earlier today,” James mocks.
He presses his body so close to the back of mine. Almost pinning me against the door.
My body is screaming at me to get the fuck out of here.
It takes everything in me not to recoil. Not to figure out how to rip this door open while he has me cornered like this and run.
But Quinn. I need to know she’s safe.
I’m completely frozen on the spot as James stands even closer behind me with his arms wrapped around my chest. Pinning my arms to my sides. The door directly in front of my sight.
My heart is beating so hard I can feel it thumping in my ears.
Do not panic, Sloan. Do not fucking panic.
“It took almost an entire fucking year for the idiot private investigator to track you down and then another few days to figure out how to get in here and get you alone, Reesey. But here we finally are. You’re never fucking alone here!
” James slams his hand hard against the door, next to my head, causing me to flinch.
“How dare you fucking run from me! No one leaves me, Reese!” James booms. Squeezing my arms to my body so hard, I feel like I could pop.
“All the roses… It wasn’t all in my head.” I can barely speak.
“Hmm…I don’t know? Was it all in your head? What roses are you talking about exactly? The ones on your island? I brought those just for you. I know how much you love them,” James remarks.
His hand slides up into my hair, gripping it hard and yanking my head back. Tears prick my eyes at how hard he’s pulling my hair. I can barely move. James has me trapped.
My vision starts to go blurry. I feel like I can’t breathe.
No. Do not fucking panic, Sloan.
“You really thought you could leave me, Reese’s Pieces?
I always fucking hated that nickname the girls gave you.
Thought you could just disappear without a trace?
Stop showing up to work without turning in a notice?
Humiliating me? Embarrassing me? Making me look stupid because I have to make up lies for my wife? ” James bites out.
“I…I’m sorry James,” I start to cry. Hoping if I show signs of regret that it’ll buy me time to form a plan to get me the hell out of here. To make sure Quinn is safe.
James pulls my hair back even harder causing me to wince.
A lone tear streams down my face from the pain.
An evil grin splits his face.
“A sheriff came to our home and delivered me divorce papers, Reesey…and you know what else? A restraining order,” James scoffs.
“What do you need that for? I gave you the perfect life. Everything you could possibly fucking need and you have the nerve to be an ungrateful little bitch. You have a man come to my home and serve me papers?” James snarls disgusted.
“I’m s-s-sorry, James. I w-w-was just scared.” I stutter, tears running down my face.
“You think a measly little piece of paper can keep me from my wife?” James chuckles. “I threw those papers in the shredder. They’re null and void, Reesey. You are mine. You became mine the second you signed your life to me at our wedding.”
“Okay.” I try to nod my head, hoping he’ll release my hair some.
“You humiliated me. Those two little bitches at the hospital you spent too much time with said you probably left me. Started rumors, saying you probably couldn’t stand me anymore.
That you had no other choice. I made sure they were fired for disrespecting me.
Made sure the hospital knew you were on medical leave.
Suffering from a depressive episode. Had a psychotic break and I had to institutionalize you for your safety,” James growls.
No. No. No. Not Kailey and Maria. He couldn’t have… But he could… James has so much pull at the hospital, almost like he’s royalty that they would do anything he asks to make sure they can keep him.
“Even here, you are still humiliating me. I saw you fucking that meathead in the window of that gym! You are a filthy fucking whore. Spending too much time gallivanting around here with other men. Acting like a whore. Serving fucking coffee. You were a nurse for fuck’s sake.
You serve nobody except for me. Do you hear me, Reesey? ”
“I… Yes, I hear you. I’m so sorry, James. Please let me go. Can we please sit and talk about this?” I beg.
“You see, the way I see it Reesey is you have two choices. So, choose wisely—” he starts talking over me.
“Please let me go, James. We can talk about this in the living room,” I suggest softly. Trying to make him think I’m being compliant.
“You don’t get to speak or tell me where to have this conversation. You lost that privilege. Now listen to me, Reese. Your two options are,” he growls. Yanking my head back, almost knocking me off balance.