Sutton quickly pulls out her phone and makes the call, filling in her brother on our unwelcome lunch guest. Cora is still rooted to the same spot, eyes boring into me as I try my best to ignore her. This interaction feels even more unsettling than any of the others, and Cora hasn’t even spoken to me, stepped foot in the same space as me. But there is an inherent threat to the way she is watching me from out there while I am in here, as if I am her prey and she is biding her time, waiting to snag me in her vicious claws.
Sutton has not even hung up the phone with Remington when we see red and blue lights flashing at the curb. The noise and commotion must jolt Cora out of her trance because she looks behind her and starts to move away from the window. We see Danny and Megan get out of the police cruiser, cutting off Cora’s escape. She flings her arms about wildly and yells at Danny, who just stands there like calm, cold steel. Megan glances in the window, checking on us, and gives me a little nod.
So distracted by the commotion outside, I don’t notice Remington’s black truck pull up to the curb. Ignoring the shouts from Cora, he blasts through the door of the Sugar Cube, the tinkling bell a contrast to the stormy rage he’s pulling along with him. There is no calm to him until he sets his worried, amber eyes on me. He rushes over to our table, looking so handsome in his navy tactical pants, matchingFGFD T-shirt, and black boots.
Cupping my face, he bends down, kissing me hard. “You’re okay?” he growls.
“Yes,” I whisper. I would say it was to keep the baby asleep, but that is a lie. The way he swept in here, protectiveness and masculinity pulsing off of him is making me dizzy and unable to say much more.
“She can’t do this to you.” He looks out the windows to the scene Cora is making, her hands now planted firmly on her hips. We watch as Danny steps closer to her, saying something that makes her shrink and then scurry down the sidewalk. He watches her go before shaking his head at Megan, and turning, they make their way inside.
“Hey, guys.” Danny greets us stiffly.
“What the fuck was she doing, Danny?” Remington demands.
“I issued her a warning. She technically didn’t break the order since she is outside on public property, didn’t make direct contact, and was not inside the same place as Lainey,” Danny explains.
Remington places his hand on the back of my chair, possessively. “The way she was acting, staring at the girls, at Lainey. It wasn’t normal, Danny. That can’t be allowed, can it? What did she say to you?”
“More crazy shit about how you are meant to be together, and that Lainey is in the way of the promises you made her. That the two of you had a plan to make her business a big success, and she needs you. I’m glad we have the RO in place, but her behavior is concerning. After this warning, if she does something like this again, I have grounds to arrest her. You guys need to be careful. And Lainey, next timeIwant to be your first call, okay? The guys at the fire station called me, but I want to hear from you immediately. You have my number, please use it.”
I nod at him as he shakes hands with Remington. Meganrubs my shoulder and gives Sutton a quick hug before they head back out the door and get in their squad car.
“I don’t like this, baby.” Remington sits down next to me, rubbing his hand up and down my thigh, as if he’s trying to ground himself.
“Me, either. There is something very wrong with that woman. After all this time I had hope that she’d given up and forgotten about whatever weird plan she cooked up in her mind.” I kiss the top of Kinsley’s head.
“After what we witnessed today, I don’t think she will ever let go of Rem that easily,” Sutton says with a shiver.
45
Remington
Being away from Lainey ever since the day Cora was spotted outside the Sugar Cube has been torture for me. I want to kidnap her and Ash, take them up to Walker’s cabin and hide out. I know that is completely insane and impractical. We also can’t let the threat of one crazy semi-stalker rule over our lives.
Lainey is handling all of this way better than I am. She works at home as usual; takes care of our growing, rambunctious puppy; goes to see Kendra, Jess, and Sutton; and seems perfectly content. I insist that she take pepper spray with her everywhere, especially when she takes Ash on his daily walks around our neighborhood. When I asked her how she could be so calm about everything, she simply told me that with me she has never felt more safe, even with Cora looming over us. And fuck if that didn’t make me feel like Superman. I want to be that for her always, her safe space.
I am going to take a page out of her book and try to focus on the good, what is actually in our control. Right now that is planning the perfect engagement.
“Eli!” I yell through the gym. He has a catchy pop song on repeat, trying to time his latest jump rope video.
“Rem!” he shouts back at me, a shit-eating grin on his happy face. “What’s up?” He pauses the blaring music, taking a drink of water.
“I need a favor.” I lean on the wall, crossing my arms.
“Sure thing. What is it? A kidney?”
“Not this time,” I laugh. “But it is a very important job. Need you to hang on to Lainey’s engagement ring for me. Mr. Angelo called me this morning to tell me it’s ready.”
“Yes!That’s awesome, man. When are you going to pick it up? Want me to go with you?” His happiness for me and Lainey is so real. I know he is honestly excited to help me make this memorable and special for her.
“That would be awesome. I was thinking we could go on Friday. I want to try and stay out of Lainey’s way while she is working. We could hit the gym, grab lunch, and then go pick up the ring?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Eli clasps my hand and yanks me into a half hug.
“Get off me, you are all sweaty.” I shove him.
He just laughs and tries harder to jump on top of me.
