Page 49 of Love At Peace

She was gorgeous. It wasn’t just an endearment that came to me naturally. Heather was drop-dead beautiful. She took pride in taking care of herself. She looked healthy and vibrant. From her long, glossy hair, her flawless skin, her toned body, and her hot-as-fuck curves, she was a walking wet dream. Aside from her superficial appearance, she was a catch in abstract ways, too. She was smart, witty, driven, and successful with her job.

Heather was a catch. She was classy. She was experienced and sexy.

Nevaeh was not. She was young and crude. Rebellious and often slacking in her own hygiene and appearance. I had no clue where she was doing laundry or showering when she wasn’t crashing with me. I had no idea when she’d last seen a dentist. The only effort she put into her appearance was in constantly dying and re-dying her hair. I was no expert, but with the amount of chemicals she was putting into her thinning, damaged hair, she would continue to look more ragged and strung-out. Furthermore, she had no job. No prospects. Not even a welcoming attitude or allure of friendship with her nonstop chip-on-the-shoulder personality.

Why would David move on to Nevaeh after someone like Heather?

It didn’t make sense. It didn’t add up, and for that, I felt like I was missing something in this campaign to keep Heather in my life.

Eventually, I dozed off again. Heather woke me with a nudge to my shoulder.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” she teased, laughing lightly. “Your phone won’t stop ringing.”

“Hmm?” I opened one eye, hugging her close.

“Your phone,” she said, slipping out of my hold.

I sat up to see that Marty, Todd, and Gavin had called me. “Shit. I forgot.”

“What?” she asked as she tugged a robe on.

“I’m supposed to watch the game with them.” I looked at my watch. “Eh. I’m not that late.” With too many thoughts on my mind after our talk, though, I didn’t feel confident to ghost them. I saw how vulnerable she was now. I hated that she had to be so sensitive around me yet, but it was a critical cue to obey.

I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. I didn’t want to risk her regretting opening up to me. If she needed space, I’d grant it.

“Well, you can still get the second half of the game, right?”

I nodded, standing to get dressed. “Not that it’ll matter.” Shaking my head, I sighed.

“Niners still aren’t doing well?”

I pouted at her. “Hush up about that now.”

She smiled.

I walked up to kiss her soundly before leaving, and I swore to myself that it would not be a final goodbye between us.

At the bar, I quickly sought help from them about this matter. Heather had told me those things about David in confidence, and I wouldn’t betray her trust. Besides, she told me that she would speak up and tell her story to Marty, even if she doubted that he could or would succeed in helping her or Nevaeh.

Over a couple of drinks and a pathetic game playing on the screen overhead, I told my coworkers, my friends. Marty jotted notes, but all three listened with rapt interest and worry.

“She went to the cops?” Marty asked after I shared it all.

I nodded. “And a woman’s shelter.”

“Damn.” He shook his head, looking more pissed.

“That motherfucker,” Todd drawled. “I shoulda shot ’im on her front step.” When Marty gave him a look, Todd merely switched his chew to the other cheek.

“No wonder she’s considering moving for another job,” Gavin said. “She got away from him once. Now she’ll try to again.”

I held up my finger though. “That’s what I’m not sure about,” I said. “She thinks that David’s moving on to Nevaeh now. And because he’s got a new...prey, a new woman to control, he’ll leave her alone.”

Marty shook his head. “No, he won’t. Or he hasn’t so far. I got a call from that young man at the bank. He called me up to tell me ‘in confidence’ that David approached Heather and harassed her. He got in her face and said that she’d never be happy without him.”

That doesn’t sound like he’s moving on to Nevaeh.

“It coincided with a call about someone screaming,” he said. “Nance admitted to screaming to shut David up and scare him off. There’s your proof that he’s not giving up on Heather. If he was done with her and moving on to Nevaeh, he wouldn’t have any motivation to continue to harass Heather.”