Chapter Three #2
“How about you call me when you’re done here?
” I ask and Alex nods. He reaches over and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
My skin warms up where his fingers just touched and I close the distance between us.
My breasts are nearly touching his arm and I feel my face flush with heat as his hand moves to my hip.
Alex leans in and places a quick kiss on my cheek.
“Sounds good. I’ll see you later,” he says before climbing aboard the boat with his buddies.
I start back towards the inn and I know every one of them is checking out my ass as I walk away. I don’t know what has gotten into me, but that dream has really boosted my need to get laid.
The day goes by in a blink and by the time night falls, I haven’t heard a word from Alex.
Part of me is relieved because I have no interest in starting a relationship with a tourist. Jason was a tourist and look how well that worked out.
I think my morning has messed with my head and made me crave just being close to someone.
I miss that feeling, but I know deep down that no one can replace Beck. These other guys are just Band-Aids.
As I’m leaving the inn I get a text from Erin telling me she’s running late, but will be at my house in an hour.
I’m relieved by her latency, since I haven’t had a moment to sit down.
I arrive home, shower, put the lasagna in the oven and open a bottle of red wine before finally sitting down on the couch.
Just as my ass hits the couch, Bella begins to whine at my feet, looking up at me with those adorable soulful eyes.
“You just went out,” I complain, but she still pushes me with her nose towards the back door.
Reluctantly, I get up and open the back door as she darts out into the yard chasing a squirrel that seems to have been taunting her for the last week.
Laughing at the simplicity of her and her entertainment, I trudge back into the living room.
Hitting the couch once again, I exhale loudly hoping for a few minutes of quiet.
I grab a magazine off the end table and begin catching up on all the celebrity gossip I missed over the last week.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I know someone is knocking on my door. I roll my eyes and curse under my breath.
“Use your key, Erin!” I shout from my couch. She knocks again, harder this time. “Damn it, you lazy pain in the ass!”
I stomp over to the door making it extra loud so she realizes how annoyed I am with her. I swing open the door and flippantly greet her, but it’s not Erin.
I don’t even have an opportunity to scream or run before his hands are around my neck. Jason shoves me up against the wall as his hands constrict my breathing, squeezing tighter until I feel myself grow lightheaded.
For some reason, my thoughts immediately go to Beck.
I remember Googling him this morning, seeing pictures of him, reading articles and finding out he was recently promoted to detective.
He looked good in a suit—so handsome and professional and incredibly sexy.
I was proud of him even if I can’t seem to forget that he left me.
In this moment, I wonder if he’d be able to protect me from all of this.
If I could have just given in and moved to Boston with him, none of this would be happening.
“You fucking whore!” he shouts and his grip loosens slightly. I suck in a ragged breath before he realizes he’s letting up. “I saw you with that guy on the dock today. How dare you press your fucking tits against him and flirt with him when you belong to me. You. Are. Mine,” he growls.
I have no idea how I’m going to get away from him. Bella’s outside and my fear is taking over, making me panic, making me think he just might kill me this time.
Tears begin streaming down my cheeks and my body goes lax. I can hear my heartbeat pulsing in my ears, beating hard and loud, but cutting through it is Erin’s harsh voice.
“Let go of her, you motherfucker.” Her voice is completely controlled and firm, but it does nothing to shake Jason’s confidence.
I catch her eyes and she flashes me the handgun she carries with her everywhere she goes.
Pressing the gun to the back of his head, she says, “I have a gun, dickhead, and I’m from the south. I know how to use it.”
Slowly Jason releases his hands from my neck and backs away from Erin and her shiny little pistol. His hands go up in a defensive position, but his repulsive smile still remains. How did I ever get involved with him in the first place?
Just as quickly as he arrived, he’s gone. And once again, I’m left reeling. I collapse in a heap with my head in my hands. Erin falls to her knees next to me, pulling me into her arms as I cry uncontrollably.
“I’m calling Finn,” she whispers and I nod my head.
Only minutes later, Finn and a few deputies have assembled outside my house and they take statements from Erin and me as they begin to search the area for Jason. The other officers leave with direct orders from Finn to find Jason and bring him into the station.
Finn lags behind following Erin and me into the house as I let Bella in from the backyard. She growls at Finn but once she realizes who it is, she sits neatly at my feet.
“Where was Cujo when all this was going down?” Finn asks, his tone condescending.
“Stop it! This isn’t her fault,” I retort back sharply.
“No, you’re right. You’re the one who got involved with this prick. What the hell were you thinking, Kelsey?”
I can’t even respond. A sick feeling takes over and the vomit rises in my throat. Beck’s face instantly comes to my mind. I wouldn’t be in this situation if he hadn’t left me. Jason wouldn’t exist in my world if Beck hadn’t chosen Boston and his job over me.
“Whoa, stop right there! Don’t you fucking dare blame this on Kelsey!” Erin shouts, pointing a finger at Finn. “Where the hell were you and your band of Mayberry losers?”
“Piss off. Why didn’t you shoot him when you had the chance, Annie Oakley? Do you even have a permit for that thing?”
Erin throws her hands in the air and lets out an exasperated sigh. I can’t take it any longer. I realize I brought this on myself, but there is no reason why I have to sit here and listen to them argue with each other. I’ve had a hell of a night and this is just adding to my anxiety.
“Get out! Both of you! Leave now!” I shout and it startles not only the two of them, but also Bella.
“What?” Erin asks, completely astonished.
“Yeah, you heard me. Leave. I can’t do this right now.”
She stares at me wide-eyed and confused. I know she thinks I shouldn’t be alone, but if she stays, if Finn stays, I’m going to feel the need to keep it together. I can’t let either of them see me falter any more than they already have.
“Fine,” they both respond in unison, but leave unwillingly as Finn tells me he’ll be parked outside whether I like it or not.
Just before stepping out the door, I run my fingers along my throat and feel the swollen ridges Jason’s fingers left. Finn’s eyes dart to my neck and he shakes his head.
I slam the door before either of them can see the tears.
Damn it, Beck. Maybe I do need you.