"How about I take you home." I stood up and grabbed the empty cups off the table and threw them out. We walked over to my truck and climbed in. "Give me your phone." I held my hand out and waited for her to place it in myhand.
She reached into her purse and pulled her phone out then slowly raised her eyes to mine. It was as if she was afraid to even look at me. This guy had done a number on her, and it pissed me right the fuck off. She looked more beat down than she did when her parentspassed.
She placed her phone in my hand. I typed my name into the contacts, and my old information populated on the screen. I was a little surprised she still had me in her phone after all this time. I changed my number and handed her phone back toher.
"Give me a call or shoot me a text if you need anything or if you're lonely. I live about three blocks fromyou."
When she took the phone from me her fingers grazed the palm of my hand, her touch sending a jolt throughme.
When I dropped her off, I waited in the driveway until I was sure she was safely inside. As I watched her walk into the house, I hoped I would hear from her sooner rather thanlater.
Irolled onto my backand stretched. Looking at the clock, I noticed it was still early, too early to get up out of bed. I relaxed back into my pillows and took in the quiet—something I rarely got to do when I was working. It had been three weeks in my new house, and everything was unpacked and arranged the way I wanted. I had even sent out resumes to some magazines and a local newspaper, but I hadn't heard anything yet. I also had the time to get my cell number changed, and thankfully I had heard nothing fromDean.
Climbing out of bed, I pulled the curtains to the side and opened the sliding door. The warm breeze blew over my body, and I could hear wind chimes in the distance. I could see a couple of sail boats already out on the bay. The leaves were already starting to change color too. The red and fire-orange leaves looked amazing against the evergreens. I headed into the kitchen and made a cup of coffee then headed back out on the deck with my book and cellphone.
It was a beautiful morning, the birds were chirping, and a couple of people were already walking down on the beach. I sat back in my lounge chair and took a sip of my coffee. Things were finally coming together. I opened my book and began reading when my phonerang.
"Hello?"
"I see you changed your number. Did you really think that was going to stop me?" My chest tightened with fear at the sound of the deep, commanding voice on the other end of thephone.
"How did you get this number?" Elliott, Parker, and Jen were the only ones I had shared itwith.
"Still questioning, I see. How many fucking times do I need to tell you not to question me? Never mind how I got your number. I want to see you," hedemanded.
"Why?" My heart pounded. I was barely able tobreathe.
"Again? Really? You never learn." His rough voice poured through thephone.
"Please leave mealone."
"It's not going to happen, Tatum. You’re mine. Have you forgotten thatalready?"
I tried hard to calm the shake in my hand, my stomach starting to turn at an alarming rate. I swallowed down the massive buildup of saliva in my mouth and prayed that I didn't throw up. My memory quickly went to the night in the hotel when he assaulted me, and my blood ran cold. Why didn't I do as Jen suggested and tellElliott?
"I have a good idea of where you are, Tatum. I'll come to get you. Don't make this harder on yourself than it needs to be. I refuse to let you go. You will be mineagain."
I ended the call and tried to slow my breathing as fear clawed its way through me. Within seconds, my phone rang. It was him again, only this time I didn't answer it. Once I calmed down, I listened to thevoicemail.
"You bitch. How dare you hang up on me? Keep your eyes open and watch your back. You'll never know when I'll come for you, but when I do, you can bet your ass that it's not going to bepretty."
After I listened to the voicemail, I sat on the deck, rocking back and forth in my lounge chair, my coffee having gone cold a long time ago. I decided that I needed help. I was in over my head, and it was time to tell Elliott what had been goingon.
I dialed his number and waited for him toanswer.
Elliott and Parker sat intheir uniforms at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee. When I had called Elliott, he had finished his shift and was waiting for Parker to return to the station. They had carpooled together, so they came straightover.
"What’s going on? You sounded panicked on the phone," Elliott said, looking at me withconcern.
"I have something to tell you, but you have to promise me that you won’t get angry. I need your help." I couldn't look either of them in the eyes. I felt awful. I should have told Elliott about this a long timeago.
Elliott looked from me to Parker and chuckled. "Why do I have the sinking feeling that what I'm about to hear is going to piss meoff?"
I looked from my cup to Elliott, then Parker, and back to my cup, chewing on my bottom lip. He was going to be angry, I knew it, but he had to know. "Remember how I told you about my breakup withDean?"
"Yes, you broke it off, and you left him at thehotel."
"Well, that is sort of the truth, except for onething."