1. Roxie
ROXIE
All I’ve managed to do is trade the devil I knew for the devil I’m still learning.
Present day…
“Hey, Roxanne.”
I let Greg wrap his arms around me in a hug and manage to hide the wince when his touch hits the hidden bruises beneath my clothes.
Jace, my fiancé, laid into me last night after accusing me of cheating when I was running late getting home from work.
Moving to Boston was supposed to be a chance at a new life, but all it’s gotten me is more pain and misery to last a lifetime.
“Hi,” I greet him when his arms fall to his sides.
“We weren’t sure you were gonna make it,” Melody says, standing next to Greg.
Smiling tightly, I say, “Yeah, sorry it’s been so long. Things are crazy at home.”
At least that much is true. Between work and wedding planning, my time is filled with shit to do. For two years, we’ve always met for dinner on a weekly basis, but lately, I’m lucky to participate once a month.
“Anything we can help with?” Sammie, the fourth member of our friend group, asks.
I shake my head. “No. Jace and I have things under control.”
They stare at me as if trying to mind-control the truth from my lips, but I stand firm.
“Well, all you have to do is ask,” Greg finally says. “And we’ll be there.”
“I know, and I appreciate it.”
I follow them to the table in the corner they were sitting at when I arrived. None of us needs to see the menu, as this is our usual place to dine, and as soon as we place our orders, the conversation returns to me.
“How are the wedding plans coming?” Melody asks.
I release a sigh, wanting to talk about something else, anything else, and realizing my friends aren’t gonna let me off that easily.
“Good. We’ve got the venue booked, and save the dates are going out next week.
We meet with a few caterers tomorrow, and I’ve got several appointments scheduled at bridal boutiques to look for a dress. Those aren’t until next month, though.”
“Sounds like things are coming along,” Greg says after taking a sip of his wine.
“They are.”
A few minutes later, our meals are delivered, and we eat in comfortable silence. I met the three of them a week after moving to Boston. They were roommates in the apartment down the hall from mine, and we quickly became friends. Now, I don’t know what I’d do without them.
“Are you going to make it next week?” Sammie asks as we walk out of the restaurant an hour later.
“Yeah,” I reply. “I’ll be here with bells on.”
Unless Jace gets careless again.
We each go our separate ways, and when I reach my car, my phone pings from inside my purse. After sliding into the driver’s seat, I pull the cell out of my purse and see a text from Jace.
Jace: Where r u????
Me: Just leaving the restaurant to head home
Three dots bounce on the screen as he types a reply. They disappear several times before taunting me for a full minute, causing me to groan.
Jace: I don’t know why u insist on spending time with those people. We’re getting married so u don’t need them anymore. Get ur ass home. I’m hungry and tired of waiting on u.
Every cell in my body wants to tell him to fuck off, but I know that will only result in pain for me, so I don’t bother. I’m tired and would like a relatively peaceful night for once.
Me: I’ll be home soon. Do you want me to pick something up for you?
Jace: What I want is u to prepare a meal for me, but I’ll settle if I have to
Me: I’ll pick up a steak dinner from your favorite place
I grind my teeth as I type the words and hit send. Jace’s favorite place is thirty minutes in the opposite direction of our home, but I’d rather do that than cook for him. I call and place the order before pulling away from the curb and heading east.
Almost an hour and a half later, I pull into our driveway and park. When I step inside, Jace is pacing the living room, and he glares at me.
“What took so long?” he snaps.
“I had to have them redo your steak,” I tell him. “I ordered it medium rare, and the one they tried to give me was medium well.”
His tense shoulders slump, and he quirks the corner of his mouth up. “Oh. Well, thank you.”
I force a smile as I hand him the bag with his meal. “You’re welcome.”
“Come sit with me while I eat,” he orders, turning to stalk toward the kitchen.
Rolling my eyes, I walk to the dining room and sit, waiting for him to join me. All I want to do is take a hot bath and crawl into bed, but it doesn’t seem like that’ll be happening any time soon.
“So,” he says as he sits at the head of the table. “I’ve come to a decision.”
“Oh?”
“I’m moving the wedding up,” he announces.
My eyes widen. “But… We’ve already booked the venue, Jace,” I remind him. “And the save the dates are already back from the printer.”
He waves a hand dismissively, almost dislodging the asparagus on the end of the fork he’s holding. “We won’t need them. There’s not enough time to send them anyway.”
My stomach knots. “And the venue?”
“I’ve already called and rebooked it for two weeks from Saturday.”
“Why the hurry?” I ask, doing my best not to vomit. “We still have so much to do.”
“My assistant is taking care of everything,” he says as if that makes it all better. “All you have to do is find a dress.”
“Your assistant?”
His gaze snaps to mine. “Is that a problem?”
You mean other than the fact that she’s made it no secret that she wants to fuck you?
“No, no problem.”
If I’m being honest with myself, I couldn’t care less if he bangs her. The more he takes his aggression out on someone else, the less I have to hurt.
Fuck, that makes me sound like a cold-hearted bitch.
“Anyway, you’ll pick out a dress tomorrow and bring it by the office so I can give my stamp of approval.”
“I…” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Okay.”
He eats the rest of his dinner in silence, leaving me to stew about how I’ve lost myself in the darkness that is him.
I ran from my hometown to escape alpha assholes and the misogynistic lifestyle of my brother’s club, Limitless Throttle MC, but all I’ve managed to do is trade the devil I knew for the devil I’m still learning.