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Apoundingonmyfront door wakes me from the nap I was taking on the couch. They way they are banging on it makes me question if it’s the cops. Probably Judd coming to haul me away.
Again.
When I swing open the door, I see Erin standing there, drenched from the rain. And she looks like you’ve been crying.
“Erin? Are you okay?”
She nods. “Can we talk?”
“Of course. Come on in. Do you want me to get you some dry clothes?”
She starts pacing. “No, I’m okay. I need to say some things to you.”
“Alright, I’m listening.” I walk over to the open kitchen and get some water boiling on the stove.
She follows me and starts talking as she does it. “Why didn’t you tell me Judd arrested you?”
That makes me stop cold. “I thought you’d be mad.”
“At you?”
I nod.
“Tanner, I’m not mad at you at all. In fact, I need to apologize to you.”
“For what?”
She pushes away a strand of hair that was stuck to her face. “Okay, let me start from the beginning. Buckle up because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Without pausing for even a second, she jumps right in. “Today, I found all these old journals of mine, and I realize just how much Judd has taken from me over the years. I used to be a totally different person. I thought that person was gone for good, but then, I met you, and she started to come back. Through a very chaotic list of events today—one that includes Judd putting his hands on my child—”
“Wait, what?” I interrupt.
“Yeah. I got so mad, and I just went over, and I went off on Judd. Told him that he needs to get over himself, or I was going to fight him for sole custody of the kids. Demanded that he drop the charges against you. I told him he needs to leave you alone because I’m in love with you, and you’re not going anywhere. At least I hope you’re not.”
Before I can answer, she keeps going. “God, it felt so good to just let him have it. I let out everything that I’ve been holding in for so long. You should have seen it. It was a fucking work of art. Speaking of works of art.” She points to some cling wrap covering her wrist. “I got a tattoo! A tattoo! Me!”
I take her wrist and read what it says.
Enough.
“I love it,” I tell her.
“I mean it, Tanner. I’ve had enough of all of that. I’m so sorry I’ve put you through all of this, but I promise you will never have to miss another soccer game. I will never put Judd before you again.”
Tears now stream down her cheeks. “I just hope it’s not too late. If I were you, I would be over all of this by now.”
I walk over to where she stands. Reaching my hands under her ass, I lift her up and set her on the counter. Lightly rubbing my thumb across her cheek, I say, “I meant it when I said I’m not going anywhere. Erin, as far as I’m concerned, you’re my forever. I want to go to sleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning. I want to be the only guy that you kiss for the rest of your life. I want to be another person that your kids can depend on. I’m sorry I have been distant lately. I just felt bad for not telling you about the whole arrest thing. I didn’t want to add more stress, but I’d feel guilty every time I was around you because it felt like I was being dishonest. But I promise no more secrets.”
“No more secrets,” she agrees as I slowly press my lips to hers.
She pulls back and looks at me. “While we are being honest, I think I should tell you that I also went off on your mom tonight.”
“Huh?”
She tells me about how she ran into my mom—literally—and then gave her a piece of her mind.
When she’s done, I ask, “Do you know how much I love you?”
