"Best decision I made all night."
She glances back at me, water still dripping from her hair, cheeks flushed from the weather and everything we just said to each other."Mine too."
I pull her back against me one more time before we head inside, wrapping my arms around her from behind, chin resting on top of her head while the rain keeps falling around the both of us.Whatever happens with Gerald, whatever the investigation turns up, I know exactly what I want waiting for me on the other side of it, and for the first time in longer than I can remember, that certainty doesn't scare me at all.
Chapter17
Macie
"Are you sure you wanna do this?"Darren asks a couple days later as I'm getting ready for work, using makeup to cover the last of the bruises.
"I can't keep hiding forever.They have me working in the ER, just in case he comes into L&D looking for me.Security will walk me to and from my car.I love staying here with Nicole, but this isn't the reality of what my life is normally like, and if I keep hiding, it's going to be even harder for me to start back."
"I know all of this," Darren says as he stands against the wall behind me, his arms crossed over his chest."But I fucking don't like it."
He's hot as hell, wearing his uniform, gun already at his hip, badge shining, and a bullet proof vest pulled over his head, waiting to be secured."It's going to be fine."I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince, him or me.
"If you need anything today, my phone is on, and I told Director Drake you're my number one priority."
That warms my chest and makes me want to stay here with him, celebrating the fact that he likes me this much.Our eyes meet in the mirror as I put my mascara on.When I'm done, I turn around, and walk over to him."You're a sweet man, eight pack."
"I can be even sweeter if you wanna take those clothes off, we both call in, I get mom to pick up Nicole, and we stay in bed all day."
Those words go to my core, making it tingle as I think of his cock rubbing all the right spots."I'm tempted, but I can't keep running."
"Alright," he sighs."Whatever you decide to do, I'm standing behind you."
About thirty minutes later, I've killed as much time as I can.I get up from the table, my breakfast barely touched, and start getting my stuff ready for my day.
"I'm gonna miss you," Nicole whines, throwing her arms around my knees.
I bend down and pick her up, holding her to me."I'm gonna miss you too, but you'll have fun with GiGi today.You can tell me all about it when I get home."
"And what am I?"Darren asks her."Chopped liver?Come give me some sugar."
I set her down and she toddles over to her dad, sighing with contentment when he tucks her into his chest.Same girl, I wanna say, same.
The front door unlocks, and Kelsea comes sweeping in."Good morning, y'all.Are we excited to get our work days going?"
I feel like a kid going to her first day of school.Darren and I look at each other, grinning with amusement as she gets our stuff together, and pushes us out the door.Once he and I are outside at our respective vehicles, I turn to him."Have a good day, honey."
"You too, babe."
We laugh at how domestic all of this is, but I can't help but be appreciative when he kisses me, before directing me to the driver's seat and shuts my door.We pull out of the driveway, each turning separate directions, and I remind myself I'm as safe as I can be.
Gerald Simmons will not make me stop living my life, even if I can feel someone's eyes on me sometimes.
The first couple of hours of my shift go by with normal cases in the ER.I'm about to take my first break, when Molly shows up."Hey!"I hurry over to her, wrapping my arms around her."I missed you!"
"Missed you too, girl.This place wasn't the same without you.I just didn't want to bother you.Wanted to make sure you were getting the rest you needed.How are you doing?"
I would've probably done the same if this was the other way around."Pretty good.It was a rough couple of days to begin with, but it's better than it was."
"I'm so glad to hear it.There's a hot dude with a strawberry lemonade from Whole Latte Love for you at the nurses station," she whispers."Have you been staying with Darren since that night?"
"Yeah."I grin, raising my eyebrows up and down suggestively at her."I've got so much to tell you."
"I want details later," Molly says, squeezing my hand before she heads back toward the labor and delivery wing."All of them."
