Page 102 of Peaches & Pistols

The déjà vu is haunting, going on autopilot, grabbing the same kinds of items I packed for me and Everly when we fled Carter’s house. I don’t register how much time is passing because my motions are stunted, and I continuously forget what I’m doing.

The front door crashes open and Greyson bursts into the apartment.

“MIA! MIA!” he shouts over and over until he finds me catatonic in our bathroom.

“Oh thank god.” His brief sigh of relief is short lived. “Mia, goddamn it, why aren’t you answering your fucking phone?”

He’s not swearing at me. He’s swearing because he’s terrified. But not more than I am.

“Must be on silent,” I reply in a haze.

Greyson stands before me, panic stricken across his handsome face, eyes wild with every emotion. He gently brushes my hair over my shoulders, smoothing it down my back. He bends to meet me at eye level, dabbing away my tears gently with a tissue.

“Honey, what happened?” The calmness in his voice is forced, laced with worry.

“He’s here.” Is all I can say.

“Did he touch you? Did he hurt you? I swear I’ll cut every single⁠—”

“No. I didn’t see him. He went to the school trying to get Everly,” I explain.

“FUCK!” Greyson explodes. “No fucking way in hell is he getting anywhere near our baby, or you. Over my dead body.”

“You have to let us go,” I say, the numbness receding, being replaced by excruciating pain losing the man I love.

“No.”

“What?”

“No. You’re not going anywhere. There’s nowhere safer for you than with me.”

“If Everly and I leave, we’ll take any threat away from you and Harper, and from everyone we love at the ranch. I can’t risk anyone getting hurt because of me,” I say, tears running down my cheeks.

We go back and forth this way until we’re blue in the face. It’s then that Greyson does something I never expected.

He lowers himself to the floor on his knees, taking my hands in his.

“Please, Mia. I’m begging you not to go. As much as I want to handcuff you to me, I’ll never steal your autonomy. But I’m desperate, honey. I’m selfish as hell, and I won’t make it without you—I need you. Harper needs you. It’s all so new, but she’s been so much happier now that she can call you her mom, not just her nanny. We can’t separate the kids, it’s not an option. We’ll go with you. Anywhere we need to go for you to feel safe,” Greyson pleads.

His truths wake me the hell up. This man hasn’t begged for a thing in his life. Not for his mom’s attention. Not for her to wait to remarry. Not for Vanessa to come back and be a family with him and Harper.

But for me, Greyson kneels, begging with his life for any way we can stay together as a family. I sink to the floor and sob into his soft, flannel covered chest. Without hesitation, he holds me tightly, shifting to cradle me on the bathroom tiles.

“I’m so sorry.” My cries are muffled by his shirt.

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“Just let me, okay?” My assertiveness surprises us both.

“Of course, honey. Anything you need.” Greyson smooths my hair again and again, relaxing me enough to continue.

“I’m sorry for bursting into your life unannounced. I’m sorry for saddling you with my problems. I’m sorry for bringing trouble to your door. I’m sorry you have to deal with Carter. But most of all, I’m sorry for trying to leave.

“Landing in Swiftwater had to be Charlie’s way of guiding me to safety. She brought me to you because together, we can conquer any challenge. The universe knew there were two little girls who desperately needed a sister and two loving parents. I promise to never run from you, from this incredible life we’re building together. All I want is you and this family.”

"You don't have to run ever again," Greyson swears.

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