“WHY THE HELL did you not tell me you were staying with Hayes?” Sadie asked the moment I entered through the back of the store.
I sighed and set my purse down on a small chair and removed my coat.
She stood, blocking the entrance into the main store and crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her foot impatiently.
I’d had the last four days off for a short Thanksgiving break and all of that time had been spent at Hayes’ house watching movies—although, we did go into the city one day to get out, and Mia had loved strolling the streets of D.C. But in that time, I hadn’t bothered to inform my friend that I was staying with Hayes. I knew she’d be excited, but also curious as to why I was staying with him. She knew I was a sheltered person and that there would have to be a reason for me to be there.
“Who told you?” I hung my coat up on the rack.
“Emma—Hayes told the guys, so naturally Maddox told her, because those two tell each other everything. I’m pretty sure if he farts he sends her a text to let her know.”
I snorted.
“It’s true,” Sadie demanded, “anyway, why didn’t you tell me?”
“It didn’t seem important,” I shrugged innocently.
“Not important?!” Her voice spiked with impatience. “Of course it’s important. And I know you, Arden, so tell me what happened. Why are you staying with him? Did a pipe burst or something?”
I was a terrible liar, but she gave me the perfect opening. “Hot water heater burst, and they can’t fix it until the end of the week.”
Maybe it was silly, but I felt like by telling her about Todd showing up I was only giving him more power to hurt me. I wanted to pretend his threat didn’t exist, and the less people that knew he was back the easier it would be.
“Aw, that’s awful,” she frowned, “but at least Hayes is taking care of you.”
“Mhmm,” I nodded.
She narrowed her eyes on me. “What are you not telling me?”
“Nothing,” I breezed past her, into the main store.
She followed, and unfortunately the store was empty so I couldn’t use a customer as a buffer.
“You are such a liar, Arden.”
I busied myself by straightening the display on the checkout counter.
“I’m no such thing,” I said, refusing to meet her eyes.
She rolled her tongue around her mouth and waved a finger at me. “I’m going to find out what’s really going on. You can’t keep any secrets from me.” Straightening, she grabbed her purse from where she’d stashed it behind the counter. “Luckily for you, I have a dentist appointment, so I can’t bug the shit out of you at the moment.”
“Bye, Sadie.” I laughed at my crazy friend.
“I was a detective in another life,” she said, easing towards the back, “so don’t dismiss my sleuthing skills. I’m watching you.” She pointed at her eyes and then me. Letting the façade drop, she added with a smile, “And we need a girl day sometime. With Emma and Remy too.”
“Sure thing,” I saluted her, “now go before you’re late for your appointment.”
“See ya!” She called over her shoulder.
She hadn’t been gone more than two minutes when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I didn’t receive many phone calls so I immediately grabbed it, afraid that something had happened to Mia with the sitter.
The caller ID flashed MOM though.
“Hey,” I answered, “I’m at work, can I call you back?”
“This’ll only take a minute…okay, more like five. But it’s important.” Her rapid sentences and overall distressed tone of voice immediately had me on edge.
“What is it?” I asked, watching the front of the store for any possible customers so I could hang up quickly if I needed to.
“Todd showed up.”
“At your house?” I leaned against the wall for support.
“Yes,” she replied, her tone as shocked as mine, “he started asking all of these questions and—”
“Whoa, whoa,” I halted her, “what kind of questions?”
“Mostly about you, and Mia, of course. He wanted to know if Mia was in school,” I scoffed at this, the idiot didn’t even realize she wasn’t old enough to be in school, “and he asked for some pictures.”
“Please tell me you didn’t tell him anything.”
“Of course not.” She seemed appalled that I’d think such a thing.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on.
Clearly, trying to pretend the Todd problem was going to go away was not working in my favor.
“Has he talked to you?” She questioned.
“Yes,” I admitted reluctantly. “It wasn’t a very pleasant conversation.”
“I didn’t think it would be…Arden,” she started, “this has me worried.”
“I know,” I sighed, fighting the urge to breakdown, “it’s worrying me too.”
My parents, at the time, hadn’t known how bad I’d had it with Todd. Around them he’d always been a perfect gentleman, kind, and carrying. I recalled my dad once telling him that he couldn’t have picked a better man for me to marry. But once Todd disappeared I had to explain everything to them so they’d understand. My mom had cried for a weak straight and my father swore if he ever saw Todd again he’d kill him with his bare hands, chop up his body, and feed it to the bears.
“Just…be safe, sweetie. Okay?”
“I will.” I assured her.
“Your father and I still want to meet Hayes,” she said. “Could you come over for dinner Friday evening?”
“Friday…” I mulled over my schedule. “I’m free. I just have to talk to Hayes.”
“Excellent!” She chimed. “Well, that was all. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you!”
“Love you too,” I said, but she’d already hung up.
Hayes picked me up from work since my car was still at home.
“How was your day?” He asked, leaning over to kiss me.
“Todd showed up at my parent’s house,” I admitted.
He cursed, tightening his hands around the steering wheel as he pulled away from the store and headed in the direction of Mia’s sitter’s house.
“That guy…” He hissed. “He’s asking for it.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. “I’m scared.”
It was the first time I’d said those two words out loud, but they were true.
The fear that had cloaked me like a blanket while I was married to him had disappeared once he was gone, but now it was back and even heavier, like a weight around my ankle dragging me down.
Hayes reached for my hand and kissed the tops of my fingers as he drove. “Everything will be fine. I’ll never let that asshole touch you.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “Isn’t this too much for you? I mean, we’ve only been dating a month and now my ex is back and wants Mia…or at least that’s what he’s saying. Who knows what he really wants.” I laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “You didn’t sign up this. I’m nothing but a burden.”
He glared over at me. “You’re right. I didn’t sign up for this.”
I gasped and started to pull my hand away, but he only tightened his hold.
“You know what I did do? I met this crazy, beautiful girl this past summer, with an equally amazing daughter, and she wound her way into my heart where I fell irrevocably in love with her. I didn’t ask to fall in love with you, but I did, and I don’t fucking regret it. And correct me if I’m wrong, but when you love someone you’re supposed to fight your battles together. That’s what I’m doing Arden. I’m fighting with you.” He pulled off the road and stared into my eyes, trying to sear each and every word into the recesses of my mind. His fingers delved into the hair and the base of my neck and he pulled me forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “You will never, not ever be a burden to me. And yes, this is still a new relationship for the both of us but when something’s right it just is. Let it be and stop questioning every little thing. I’m here and I love you and I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed his lips against my forehead tenderly. “I’ve waited a long time to give my heart to someone, and at times I never thought I would, but it’s yours Arden, and I never want it back.”
My lower lip trembled with the threat of tears.
“Aw, fuck, Arden. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m sorry.”
“No, no,” I waved away his concern, “I don’t even know why I’m crying…it’s just…that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.” Shaking my head I wiped at the silly tears streaking my face. “How did I get so lucky?”
He grinned, brushing a piece of hair away from my forehead. “Nah, I’m the lucky one. Before you I didn’t know what I was missing, and now that I know how much better my life is with you in it I can’t go back. I won’t go back.” Clearing his throat, he added, “From now on we fight our battles together. Got it?”
I let out a small laugh as he pulled back onto the road. “You know, for someone that’s never been in a relationship before you’re awfully good at this.”
He flashed me a cheeky smile and winked. “I’m good at everything.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing fully at his comment. I loved Hayes at all times, but I especially loved him when he was being his silly, cocky self.
A few minutes went by as he drove to the sitter’s house and finally I broke the quiet by asking, “So, my mom wanted to know if we could have dinner with them Friday night?”
His lips twisted together in thought. “Yeah, that should work…your dad’s not going to whip out a massive gun collection and show me a bunch of mounted animal heads before telling me my head will be mounted next if I hurt you, is he?”
I snorted. “That was a very specific scenario.”
“Just answer the question, Arden.” He chuckled, rubbing his hand over his jaw in a nervous gesture.
“I know they’ll love you once they get to know you, but…” I hedged, taking a deep breath. “Expect them to be slightly wary in the beginning. After what happened with Todd…they’re going to be protective since you’re the first guy I’ve been with since then. Okay?”
Hayes nodded. “I can handle wary.”
I grinned up at him. “I expected you to tell me you could handle anything.”
“That too.” He winked as he pulled into the sitter’s driveway.
I hopped out and went inside to grab Mia. When she saw Hayes standing by his truck she took off running straight into his waiting arms. He lifted her up and spun her around, her giggles filling the air, and when she was sufficiently dizzy he buckled her into her car seat.
Instead of heading straight back to Hayes’ house we stopped by mine first so I could grab my car.
“I’ll just be a second,” I told Hayes. “I have to go inside and grab my keys.”
“I’ll wait,” he said. Just in case, was what he left unsaid.
I hurried inside, surprised at how in only a few days this place didn’t seem like home anymore.
I shivered as I headed into the kitchen, feeling extremely creeped out, and terrified Todd might jump out of some random hiding place.
I tiptoed over to the counter, like I was the one breaking and entering, and searched for my keys.
My eyes halted though on a piece of paper
One I knew hadn’t been there when the police had searched the house.
Which meant Todd had been back.
And could still be here.
Blood roared through my veins and my heart beat so fast that it was the only thing I could hear.
I reached out with tentative fingers, the hair on my body standing on end once the piece of notebook paper was in my hands.
I lifted it to eyelevel, trying to make out his chicken scratch.
In horror, I read the four words written on the torn piece of paper.
I’ll get what’s mine.
Those words bounced and ricocheted inside my head.
I’ll get what’s mine.
I’ll get what’s mine.
I’ll get what’s mine.
Mia.