CHAPTER 27
Remi
“I'm sorry,” Tahnee says once again. “I just, I should have insisted on staying with you that night or made you sleep at my place or something.”
I swipe away another group of tears that have slid down my face and gathered along my jaw.
“Stop apologizing. If it didn't happen that night, it would have just been another night.”
“I guess you're right. I just feel so terrible for you. And him. Ugh, the poor guy.”
At the mention of Jacob, another tear spills over, and I drop my head back against the wall I'm leaning on. “Yeah. Um, so, were you able to move all of the stuff?”
“Yep. Got everything emptied out of your old place and moved it over to the new pad.”
Exhaling a breath, I close my eyes and let the feelings of relief and sadness linger for a moment. I put my little beach house up for a quick sale and bought a different one further up the coast.
I loved my home, but it had been defiled, violated. I learned that Grant, AKA Michael, had followed me almost daily - and that includes the night Jacob and I fought. He had been in my home and had gone through my things, and I couldn't stand the thought of living there while knowing that.
Plus, I just can't see the town, or rather, the people in it, the same way as I used to. I know it wasn't them who started the fire on Jacob's truck. Thatwas Grant. But all I see when I think about them now is how cruel they've been to Jacob for the past few months. I can forgive Jolene for her behavior because of her past, but I definitely need more time for the others.
I would have moved all of his stuff out of his beach shack as well if I could have, but it's not my decision to make.
“I can't thank you enough for doing that for me. Seriously. You and Justin. Was he okay doing it?”
“Please,” she scoffs. “I have him eating out of my pussy.”
The laugh that cuts through my tears feels good. I knew if anyone could cheer me up, it would be Tahnee. Her crass talk and carefree nature have always been something that I love about her.
“I'm going to miss you.”
She sighs into the phone. “Me, too. But it's only an hour and a half away. I'm already planning my next weekend trip.”
“Can't wait,” I murmur, gripping the phone tight against my ear.
“I gotta get back to work now, but listen to me. He's going to be okay. I just know it. He didn't survive ten years of hell just to quit it now.” I nod my head even though she can't see me. “And you know, I think Jolene may actually come around, too. I think she's feeling guilt more than anything right now.”
I hum in response. After I was discharged from the hospital, I had called Tahnee to let her know everything that had happened. She, in turn, had relayed the whole story to Jolene, who apparently didn't say a word in reply and has been quiet ever since. For now, I'll give her space, but I know I need to talk to her eventually.
“I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” The noise of chatter and clanking dishes mixes with Tahnee's voice, meaning she must have walked back inside The Big Five.
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
We hang up. I take a deep breath. And then I push through the door to his room, coming to a complete stop when I see eyes land on me.
“You're awake,” I breath out.
My feet are on the move again, rushing me to the side of his bed. I gently rest my hands on his cheeks and look him over again as if I haven't been watching him for the past few days.
The doctors told me that he was going to be fine. Tahnee told me he was going to be fine. But I just couldn't let myself relax and believe it until this very second when I saw him awake.
My thumb runs over the crease line forming between his brows. “I was so worried about you.”
The look on his face is as if he's trying to figure something out. A thousand questions lay waiting there. He's maybe trying to figure out what happened to him and why he's here, much like what I went through when I first woke up in a hospital bed.
Before he tries to open his mouth to speak, I press a finger to his lips. “I'll explain everything to you. But you can't talk.” I slide my gaze down from his lips to the shallow wound below. “You were stabbed near your throat. You're okay. You'll be able to talk. They just want it to heal a little more before you start speaking.”
