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When I turn, she’s on her little back porch, peeling off her gardening gloves. As she slips the fabric from her left hand, I catch a glint from her wedding band. Our partner rings.
That’s what I need right now. To be her partner. To be here for her.
I walk toward her with careful steps.
“Can I hug you?”
Luna hesitates, and I sink down to sit on the porch step beside her, not wanting to loom.
My wait ends in shock as she slides into my lap, straddling my hips and wrapping her arms tight around my neck.
I meant to comfort her. But this is different. More.
I twine my arms around her waist, pulling my wife close to my body. My cheek cradles against her breasts, which she doesn’t seem to mind. Luna rests her chin on the top of my head and lets out a shuddering sigh. With her in my arms like this, I sense the slight tremor in her body.
I wonder if she shakes from fear, adrenaline, anger, or all three.
“He might try to hurt you,” she mutters.
Don’t worry about me, I consider telling her. But selfishly, I keep my mouth shut. Because the thought of her concern warms me.
A high-pitched whine sounds from behind me, and Luna lets out a reluctant chuckle.
“Our dog wants in on the hug,” Luna mutters, and I think I hear the hint of a smile in her voice.
Our dog. Like Pig is a bridge between the two of us. I glance over my shoulder and spot the puppy’s over-excited face at the door. I think her blocky head is cute, but I know the world often sees her as something fierce. Something intimidating.
But she’s as harmless as I am. If Bill Lamont decides to fuck with me, I’ll probably end up in worse shape than Luna would. She’s the tough one in this marriage. Her strength awes me, but I don’t want to be a burden.
“Ever think about getting a restraining order against your dad?”
Luna shifts back, and I allow my arms to slacken, no matter how much I ache to keep holding her against me.
“Those don’t do a lot.” She grimaces. “I’ve had clients who tried them and still ran into trouble with stalkers. It’s a piece of paper that a determined person won’t take seriously.” Luna brushes some dirt off her jeans with brusque movements. “More likely it’d piss him off and make my uncle jumpy.” She meets my eyes, face hardening into a mask. “The Lamonts don’t have a good history with law enforcement.”
“What’s our next step?”
Luna rises from my lap, and the void of her hits harder than a moment ago.
“Not sure.” She grabs the handle of the sliding door. “But don’t worry. I’ll figure it out.”
Even Pig’s energetic spring into the backyard can’t distract from the unspoken words.
I’ll figure it out on my own.
ChapterThirty-One
LUNA
My dad’s unexpected visit leaves an invisible tension hanging over our household. Every time I leave for work, there’s a nagging voice in the back of my brain telling me I need to check in on Charlie. That if I’m not here, something bad will happen to him.
The same voice shouts at me when I’m at the house and he goes out.
Charlie often takes Pig with him on errands. Guess Nashville is a pretty dog friendly town because he always seems to find stores that allow our pit bull inside as long as she stays on a leash. And ultimate dog dad that he is, Charlie loves the constant bonding.
Pig’s heart is going to break when this marriage ends.
I’m torn about them going out together. On the one hand my dad hates dogs, so she might help in that arena. On the other hand Charlie is a tall Black man and Pig is a pit bull. The world doesn’t look kindly on them separately, and together I can imagine the ignorant, hostile interactions that could happen at any moment.
