Chapter Twenty-Three
Devin’s POV
How the hell was I supposed to tell Eddie that Caleb and fucking Bitchy Becky were stopping by my apartment?
At least, I think it was them still. Showing up separately.
Caleb started showing up, begging me to take him back shit, to marry him again, promising that he could make it right, fix all his wrongs.
He even had the audacity to say that we could be a family!
After I threatened to call the cops on him, he’d stopped coming around as frequently.
It was usually when he was hammered and stumbled here that he would show up anymore.
But I was tired of the bullshit from him!
Because that’s exactly what it was. Bullshit.
He did it twice. Showing up at my apartment and I’ll be damned if I let him do it again.
I wasn’t as stupid as he thought I was. I had all of the recordings saved.
I promised I would press charges with the police, pursue a restraining order, whatever I needed, for him to leave me the fuck alone.
And then I had her, that fucking bitch! She decided that coming to my apartment, at all mother fucking hours of the day and night, was somehow a brilliant idea.
I ignored her, and when she didn’t leave, I talked to her through the doorbell cam.
I told her to leave or I would call the police.
She was only getting a single warning because this bitch went after a married man.
My married man. And I had no feelings towards her one way or the other.
She made the decision to call the cops when she started shouting at me, calling me everything but a Christian woman, easy.
I was on the phone with the police while she was yelling in the hallway that I was keeping her child’s father from her, demanding to know why I was ‘destroying a happy family’!
The scene she caused was so bad that now even my neighbors look at me like I’m a piece of shit. A few of them threw me dirty looks when she got arrested, screaming about being pregnant, and demanding I ‘let him go’.
How the fuck do I tell him that? He’s too protective! And that’s not even the worst part!
Word about this…nuisance had spread.
Far and fucking wide.
The offers that were in on my apartment? Gone. They’ve vanished, disa-fucking-ppeared into thin air. My realtor said no one was looking at my property because of the recent disturbances. My jaw hit the floor and I had to do whatever I could to clear my apartment’s name!
I just had one, teensy-weensy, little problem.
I couldn’t sell this fucking place if I couldn’t get them to leave me fuck alone!
No matter how many times I called the police, after the first time at least, they were either gone by the time they showed up, or they just left when the cops asked them to.
My favorite was when I’d ask to press charges for harassment, I was told, ‘There’s nothing we can do, Ma’am. ’
Motherfucking why?! WHY NOT?! Hot tears started pouring down my cheeks like it was a fucking competition to see which side could produce more.
I didn’t understand why I couldn’t keep it together lately.
Why I couldn’t go days without crying. I spent more and more time at work.
Even sleeping there. Two nights ago when Caleb showed up drunk, I saw the notification, called the police from the floor of the hospital I was on.
I let them know I wasn’t home, my ex was harassing me at my home and my landlord was about to kick me out. I said I wanted to press charges.
“I know this call is being recorded, so I want it recorded that I called again and again for help from the harassment I am receiving from my ex-husband and his mistress. It has been two months. How much longer until something can be done? I see everything she’s doing on camera right now!”
I knew I sounded creepy thanks to the calm of my voice, but I was genuinely so upset that no one had done a damn thing. I wanted them to know in case Caleb turned out to be crazy or Becky went ballistic one time and broke in.
Yes, it was my last night, but I didn’t want to be here.
I didn’t want to spend even one more night in this hellhole!
I didn’t know what to do and the last time I called the cops, I just burst into tears when he said that there wasn’t anything he could do,with a straight face.
He said that to my face. I asked what I was supposed to do then.
His response?
“Have you considered moving?” The dark, humorless, chuckle, or cackle, based on how his face contorted, I let out must have given him a clue as to what my next words would be.
“I’ve been trying to sell this place for two months, Officer.
Word about them has gotten out. No one wants to buy the place of someone they think is keeping a child's father from it, even though they’re the ones who had the fucking affair in the first place!
No one gives a shit that I’m the one who was cheated on, not the other fucking woman!
So, I ask again, Officer. What. Do. I. Fucking.
Do?” I gritted out, my chest heaving by the end of it, from trying to hold back the angry tears that were ready to show him just how furious I was by his insensitive suggestion.
My voice was thick with emotion as I continued before he could open his mouth and say something else insensitive and uncaring.
“I don’t mean to cuss at you. But I’m doing everything I can think of that I should be doing.
I’m calling you guys. I’m trying to get it documented for a restraining order.
I’ve got the paperwork inside for the witness statement they want me to give because my ex, who keeps coming to beg me back, got raped, by the woman shouting about what an absolute, wretched bitch I am.
What. Do. I do?” I begged! My emotions during that conversation two days ago with the police were like a wave, going from really high off that swell of anger, then to small and sad by the end of it. Because I was so tired.
I couldn’t keep doing this.
Eddie wrapped me in a hug, bringing me back to the present.
I sobbed. Harder than I have in months. Harder than I thought I would for a long time.
He somehow got us out of the cab and into my apartment.
Somehow, he got me into my bathroom, and soaking in a warm bubble bath.
While I bathed, he got me my favorite of his college sweats, one of the only outfits I hadn’t packed up yet.
When I was done soaking, I toweled off and put them on.
I opened the bathroom door and he walked me over to the bed, sitting behind me, brushing and braiding my hair. I felt like a doll.
I should never have told them I was fine.
I’m not.
I'm not okay.
Eddie held me, for how long, I don’t know. What I do know, is that he held me until the knocking on my door began. I use the term loosely. I tensed as soon as I heard it with his drunken mumbling again. My phone pinged with a notification. The doorbell camera, showing Caleb swaying back and forth.
My whole body flinched as soon as it started, the noise, the repeated knocking and mumblings, as well as the phone pinging. Eddie tensed when I did, his hackles raised on the defensive.
Shit.
This wasn’t how I wanted him to find out.
“W-wait,” I said, already reaching for my phone to call the police again.
He was already standing, ready to give either a verbal tongue lashing or an ass-whooping to who I knew was Caleb, Eddie didn’t know that.
He had no idea who it was behind the door that was making me tense up like this.
I grabbed his hand as he took his first steps toward the door, anchoring him feebly to me.
I looked up at him, but he kept his eyes locked on the door like whoever was cop-knocking was going to somehow break the door down with their fist.
If that’s all the stronger my door was, I’ve got bigger problems.
“Who.” He demanded and I held his hand tighter, as I looked at the floor. He was gonna be so mad at me. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to take a moment, but it was clearly not quick enough for him.
“Who, Devin Fia?” I knew he was seconds from snapping if I was getting the full name. I was only ever ‘Fia’ to him.
Ever.
Once my mouth opened, it all spilled out like it was one big, giant, long word instead of separate ones that formed actual sentences.
“One of two people who have been doing this for weeks. All hours of the day. All twenty-four of them. My apartment won't sell because of them and the cops told me to move. That was the great advice they gave me from all sixty-five times I have called them in the last two and a half months.”
“Fia. I’m trying to have…any kind of patience. But I’m about to break their fucking hand if they keep knocking on this door. Man or woman. You’re just fueling the fire. Now, how hard can I swing? Bitch or whore?”
“Caleb. It sounds like Caleb’s drunk ramblings. It doesn’t sound like Becky’s banshee screeching,” I muttered, hoping he couldn’t react like this. But I should have known better. He’d never let anyone treat me like this, let alone one of them!
He broke my grip on his arm and stormed the front door, flinging it open, damn near ripping it off its hinges.
Caleb stood stock still in the doorway, looking like a deer in headlights.
All confusion and disbelief after the door not opening for weeks.
He was looking up at Eddie like he’d just pissed himself, and he might have.
It wouldn’t have been the first time he got too drunk and pissed his pants.
Eddie was huffing, standing over top of him, and looked like he could have had smoke coming out of the top of his head.
I knew he was about to make a scene. A loud one, if his stance was anything to go by.
Partly in, partly out, of the apartment, and turned to the side, giving just enough of a glance into the apartment so everyone who looked could see in and see me standing there.
I had no idea what was going to happen.
“What in the fuck,” he’s off to a great, loud, start.
Fuck. My. Life, “does your pathetic cheating ass want with my sweet, and kindhearted sister?! Huh?! Having your fucking mistress come here and spread fucking lies about her wasn’t enough?
! You’re here bright and fucking early to ruin her day on a weekend?
!” Eddie sounded indignant while pointing back at me, looking incredibly pathetic with tear stains down my cheeks.
He was just warming up as he continued, still pointing at me!
“She filed for and was granted a divorce from your pathetic, self-centered, cheating ass, was granted days ago!” Eddie was screaming at this point, and the neighbors were coming out to listen to the latest gossip that was being served pu to them on a silver fucking platter!
“And! How about you keep your nasty ass mistress the fuck away from my sister?! I swear! If either of you come back here or show up before her again? I won’t be calling the cops.
Now, quit harassing Devin before I have to contact our amazing lawyer again.
She practices a few different types of law.
And she knows all the best lawyers in town, and the state, that I need to fucking bury you in legal fees and court costs.
Got it?” Eddie looked around like he knew he had these people by the balls!
They were all so into this juicy bit of gossip, and now I was thankful it was my last day here.
Eddie leaned down to Caleb’s height by bending his knees and resting his hands on his knees like he was talking to a little kid, knowing damn well Caleb had always been insecure because he wasn’t the tallest guy at six-foot, six-one.
“Have you happened to find a job yet? Can you afford the legal fees that come from my lawyer?” Eddie talked a big game, really beating down anything that liquid courage did for Caleb with every word he spoke.
Caleb flushed, embarrassed as he refused to answer Eddie’s quiet question. He turned and sprinted out of the hallway. I just looked at Eddie. He came back inside and slammed the door shut.
“When does that blue waffle show up?” I just stared at him. “I’ll get the door when she knocks. Also, I’m calling Amber to update her. She’ll want to bring popcorn. Oh! So will Clint. I’ll see if he’ll bring the Chinese and Thai.” His voice was hard, annoyed, and slightly angry.
He smiled tightly at me, before he walked into the kitchen to start making calls. When I moved myself into the kitchen to see what the banging and clanging was. He was off the phone, and apparently making finger foods.
What the fuck just happened?