Everly
EVERLY
I barely made it back to my truck. I sat there, stunned, trying to connect the dots. Paul had lied about everything. Why had he come back here? A roof over his head? Some fucked-up idea of starting things up again? No wonder he’d been so bullish last night about moving back in. With no job, no money, no prospects, he didn’t have a lot of choices. He probably thought it’d be easy, that I’d spent the last two years pining for him and would take him back in a heartbeat.
A cop. I could hardly believe it.
Correction. Former cop.
I couldn’t let this lie, especially now that I knew the truth. Jesus, my whole adult life had been a sham. But Rhett was real, and I’d fight with everything I had to protect him. I needed to call a lawyer, find out what my rights were when it came to keeping Rhett safe and out of Paul’s clutches. There was no way I wanted a morally corrupt man anywhere near my son.
My only issue? Lawyers were far more expensive than therapists, and if I hadn’t been able to afford one of those in order to help Rhett, how the heck would I find the money to pay exorbitant legal fees?
Nico.
I could ask him to loan me the money. Even if it took me the rest of my life to pay him back, I would. He owed me nothing, but his declaration that he’d wait for me gave me the confidence to ask him for help. I didn’t want charity, but without Nico’s assistance, Paul might gain regular access to Rhett or, God forbid, joint custody. A top lawyer behind me would at least give me a fighting chance.
My heart hammered at the idea of calling Nico, not because I thought he’d reject me but because I knew I didn’t deserve the support he would undoubtedly offer without a single string attached. I must have had rocks in my head to cut him off so harshly, and all to give Paul a chance to rebuild a relationship with Rhett.
The whole thing, our entire relationship, had been a lie. I kept thinking it, over and over, the word lies screaming inside my head. All those years I’d thought I knew whom I was sharing a bed with… I’d given myself to a stranger.
If I thought back, Paul had always been self-centered and narcissistic, thinking only of himself. God, with the benefit of hindsight and a clear head, I could tear out my hair at the roots at how I let him ride roughshod over me, how I’d always try to keep the peace, and that meant usually letting Paul have his way. With everything. From where we shopped to the clothes I wore. Paul always had an opinion, and I’d just gone along with whatever he wanted.
What a fucking doormat.
Well, no longer.
Time’s up.
I drove home, wondering what I’d do if I found Paul waiting for me. Lucky for him I didn’t own a gun. The temptation to put the barrel to his head and pull the trigger would be too much to resist. The cruelty of living a lie for all those years and then leaving without a second thought intensified my anger to shocking proportions. I hadn’t thought myself capable of such powerful feelings of pure rage. Yet the strength of wrath screaming through me was very real.
When I returned home, Paul was nowhere to be seen thankfully. I slipped inside the house and sat at the kitchen table staring at my phone, trying to pluck up the courage to call Nico. Five times I almost pressed the call button, only to draw back as if the screen burned as soon as I touched it. Giving myself a mental slap, on the sixth attempt, I did.
“,” Nico’s voice came over the line, full of so much concern I almost burst into tears on the spot. “I’m so glad you called. Is everything okay?”
“No. Not really.” I fell into silence, unsure of where to even begin telling such a far-fetched, fantastical story.
“Talk to me, love. Please. Tell me what’s going on.”
His gentle voice coaxed me into spilling the whole sorry tale. I omitted the part where Paul kissed and roughly handled me. Now wasn’t the time. He’d go all alpha on me, like he had when he’d found that bruise on Rhett’s arm, and right now, I needed him to stay calm and tell me everything would be okay.
Nico listened without interruption. Only when I reached the part about needing a loan and a lawyer did he intervene.
“Listen to me very carefully, . I’ll find you a top lawyer, so cross that off your list of things to worry about. I want you to put down the phone, pack a bag for you and Rhett, and get over here.”
Hot tears pricked the back of my eyes. I did not deserve this man.
“I’m so sorry, Nico,” I said, swallowing past a lump in my throat. “Sorry that I cast us aside so easily. I will make it up to you. I promise.”
“We’ll talk later. For now, just do as I ask. I’ll meet you at the house.”
Relief surged through me. Thank God I’d met Nico. My heart swelled at how generously, and without reproach, he welcomed me back with open arms.
“Rhett’s in school,” I said.
There was a pause, and then Nico said, “I’m coming over. No arguments. Until I get there, I want you to lock all the doors and windows. Don’t open up to anyone, okay?”
“You’re overreacting,” I said, adoring him even more for his protectiveness. “I’ll pack bags for us both, pick Rhett up after class, and drive straight over to your place.”
“I don’t like it.”
I smiled. “It’ll be fine. Dorothy is right next door, and besides, I know that Wednesday is one of your busiest times at the track.”
He made a sound in the back of his throat. “Okay. Just, please, be careful.”
“I will.”
I hung up the phone, and for the first time in days, the darkness that filled my every waking moment lifted. With Nico, I felt cared for, protected, and most of all, safe. His authoritative, take-charge attitude was exactly what I needed right now. I’d struggled on my own for so long. I’d gladly allow Nico to carry the burden for a while. It didn’t make me weak; it made me courageous. I always remembered my dad saying, “To ask for help is a great strength, . Never be afraid to reach out.” My only regret was that it had taken me too long to act on my dad’s wise words.
Despite scolding Nico for overreacting, I did as he requested and checked that I’d locked the back and front doors, and then I checked the windows, too. The only window that didn’t close properly was the bathroom one, but even a child would struggle to crawl through a space that small. A guy Paul’s size wouldn’t even fit one shoulder in the gap.
I dashed into my bedroom and opened the closet, removing a duffel bag. I tossed in a few clothes, enough for at least a week. Darting into the bathroom, I threw some toiletries into a bag.
I packed a suitcase for Rhett, making sure to cram in some of his favorite toys and books. It was bad enough I’d have to try to explain Paul’s absence when he’d only just gotten his father back. Already I dreaded the conversation. I had no idea how it would go. What if he blamed me or insisted on seeing Paul? How would I even begin to explain the truth to a six-year-old who’d already suffered so much?
As I zipped up the suitcase, a scraping sound gave me a momentary pause. I froze, my ears straining to pick up any other sounds. There were none. On silent feet, I padded across Rhett’s room and peered around the door into the living room. Empty. I tiptoed into the kitchen. Same.
I smiled to myself. “Pull yourself together, .”
“Hmm,” a voice came from behind me, one that sent a chill racing down my spine. “That’s good advice.”