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I’m fucking done with this place and bullshit party.
There’s only one more person I need to see before I can put all of this behind me.
“Maria,” I say softly as I approach where she’s still seated, staring at the stage where her abusive husband was arrested not so long ago. “Maria?” I try again when she continues to stare through me.
Dropping to my haunches, I cover her fidgeting hands with my own and wait.It takes a couple of seconds for her to see me, and when she does, tears flood her wide eyes, and her body visibly trembles.
“It’s over, Maria,” I promise her. “He’s never going to hurt you again.”
She shakes her head, and my stomach knots.“N-no, I-I… He’ll come back,” she whispers, sounding as terrified as she does when he flies off the handle at her.
“He won’t. You’re free.”
“B-but the house… Millie…”
“I have everything in hand. You have nothing to worry about.” I have so much more that I need to explain to her, but I hold it back for now. I doubt she’d hear me or understand even if I tried.
She holds my eyes for a long time. I have no idea what’s going on around us. I’m too concerned about her falling apart in front of me.But as her first tear falls, I see a shift in her. It’s subtle, but the scared woman Dad has turned her into begins to fade away, and I start to see the fun-loving woman who’s been the best mother she can be to Millie and me over the past few years.
“Thank you,” she whispers, switching our hand’s position and squeezing mine. “Thank you, Theo.”
It’s my turn to shake my head. “You deserve it. So does Millie. We’re all free now.”
The breath she releases is so huge, I wonder just how long she’s been holding it for.
“Go home, Maria. Figure out what your future looks like. Millie and I will come and see you tomorrow, okay?”
I push to stand and find Fiona watching us from a few feet away.
“We’ll take her,” she says. “Go find your sister. Give her a big hug from us.”
I nod and take a step back as my boys surround me.
“Come on. Your girl and sister are at the Chapel,” Elliot says, throwing his arm around my shoulders.
“Whoa, you allowed them in unattended?” Oak balks.
“Fuck off,” Elliot barks, leading me toward the exit.
Some people have already left, but others linger, waiting to see if the show is over, no doubt. This town is nothing if not gossip-hungry.While I might have more than a few sets of intrigued eyes on me, no one dares speak to me.
I follow Elliot and Abi toward his car while the others make a beeline for Oak’s.
“You can go with them if you want,” Elliot offers when he notices her following us.
“And spend the journey in the middle of their weird sex games? No, thank you.”
I snort a laugh as I think about Reese and Oak playing a game ofwho can make their girl scream firstfor bragging rights when we get back.
“Fair enough. And because my night just went fucking spectacularly, I’ll even let you ride shotgun so you can sit next to my boy,” I say, winking at her, loving how her cheeks bloom bright red.
“N-no. It’s okay, I can sit in the—”
“Nope. In you get,” I say, holding the door open for her like a gentleman. “Put your foot on it, Eaton. I need my girl.”
“Fucking whipped motherfuckers,” he mutters as he jabs the start button bringing the engine to life.
“Ah, just wait, my friend. Your time is coming.”
