31. Bridget

THIRTY-ONE

Bridget

Mason is at the office again today, putting in some extra time, and I've finally gotten Mia down for a nap. I love that little girl, but damn, she can be such a handful at nap time.

"Stalling could be that girl's Olympic sport. Whoo," I sigh, plopping down on the couch, more than a little tired.

As I kick my feet up onto the coffee table, strongly considering a nap of my own since the monitor is on, my phone rings, and I stiffen.

But when I glance at my phone, I can see Meredith's number flash on the screen over the view of Mia's room.

"Oh." I sit up, answering the call with a smile. "Well, hey. I wasn't expecting a call from you."

"No, no. I just wanted to say hi. It's been a bit since we had a good chat, and I actually have a second without Juniper running me ragged."

I laugh, leaning back onto the couch. "Ha, funny you should mention that. I just got Mia down for a nap. That girl has some stamina."

Meredith laughs along with me. "Right! I swear these kids get their energy by stealing it from us. But anyway, I was calling to see what's up. Hudson told me about the Mason situation, so…details!"

I have to laugh. I'm not surprised Meredith wants the tea, and it's kind of nice to be able to gush about him to another woman.

"It's going well. He's…I love it, Meredith. I don't think I've ever been this happy. I love getting to be here for Mia, to spend time with all three of us as a family. It feels so blissfully…normal."

"Aww, babe," Meredith croons. "That's amazing. I'm so happy for you. I know you went through it with your ex. You deserve some damn normalcy and happiness."

Another laugh bubbles out, but I can't help the pinch in my chest at the mention of Jai. I wonder if that'll ever go away, but I doubt it.

"Thanks. I…I know I'm not her mom. And I would never want to replace her, but I'm really glad I can be here for Mia like this. I love that little girl like she was my own, and…I think Mason understands how much it means to me that I get to fulfill this role for her."

"Bridget, that's amazing. God, I really am so happy for you." I can practically hear the way she puts her hand on her chest through the phone. "How's your mom?"

I sit up, readjusting against the sofa arm and smiling like an idiot.

"She's doing so much better! She's getting stronger by the day and doesn't need as much help anymore. I swear, it's like my luck is actually changing."

"Well, hey! That's amazing. And, if you've got more free time, we should set up a playdate for the kids. I know that they had a blast the last time Juniper, Mia, and Daisy were all together."

I remember Mason telling me how hard it was to get Mia back from Xaden's, and I smile. "We totally should. I'm sure the guys would like an excuse to hang out and just watch a game together or something."

"That's a great idea. I'm sure there's something like that coming up. I'll ask Hudson when he's available. We can talk about anything but sports while they watch and the kiddos play."

With a laugh, I stand up from the couch. I've never been able to stick to one place while I'm on the phone, so I wind up wandering over to the kitchen and leaning against the island.

"Perfect. I'll check with Mason, and we can?—"

Knock, knock.

"Oh," I look over at the door, "umm, someone is at the door, so I should go. I need to tidy up before Mia wakes up from her nap anyway."

"Okay, no worries," Meredith says. "Just text me, k?"

"Can do. We'll talk soon."

We say goodbye, and I hang up, setting my phone down on the island. I'm not sure who it could be; probably someone looking for Mason, though.

I head over to the door, half expecting them to knock again since it's been a few moments, and I still haven't answered the door.

But whoever's there doesn't.

My stomach clenches, and I can hear my heart in my ears. When I reach for the doorknob, my hand trembles, and I wipe it along my shorts before gripping it.

No one on the other side has said anything, and then I just suck in a breath and open the thing.

There's no one there.

Either they got bored with waiting, or I totally misheard the knock. Confusion and stress war for dominance, but when I look around the front yard, I don't see any sign that someone knocked.

I'm about to go inside when something on the doorstep catches my attention, and I nearly pass out.

"No."

On the ground, laid there gently, is a single red rose. It's still partially closed, and wrapped around the stem is a black ribbon with a slim piece of white paper threaded around it.

The page is torn, and I can see some of the black permanent marker bleeding through the paper.

My stomach drops, landing someplace unknown, and I know exactly what that note will read.

I frantically look around me again, searching for any sign of Jai in the bushes and trees surrounding Mason's property.

Oh, my God. Mia is sleeping upstairs. If he…

I can't bring myself to finish the thought, but my heart is already speeding faster than light, and I feel like I'm going to be sick.

"No, no, no. This can't be happening."

I'm not sure why, but I still go for the rose, picking it up carefully to avoid being pricked by one of the thorns. The tag on it hangs down, and as it slowly turns in the air, I see the words hastily scribbled across it.

You can't run from me.

Everything is spinning, and I scramble to get myself back inside, shutting the door as quickly as I can and turning over the lock.

I can't deny that Jai has found me now. I've wanted to. I've wanted that feeling of being watched to just be me being paranoid.

But I'm not. I'm right.

He's here.

With the door closed behind me, I slide down the wood, my ass hitting the floor hard. I want to scream, but Mia is sleeping.

Mia is upstairs. Mia is upstairs sleeping, and Jai…

The panicky tears flow hard, and I'm shaking as I sit there clutching the rose. Part of me wants to be shocked, to think, "This is impossible. How did he find me?"

But I always knew it was just a matter of time. Jai has connections, and he's smart. It was probably easy for him.

I went home, for fuck's sake. It was so stupid. I've put my family at risk. I've put Mason and his daughter at risk.

I never should have come back here.

I'm up off the floor in a hurry. I can't think or hold still, and I find myself pacing back and forth through the kitchen, clutching my phone.

I have no idea who to call, if I even should call someone. And every molecule in my body wants to run.

He's here. Obviously, I can't stay. I'm putting everyone in danger if I do that. Jai's just getting worse. I know it. I have to leave. I have to get out of here and never look back...go to Australia or something.

But as I turn around, facing the kitchen after another lap, I see the picture of me and Mia that I printed out and hung up on the fridge for her.

My chest cracks open down the middle, and everything spills out onto the floor as I look at it. I fall to my knees, the tears coming harder because…

"I don't want to leave."

I've been running for three years, and the truth is I'm exhausted. I'm tired of motels, dead-end jobs, and names that aren't mine.

I'm tired of being scared all the time. I'm tired of never getting close to anyone, and I'm tired of believing that I'll never have a moment of happiness again.

Even more, I want something. I want something real for the first time in so long.

I want to be with Mason. I want to be with him and his daughter, and I want us to be a family. I don't want to leave my mother behind or my brother.

I won't just roll over and let Jai continue to torment me.

Pulling myself up off the floor, I sniffle and wipe the tears away. I need to do something about this and I'm not sure what.

But I won't run.

"I'm never running again. I'll…I'll tell someone. I haven't been very good at handling this alone, so I'll get help."

I'm not sure who to start with. Should I tell Mason? My brother? My mother?

They won't be able to do too much, either. Maybe I should go straight to the police.

Memories of the first time I tried to report something to them filter up into my mind. They wouldn't help me because I had no proof.

I had no evidence that Jai was doing any of the things I said, and a lot of his attacks were also mental.

I was convinced I'd never be believed. But things are escalating now. Surely, they'd see that I'm not lying.

Right?

My confidence wavers, and I just stand there in silence. The kitchen doesn't have any advice to offer, and I'm not sure what I should be doing next.

Except Mia is going to be waking up soon, and I have chores that need to be done. Maybe I'll have a stroke of genius as I clean the house.

I tell myself to get moving, to go grab the boom and sweep up the crumbs from lunch, but I don't move.

I've been in survival mode for so long, and I let my guard down. Jai is here, and I need to…I need to tell someone.

That's what I should be doing.

The police may not believe me again, and I may not have tons of evidence, but Mason will trust me.

I know he will.

I just don't know how I'm supposed to break the news to him. It's not every day that your girlfriend has an ex who's actively stalking her.

Knowing what time it is, I have about three hours before Mason gets home.

I just hope that I can come up with something to say in that time.