Chapter 36

I'm a woman in love.

It feels weird to say that still.

Even a week after having first said the words out loud.

Hell, it's weird to even think it.

To actually feel it because I know now that what I had been feeling in my relationship before wasn't love, not truly.

It was…

Not right.

And honestly? A part of me is still terrified. Scared this is all going to be snatched away. That I'll be left devastated and heartbroken and alone.

That I'll have to go on living without King.

But as much as I'm scared, I'm also…

At peace.

Because even if it all goes wrong, I'll still have had this time, these moments, the memories.

And right now, that's enough.

Especially because every day with King has been better than the last.

Cuddling on the couch. Watching him play at the arena. Hydrangeas in a vase on the island, the man having somehow discovered my favorite flower. Walking Zeus together on the trails that back up to his house. Coming home from a long day at work and finding the fridge full of my favorites, a slow cooker loaded with dinner on the counter, a note with the channel his game will be playing on tacked to the fridge. Pastries from Molly's. Spa appointments booked for Chrissy and me so we can have a girl's night.

And King.

Gentle touches to tuck back my hair behind my ear, kisses stolen as we dance in the kitchen, and…

Orgasms.

Lots and lots of orgasms.

Smiling, I turn off my playlist, drop my empty coffee cup in the sink, and snag my purse from the hook that King designated as mine—oh, my sweet, organized man. I tuck it over my shoulder as I walk down the hall and pull open the door, hitting the button to send the huge metal paneling rattling up when I remember I left my laptop on the island.

Maybe I need King to make me a Life Planner too.

Chuckling, I let the door swing shut, bustle down the hall, snag my computer, and hurry back into the garage.

I need to get to work.

"Rory—"

I freeze, the voice sliding like ice down my spine, panic gripping me for a heartbeat before my fight-or-flight kicks in and I drop my stuff, whip back toward the house.

My computer makes a sickening sound as it crashes against the concrete floor, my purse scattering its contents alongside it.

That doesn't matter.

I leave it all as I slam back inside, kicking myself for not being aware of my surroundings as I push the door shut behind me.

Or try to.

Because—

Then Phillip is shoving it inward.

And I'm not strong enough to stop the momentum, not strong enough to keep him out.

Heart in my throat, I release the wooden panel, let it crash open against the wall.

I leave that too, knowing it probably damaged the Sheetrock, having the inane thought that it had to happen right after King spent time repairing the hole he made when he punched the wall in the bedroom all those weeks before.

I sprint down the hall, intent on the front door and escape and?—

I don't get there.

A hand grips my shoulder and yanks me back, fingers digging into my flesh so hard that I cry out in pain.

"Stop!" I shout. "Let me go!"

"You've ruined it," Phillip snarls.

"Let. Go." I grab at his hand, wrench back a finger like King did to Stacy at the bakery, getting her to release me.

And it works.

Phillip grunts, grip loosening enough that I slip free, that I run for the front door again.

Unfortunately, I don't get far because this time, he grabs a handful of my hair and yanks me to a halt.

Fire burns along my scalp and I cry out, hands coming up to grab at his wrists, trying to staunch the pain, to find a way to get him to let me go. But his hold just tightens and?—

"Woof! Woof! Woof! WOOF!"

Nails scrabble on the floor as Zeus's tiny fluffy body turns the corner. His teeth are bared and eyes fierce as he launches himself at us.

No.

At Phillip.

Who shrieks. "Ow! Fuck!"

The grip on my hair loosens enough that I'm able to pull free. I look down, see that Zeus has attached himself to Phillip's ankle and?—

My ex kicks out with his other foot.

The crunch is sickening.

Zeus yelps as he skids across the floor, slamming into the cabinets.

Maybe I should have run.

Taken my chance.

But Zeus.

The little fluffy pupper that I rescued from a hoarder's house. The pup who's sweet and gentle as his sister is an adorable terror.

I can't leave him.

I scramble over to the pup, covering his body with my own, grunting when Phillip's foot connects with my ribs.

For fuck's sake, I only just finally stopped feeling the occasional twinges from my previously bruised torso, finally stopped feeling the bone-deep ache and the odd burst of pain when I stretched the wrong way.

Now I was going to have to go through all of that healing again.

Which is another insane thing to think about when I'm currently being assaulted by my ex.

I get that.

But it still slides through my mind before the next time he makes contact with my side.

I grunt and Zeus whimpers, the noise enough to snap me out of my bullshit.

Not standing on the bow of the ship waiting for rescue.

Swimming my ass to shore myself.

With a corgi in tow.

Grinding my teeth against the fire in my side, my scalp, I tuck Zeus close, cradle him away from Phillip, and brace?—

Another kick that knocks me against the cabinets.

I shove the pain down as he winds up again, the motion giving me enough time to get my feet under me, to start pushing upward and?—

"You. Do. Not. Hit. Other. People!"

I blink—halfway up—almost unable to believe what I'm seeing.

Who I'm seeing.

Mama Bang.

Standing there in the kitchen, holding a hockey stick.

Or rather…swinging it.

At Phillip.

Each of those clipped-out words accompanied by her slamming the stick against Phillip's back.

And shoulders.

And head.

Phillip's eyes are wild and then he whips around, reaching for the stick. But Mama Bang, but Stella—damn, she's fast—darts back and holding the stick like a lance. "Don't you dare, you piece of shit."

Zeus is shaking.

My body is aching.

Stella is standing like a tiny warrior ready to battle.

Phillip is the dragon ready to be slain.

I react without thinking, setting Zeus on the floor and then carefully grabbing the vase from the counter.

I lift it and…

Slam it down onto his head.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," I joke as Dr. Halston shines a flashlight in my eyes.

Grinning, she clicks it off then reaches into her bag. "You remember the deal with the salve?" She passes a new tin of it over to me.

I nod, eyes flicking over to where Jean-Michel is talking with the head of his security, Pascal. "Yes. Thank you."

Alarm system upgrade? Imminent.

And I'm not going to argue.

Because I had to use a vase to knock my ex-fiancé unconscious.

But…I'd saved myself.

My past tried to fuck up my present, tried to steal my happiness, and I didn't let it.

Progress.

Of course, that came with a bit of assistance from Mama Bang wielding a hockey stick.

Something I'm sure that King—and Jean-Michel and Rome and Cam (and Pascal, who's now talking into his phone, looking extremely pissed off)—will find hilarious.

Eventually.

For now, though, I have other things to worry about.

Like making sure Zeus gets his medicine on time—maybe I'll make a note in King's planner?—

Or maybe I won't, considering my asshole ex is the reason the pup is going to be on painkillers for a few days.

Zeus is bruised and broke a tooth biting the shit out of Phillip's leg, but otherwise he's okay.

Thank God.

But it's also why Dr. Halston is only checking me out now—after we called the police and Jean-Michel, and after I took Zeus to the vet.

I'm fine.

Way better than before.

Which…isn't going to go over well.

None of this is.

One thing.

I just want to have one nice thing in my life without my past creeping in and trying to ruin it.

Apparently, that's not possible.

At least I have two higher beings on my side?—

My fairy godmother, er godfather, and…

Mama Bang.

(And her hockey stick).

"Come see me in the office sometime," Dr. Halston says, handing me a card. "For a yearly exam and not"—she waves a hand at my torso—"all of this."

I chuckle. "I'll do that." I pocket the card. "Thank you for coming."

A squeeze of my shoulder. "Stay safe."

We exchange goodbyes and I see that Jean-Michel is done talking to Pascal—the security chief having disappeared somewhere. Jean-Michel nods at me before walking Dr. H. out.

But he's not gone long, striding back into the kitchen several moments later, and sinking down into the chair next to me.

Sighing.

It's exhausting being my fairy godfather.

"I know I've asked you," he says, "but are you sure you're okay?"

I nod, glad that I've taken the maximum dose of ibuprofen so that moving doesn't hurt. "I'm fine," I tell him. "I mean, I'm not because…well, how can anyone be okay with that?" I hold back my shiver. "But this means that Phillip won't be let out of jail again, right?"

Jean-Michel nods. "I'm going to make sure of that."

"Then…I'm good."

He bumps his shoulder against mine. "You and Chrissy."

My brows drag together.

"You're some of the strongest people I know."

My heart squeezes tightly. "Because you helped me get there. No," I add when he starts to shake his head. "I don't think you know how important you are to me. I had no one," I whisper. "Until you saw something in me."

"Aurora, honey?—"

"You saw me and you valued me and you protected me, and there wasn't an ulterior motive?—"

"Aside from free design work?" he teases, and I know it's because this is a lot and he's uncomfortable and…

I don't care.

I'm wielding vases.

I'm swimming to shore.

I'm…fuck it, I'm going to make some plans for the future—a future that includes this man and King and Chrissy and Rome and Cam.

Because I'm valuable and important?—

And even if my past isn't pleasant, even if it might crop up and try to yank me down…

I don't have to let it.

I can take a hockey stick to it. Or a vase.

Or…I can live in the moment, love the people I love, and fight to make sure I have the future I want.

"He'll be pissed," Jean-Michel says quietly, probably reading me stuck in my thoughts as worry for King. And I am worried. A lot. But also…I'm ready to fight. "I know I would be." Shadows slide across his face. "When Christina—" His eyes slide closed and I know he's thinking about Chrissy, about what she went through when she was just a teenager. "It took a long time to forgive myself for my failings."

"You didn't fail her."

"You don't see it that way." A beat. "Neither does she. But…"

"That doesn't change what's in her heart and mind," I say.

"No," he agrees. "It doesn't." His expression gentles. "But he'll see you, and he'll remember that it's not about him."

Damn.

This man.

He's pretty fucking great. Just like?—

"I had a great dad," I tell him softly. "And then I had nothing. For a long time, it was…well, nothing. But you and Chrissy, you both gave me something huge and beautiful and?—"

Be brave and kind.

"I love you and I'm so lucky that you're in my life."

He stiffens, and I know I've likely finally pushed Jean-Michel too far.

Which is why I give him an out.

My mouth hitches up. "Should I change the subject back to design work?"

He smiles, but it quickly flattens out as he turns and cups my cheeks in his hands. "If King ever hurts you, I'll take him out myself." He gathers me close, squeezes me tight, whispering in my ear. "Because I'm the lucky one." His voice drops further. "And I love you too, kiddo. "

That wound, the once-gaping crevice in my soul? It's gone.

I open my mouth?—

Someone sniffs.

I lift my head from Jean-Michel's shoulder and see that Mama Bang is swiping a finger under her eyes. "Sorry," she says. "That—" A wave of her hand. "It's just…beautiful." She sniffs again.

Jean-Michel pulls back enough to meet my stare, mouth curving, expression bemused as he shakes his head. "I need to finish up with Pascal and hop on a plane." His eyes flick to the side as Stella starts yanking tissues out of the box on the counter, escape clearly in the forefront of his mind. "I'll…leave you to it."

Impending tears making the formidable businessman run.

Maybe an Achilles' heel?

I grin, but shift to the side, clearing that escape route for him. "Thank you," I say. "For everything."

He tugs a lock of my hair. "Precious girl," he murmurs.

And now I'm the one at risk of sniffing.

Something he seems to sense because he makes a quick exit.

And then it's just me and Mama Bang.

And the pie she's putting together.

King's broken hockey stick—so expertly wielded by Stella a few hours before—is on the counter because I didn't know if I should throw away the pieces or if it could be repaired. But the glass from the broken vase is swept up and my purse contents have been retrieved—though my laptop is done for.

Thankfully, my boss is cool.

Other good news? The pie is nearly done.

Carbs to make the bad news seem less…bad.

"Honey," Stella says softly.

I look up, see that she's watching me with concern—something she's done from the moment Phillip slumped to the floor.

"I'm okay," I tell her.

"Rory," she says, tone disapproving.

"I really am okay." I inhale. Exhale. "I mean, I'm not because what Phillip did should never be okay." I meet her eyes. "But also…my past isn't all rainbows and unicorns. I've—" I shake my head. "I've been through worse."

She puts down the cheese, crosses over to me and takes my hand. "Sweetheart?—"

"I'm sorry you were in the crossfire of my asshole ex."

"That's not?—"

"But you gave me something today, even if you don't realize it. You helped me fight. Helped me realize I don't have to stand by and take what life hands to me. I can hold tight to what I want."

She sniffs again. "Sweet girl," she murmurs. "You deserve the world."

My heart squeezes. "Don't," I order, adding lightly, "Only because I think crying will make my ribs start hurting again."

Another sniff, but this one is mixed in with a laugh, and I know we're going to be okay. "Strong girl." She pulls me into a gentle hug. "I'm just glad you're okay."

I carefully squeeze her back. "I'm better than I've been in a long time," I say. "Now"—I pull back, nod to the pie—"am I putting the cheese in or are you?"

She laughs and we go back to baking, the events of the morning not forgotten, but tucked away.

Being brave and kind doesn't seem like such a struggle right now.

Because I can have good things.

Because I can have everything.

Yes, I'm worried about King and if he's going to be upset because he wasn't here to protect me like he thinks he should.

Even though what happened wasn't on him.

If anything…

It's on me.

I picked Phillip. I ignored the red flags. I let myself become small as I was shuttled along to a future I didn't want, a life that didn't make me happy.

All because I didn't think I deserved anything better.

But I've had this time with King.

I know what love can feel like.

And now…

I'm going to fight for it.