CHAPTER FOUR
My body was filled with so much rage that it only took me twenty minutes to pack. I threw everything in duffle bags and called it a day.
When I finished, I called the clinic to ask for an emergency month leave. They fired me. Well, not so much fired me as much as they told me they couldn’t hold my position for such a long period of time. I told them that after the time I’ve put in with them and all my hard work, the least they could do was hold the position. They disagreed.
I told them to fuck off.
Now, I stood outside next to my car after I dropped my fourth duffle bag full of clothes and shoes on the ground beside it and I was in an even more pissed off mood than I was before I started packing.
My attitude was just as dark as it was outside; black.
As I started toward the main house to let fat head inside know that I was ready to go, the front door opened and everyone walked out; everyone including the girls.
Layla took off in a sprint.
“Aunt T, I don’t want you to leave,” she cried and those damn tears gathered behind my eyes again. Layla and Laura did it to me every time. Just one look at their precious faces was all it took for me to break. I loved them.
I bent down, smoothed the thick hair off Layla’s face, wiped her tears away and told her, “I won’t be gone long, babe. I’ll be back so fast you won’t even have a chance to miss me.” I hoped like crazy that my stay with Tony wouldn’t last long.
I saw him out of the corner of my eye and when I reluctantly glanced up, he was already staring down at me. His eyes were soft on my face. I watched as he looked to Layla and he looked at her so caringly that I got the feeling he remembered all the time we spent babysitting her together. He’d loved Layla. I always knew he’d make a good dad by the way he cared for her. We’d talked about kids...
Don’t.
Lex walked up holding Laura and I stood. I gave my baby girl a kiss on the cheek and I grinned when she giggled.
“Lan, can you take the girls inside?” Lex asked, and as he walked up to gather Laura in his arms, Layla walked up to Tony.
Everyone froze…
“I remember you. You were nice to me and you used to play with me a lot,” she started sweetly before she finished not-so-sweetly, “but you better not make my Aunt T cry again.”
She turned, walked past us all and went to the front door. Landyn followed and Tony stared after her looking like he’d just been punched in the stomach. Lex grinned like a proud momma as she waited for the front door to close behind them.
“I can’t believe she just said that,” I said to no one in particular. I was completely stunned.
Lex turned to study me and her grin instantly fell away. “Are you sure you want to do this, T? You don’t have to go with him if you don’t want.”
“She’s going,” Tony spoke for me.
I glared at him.
He narrowed his eyes, grabbed my bags and started for the big, jacked up charcoal gray Chevy Silverado truck parked in the driveway.
“Where are you taking those?” I asked.
“You’re riding with me,” he stated.
“I’m not riding with you. I’ll take my car,” I replied. I could have sworn I heard him mumble, “You and your damn death traps”, but I wasn’t sure.
“Your little car will never make it past the first gate. It’s muddy right now. You’re riding with me and you won’t need a vehicle to get around. You’re not allowed to leave the house alone anyway. If you need to go somewhere, I’ll take you.”
For once in my life, I was speechless… for about a minute.
“I’m not going to depend on you. And you’re not keeping me locked up inside some house!” I said, outraged.
“Trish, just say goodbye to your friend and hurry the hell up.” He walked back to pick up the last of my bags and then started away again. I whipped my head around to face my best friend.
“I’m going to hurt him, Lex. I know it. This is not going to go well and I’m probably going to get arrested,” I said.
She actually had the nerve to smile at me?
“Just go. It’ll be all right. Landyn told me what was going on while you were packing. You’ll be safer there with Tony.”
“What if this guy comes looking for me here?”
“Don’t worry about that. Landyn won’t let anything happen to us,” she said confidently, and I knew she was right. Landyn wouldn’t let anyone lay a finger on his family.
I nodded and gave her a sad smile just before she threw herself at me. I stumbled back. I nearly took us both to the ground.
“What the--?”
“I’ve been a horrible friend, T. I know it. I’m selfish. I’ve been so wrapped up in Landyn for as long as I can remember that I haven’t paid enough attention to you. I haven’t supported you enough. I swear it’s like I’ve always depended on you to keep me sane and happy, but I haven’t done the same for you and I’m a shitty person for it. I’m telling you now though, T, things are going to be different when you get back. I’m going to make it up to you,” she finished, pushed herself off me but continued to keep a hold on my upper arms.
I didn’t know what to say. Sure, she’d been a bit selfish, but she’s been like that since we were kids. Everyone had flaws, Lord knew I had many, but she hadn’t as bad as she made herself out to be.
“Lex, you’re making it sound worse than it is. You had a lot to deal with having a baby so young--”
“You dealt with much worse than me,” she whispered and my entire body solidified. I didn’t want to believe that she’d bring that up right now, especially with Tony so close.
“Don’t,” she warned softly, before I could tell her to shut up.
“You need to tell him,” she finished.
The fuck I do.
“You ready?” Tony asked, coming back up to our side and we both faced him.
“I swear if anything happens to her I’ll kill you. Me.” Lex pointed to herself. “You can hold your grudge against Trish for whatever you think happened with your piece of shit sister’s fiancé, but if you hurt her, I will kill you.”
She turned to me and pulled me into another bear hug. “I love you and you better call me every day.”
She pulled back, walked away and left me with a very confused looking Tony.
I sighed.
“Can we just go before I change my mind? I have a really bad feeling about this,” I said.
Tony nodded.