Chapter 22 Lila
Lila
The Uber ride to Mia’s place feels surreal, like I’m floating slightly above the backseat.
My skin still burns where he touched me, my lips still tingle from his kiss.
Valerie and Mia flank me on either side, shooting glances at each other over my head when they think I’m not looking.
They’re dying to ask questions, I can tell, but the Uber driver’s presence keeps them quiet for now.
I press my forehead against the cool window and watch the streets blur past, wondering what the hell I’m doing with my life and why it suddenly feels more right than it has in years.
“You good?” Valerie whispers, nudging me gently with her elbow.
I nod without turning from the window. I’m better than good.
When we pull up to Mia’s townhouse, we stumble out in a giggling heap, our heels dangling from our fingers. The night air is cool against my flushed skin, and I tilt my face up to feel the breeze. Above us, stars punch through the darkness, witnessing everything.
“Come on, princess,” Mia says, tugging me toward the door. “Save the stargazing for when we’re inside with wine.”
Her place is exactly what you’d expect. Stylish but comfortable, with photographs on every wall and throw pillows in shades of blue and gray. I’ve been here a couple of times, but tonight it feels different. Safer. Like a sanctuary.
“Alright, pajama time,” Valerie announces, heading for Mia’s bedroom. “I call the pink set!”
We change out of our dresses, wiping away makeup and pulling our hair into messy buns. I borrow a pair of Mia’s sleep shorts and an oversized t-shirt with a faded logo. The fabric smells like her laundry detergent. It’s comforting.
Back in the living room, Mia uncorks a bottle of red wine while Valerie arranges crackers, cheese, and grapes on a wooden board.
I sink into the corner of the couch, tucking my feet beneath me.
Everything feels soft-edged and warm, nothing like the sharp corners and cold silence of my house with Eli.
“Here,” Mia hands me a glass of wine, then settles cross-legged on the floor opposite me. “Now, spill it.”
I take a long sip, the wine smooth and rich on my tongue. “Spill what?”
Valerie snorts, dropping onto the couch beside me. “Don’t play dumb. What happened in that VIP room with Mr. Mysterious Mask?”
My cheeks flush hot at the memory. “Nothing much.”
“Bullshit,” Mia says, leaning forward. “You went in there looking nervous and came out looking like you’d been thoroughly kissed. Maybe more.”
I bite my lip, unsure how much to share. These are my best friends, but some things feel too private, too precious to voice aloud.
“Fine,” I sigh. “We talked. He told me some things about Eli that I already suspected. We... got close. That’s it.”
“Define close,” Valerie presses, nudging my knee with hers.
I roll my eyes. “We kissed. It was nice. That’s all you’re getting.”
It’s not the whole truth, but it’s all I’m willing to share. The rest, his mouth between my thighs, my hand wrapped around him, the sounds he made when he came, that’s mine alone.
“And what did he tell you about Eli?” Mia asks, her tone shifting from playful to serious.
I swirl the wine in my glass, watching it catch the light. “That he’s been cheating. With prostitutes.”
“I fucking knew it!” Mia shouts, slamming her palm against the floor. “That slimy piece of shit. I knew he was screwing around.”
Valerie’s face darkens, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Are you sure the mask guy is telling the truth? How would he even know that?”
“He’s been following Eli,” I admit. “Watching him, like he’s been watching me. He had photos and receipts.”
“Jesus, Lila,” Valerie whispers. “This is so fucked up.”
“I know,” I say, but there’s no real conviction in my voice.
“But it makes sense. The ‘business trips,’ he doesn’t want to touch me anymore-not that that is a bad thing.
He locks himself in his office for hours.
.. I’ve suspected for a while.” I keep some of that a secret because they don't know anything about the sexual assaults I've endured.
“That bastard,” Valerie seethes. “After everything else he’s put you through? The control, the isolation, the fucking mind games? And now this?”
I nod, surprised by how little pain I feel. Maybe I’ve been numb to Eli for longer than I realized. Or maybe tonight, with the masked man, something fundamental shifted inside me.
“Val’s right,” Mia says, her dark eyes flashing with anger. “Eli has always been garbage, but this is next level. You need to leave him, Lila. For real this time.”
The words hang in the air between us. I’ve talked about leaving before, in whispers and hypotheticals. But it’s always seemed impossible, where would I go? How would I survive without access to our joint accounts? What would Eli do when he found me?
“I know,” I say finally, my voice stronger than I expected. “I’m going to.”
Valerie’s eyes widen. “For real? You’re not just saying that?”
“For real,” I confirm, and as the words leave my mouth, I feel their truth settle into my bones. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep living like a ghost in my own life.”
Mia springs to her feet, nearly spilling her wine in her excitement. “Holy shit, yes! Finally!”
“It won’t be easy,” Valerie warns, always the practical one. “Eli won’t just let you go.”
“I know,” I say again, because I do. Eli sees me as a possession, not a person. “But I have to try.”
“Stay here,” Mia says immediately. “My guest room is yours for as long as you need it.”
Tears prick at my eyes, unexpected and unwelcome. I blink them away. “Are you sure? It could be a while before I get on my feet.”
“Positive,” Mia says firmly. “My house is your house. Always has been.”
“When do you want to do this?” Valerie asks, already shifting into planning mode. “We should be strategic.”
I take another sip of wine, thinking. “He’s away until Tuesday. So maybe Monday? That gives us three days to plan.”
“Perfect,” Valerie nods. “We’ll need to be quick. In and out. Only take what you absolutely need.”
“Clothes,” I list off. “My laptop. Important documents.”
“Your books,” Mia adds with a small smile. “At least some of them.”
The thought of my library, my sanctuary in that cold house, makes my chest tighten. “I can’t take them all.”
“We’ll get you new ones,” Valerie promises. “A whole new collection.”
“And we’ll need to think about legal stuff,” Mia says, her brow furrowing. “Divorce papers, restraining orders if necessary.”
The word ‘divorce’ sends a shock through me, though it shouldn’t. That’s what this is, what I’m planning. The end of my marriage. The thought brings both terror and relief.
“We’ll figure it out,” Valerie says firmly. “Between the three of us, we have enough to keep you afloat until we can sort out the finances.”
Mia nods in agreement. “And you can pick up more hours at the print shop if you want. Or we can pay you more. Whatever you need.”
Their generosity overwhelms me. These women, who have stood by me through years of Eli’s abuse, who have watched me shrink and fade and still refused to give up on me. I don’t deserve them.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Both of you.”
“Don’t thank us,” Mia scoffs. “Just promise you won’t back out this time.”
I think about the masked man, about Anthony, if that’s really his name. About how he made me feel tonight. Wanted. Desired. Seen. I think about Eli and his cold eyes, his cruel words, his indifference to my happiness. The choice seems so clear now.
“I promise,” I say, and I mean it more than I’ve ever meant anything. “I’m done with Eli. For good.”
Valerie raises her glass. “To Lila’s freedom.”
“To freedom,” Mia echoes, lifting her own glass.
I clink my glass against theirs, the sound ringing out like a bell. “To freedom.”
We spend the next hour planning the details, what time to go to the house, what to prioritize packing, how to ensure Eli doesn’t track me down afterward.
I’ll need to change my phone number, close any accounts he has access to, be careful about my routine.
It’s exhausting to think about, but necessary.
“What about your parents?” Mia asks as we start to wind down, the wine nearly gone. “Will you tell them?”
I haven’t spoken to my adoptive parents in ten years, not since I eloped with Eli against their wishes. They told me they wouldn’t speak to me until I left him. Pride and shame have kept me from reaching out all this time.
“Maybe,” I say, not ready to think about that yet. “One step at a time.”
Valerie yawns, stretching her arms above her head. “We should sleep. Tomorrow we can make a proper list, figure out exactly what we need to do.”
We make up the guest bed together, Mia finding extra pillows while Valerie hunts down a spare toothbrush for me. It’s nearly four in the morning by the time we say goodnight, all of us exhausted but buzzing with a strange energy.
Alone in the guest room, I sit on the edge of the bed and check my phone for the first time in hours. No texts from Eli, which isn’t surprising. He rarely checks in during his “trips.” One missed call from a spam number, but no voicemails.
I set my phone on the nightstand and lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. For the first time in years, I feel a flutter of hope in my chest. Three days from now, I’ll be free. Free from Eli, free from fear, free to discover who I am without his voice in my head telling me I’m worthless.
And maybe, just maybe, free to explore whatever this thing is with the masked man. Anthony. The thought of him sends a shiver through me. Is he thinking of me right now, the way I’m thinking of him? Is he lying awake somewhere, replaying our encounter the way I keep doing?
I close my eyes and let myself drift toward sleep, the ghost of his touch still lingering on my skin. For the first time in ten years, I’m not dreading tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.