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“You’re right. It’s your wedding too. Start carrying your own weight and do the few fucking tasks I assigned you, and I’ll take care of the rest. Oh, and I’ve decided there’ll benohoneymoon. I’ll be too busy working.” I grab my clutch, rise from my chair, and storm off.
Yes, I know I’m running—again—but I simply can’t handle the fury swirling around inside me. I need a couple of minutes to cool off. If I’m forced to deal with this intense anger before I’ve calmed down, I will go fucking ballistic on everyone.
The sound of a chair sliding across the floor alerts me Maceo’s on my heels, but he can’t enter the ladies’ room. I dash inside and hear him curse. I trudge into the farthest stall, flip the toilet lid closed, and sit my ass down with a huff.
This day has been a continuous shit train. I keep trying to jump off, but everyone keeps pulling me back. I should be elated right now, with Maceo being back home and our wedding in six short weeks, but all I feel is miserable and disheartened. I’ve worked hard to surround myself with positivity after I fled California, and now Maceo has drug the most negative people back into my life.
Why would he do this to me? Is he punishing me for something I’m unaware of?
A toilet flushes, followed by a running sink. The last person leaves the restroom, leaving me in solitude. I take the private moment to let myself meditate.
I hear a deep, muffled voice outside the door and know Maceo is talking with someone. It’s only a matter of time before he gets impatient and barges in here to confront me. Maceo has no concept of giving me space—it’s both an endearing and maddening trait of his. He means well, but it can be smothering.
I pull my cell out from my clutch and text my best friend.
*Can you pick me up at the Wilderness Steak House? The three of them are ganging up on me.*
Jared responds immediately.*Atlas already called me and told me not to interfere or else he’d skin me alive. Sorry, but I actually believe he would.*
I growl, irritated. I heard Maceo talking outside the bathroom, but I assumed he was talking with my parents. Now I know he’s trying to prevent me from escaping. I strain my ears to hear if he’s still on the phone with him. He’s talking rapidly to someone.
Heated, I fire a text back.*Chicken shit!*
Jared texts back.*Sorry, but he’s way bigger than me.*
Hmm. Jared’s words trigger an idea.
I fire off a text to Tony.*Mayday! Mayday! I need your help.*
The dots appear to show me he’s responding.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” I hear Maceo’s muffled voice growl out. Shit, he must be on the phone with Tony now.
I fire off another text. *Tony, please!*
The dots stop and start again.
There’s knocking on the bathroom door. “Pixie, are you alone?”
I ignore him and look back at my cell. Tony has responded.
*I want to help, Little Jo, but he threatened to fire my ass before I even start. I kind of need the job.*
Motherfucker!I wasted all this time, reaching out to the wrong people. I should have called one of the bunnies.
Maceo’s calls from the doorway again. “Josephine, I’m coming in.”
Jesus.I look around the stall frantically and notice a small window above the toilet.Huh, would you look at that.
Now, a normal person would forfeit at this point, but I’m far from normal. The window is tiny, but I’m tinier. For once, I’m grateful for the crap recessive genes my parents bestowed on me.
Carefully, I climb on top of the toilet lid, pushing against the window ‘till it gives. I step on the back of the toilet and start to hoist myself up.
I’m a runner and have incredibly strong legs, but this feat requires upper body strength. Wincing from my broken ribs, I struggle to pull myself up but manage to get as far as my breastbone when the restroom door swings open.
Desperate, I hurry to pull myself through the open window. Maceo opens the first stall door, and the second, and the third…
Lord, give me strength!
