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Goddess
Huxley still hasn’t shared where we’re going, but wherever it is, I feel safe. His mouth is tight, and there’s tension in his thick brows. Even while being upset, his profile is something to admire. He is more gorgeous than any man has a right to be, but what you see on the surface is only part of his magnetism. His kindness and heroism make him undeniable. I can’t deny the attraction I feel nor that I’m falling for him.
I’m lost in thought when his phone hits my lap. “Call your parents, Goddess. It’s time. You can’t keep them in the dark about this.”
I’m thrown off guard by his audacity. I don’t need a lecture as if I was some child. Why in the heck did he have to interrupt my appreciation of him by being a hard-ass?
“Look. It’s the right thing to do. I’m sure they’re worried sick. I don’t think your dad will react like you fear he will have,” he says, more concerned than bossy.
“How can you be so sure,” I retort.
“Because they raised a sweet, amazing daughter. Those traits came from somewhere, so give them a chance. It’s selfish not to. Think how much they’re hurting right now if you’re wrong.”
“Fine.” I huff, but I know he’s right. I quickly dial my father’s number before my nerves can get the best of me.
“Hello?” The minute I hear my father’s voice, tears run down my face. I miss him and my mother so much. “Hello?” he says again.
“Hi, Father,” I finally say, not trusting my voice. A lump forms in my throat, but I know I have to push forward.
“Oh, my God, Goddess. Helen, Goddess is on the phone,” he calls out to my mother. “Where are you, honey? We’ve been worried sick. Arlo told us you took a spa trip, but he finally had to admit you ran off. He said you left everything. That you would be back because you had no way to get money.”
I can hear the worry in my father’s voice, and I know immediately I was wrong.
“I have to tell you all something. Can you please put me on speaker so I don’t have to say it twice?” I plead.
“Okay, sugar. Your mother can hear you. Tell us what’s wrong. What spooked you?”
I look over at Huxley, and he nods in encouragement. I take a deep breath and unleash the sordid story like word vomit, barely even pausing to take a breath. The silence frightens me, but I don’t stop until every minute detail is out in the open. Surprisingly, I don’t full-out cry this time. I feel empowered regardless of my parents’ reaction.
“It’s what we feared,” my father admits. He apologizes profusely for not seeing the signs sooner and says he’s leaving the practice he has with Jerry and going back to his old one.
“It’s not your fault. I was the coward. I was scared you would make excuses for him to save your new business relationship. I hate that you have to go back to your old group.” The truth is out, and my worst fear is realized. My father will lose his new practice because of me.
“I’m so sad you would think that, Goddess. You’re our world. The truth is, things weren’t working out behind the scenes anyway. The money was great, but Arlo wasn’t as silent of a partner as originally agreed. He had too much input in how things were run, and that caused a conflict of interest. It’s like I had a boss rather than the autonomy to do as I saw fit with my patients and plans for growth.” My father sighs into the phone. “My old group called for me to come back shortly after you left. It took me leaving for them to realize just how much of an asset I really was. They want to sit down next week to renegotiate what it will take for me to rejoin them. It’s not Beverly Hills, but I already have patients who plan to follow me wherever I move my practice.”
“We love you, Goddess. You will always come first before any business. Tell us what you want. Do you want to come home? Do you need money?” I can hear the tears in my mother’s voice, and I hate that I doubted them. I hate that I worried them.
“I’m fine. I got a job, and I’m filing charges against Arlo. I’m safe. I’ll call you both in the morning after I file the report, but please, don’t worry about me.” I’m happy things will work out with my father’s job, so now I know everything will work out. We say I love you to one another and promise to talk tomorrow. I needed this conversation and can feel the weight lifted from my shoulders. After I end the call, it takes me a moment to look up to see we’re at the police station. What in the world?
“You’re on a roll of confidence and strength,” Huxley says, answering my unasked question. He reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. “I thought maybe you’d like to finish conquering your fears tonight.” Squeezing my hand seems to be his and his mother’s thing. Surprisingly, it’s an effort to comfort and has a calming effect.
“What do you mean?” I know what he’s getting at. I’m just stalling.
“I’m here for you. I say we go in, and you file assault charges against Arlo tonight. Finish getting it out there on public record. Tomorrow is a new day. Your official new start. The day you begin to truly heal. I will go in with you tonight, so you don’t have to think about any of this tomorrow.”
I don’t know what to say. All week, he hasn’t said two words to me, and let’s not forget about Target girl. Yet here he is, willing to be there when I need someone the most. Encouraging me to face my fears, so tomorrow can be the start of something new.
“Okay,” I agree. I have no hopes of things progressing beyond this for us, but I will lean on his strength to enhance my own. He is out of the truck in a nanosecond—his chivalry unwavering. He opens my door and takes me by the hand.
“Let’s do this, my little hitchhiker.” He doesn’t release my hand as we walk up to the precinct. My heart skips a beat with every step. My nerves are nonexistent as of this point. I’m too giddy that he used his pet name for me. It’s weird, but it feels like how it was before his blowup.
“You’ve got this,” he says, opening the door for me. With him by my side, I know I do.
