Page 7 of Silver Linings

“She’s just giving me a hard time lately.” Lily patted her bump for added effect. “Probably getting sick of her cramped accommodations. I’m fine though, I promise.”

He stopped moving, eyes growing wide as they dropped to her belly and then back up to her face.

“You’re having a little girl?”

She smiled at the softness in his voice as he asked the question.

“Yes. This big basketball under my shirt is actually a baby girl, and that’s really hard for me to believe. All the old wives’ tales said she’d be a boy.”

Lily absentmindedly rolled up her sleeves and reached for the medicine on the kitchen counter.

“What is that?” Gunner growled as he grasped Lily’s arm.

“What? Oh, that’s nothing.” Hell, this was the last thing she needed. She tried to roll her sleeve down, but he was already examining her skin closely.

“Lil, are those fingerprints? That fucker bruised your skin. He’s dead, Lily.” She flinched away from him, fearing what his anger would turn into if she didn’t stop him from hearing the truth.

“Who the hell are you talking about?”

“Your fiance. Gia told me?—”

“I don’t know what Gia told you, but he didn’t. I just had an accident. Honestly, it’s fine.” When he didn’t let go, she whispered, “Please let me go.”

His hand dropped off her arm immediately.

“I need to finish getting your mom’s medication ready for this afternoon and then I’ll start working on dinner for you guys.” Lily desperately wanted to get the subject off of her, but the entire time she moved around the kitchen, she felt Gunner’s disapproving gaze on her. Had she covered the yellowing bruises on her neck with enough makeup? Would he sense that the old bruises on her hips and back were why she was walking gingerly all day?

“Do I look fucking stupid to you?”

“What?”

“You want me to believe you just had a little accident that resulted in a hand-shaped bruise encircling your arm?”

“I…I don’t think you’re stupid. I mean, academics were never your strong suit, but with some tutoring, you did fine.” The joke landed flat, and she wanted to melt into the floor. Never mind him and his intrusive questions. She had to talk with Gia, about the apartments and her plan to leave James. And she clearly needed to remind her best friend that their conversations need to stay between them.

“You’re going to leave him. Today.” Lily nearly shrieked when she turned and he was just a few inches away from her.

“No. No, I’m not. I can’t.”

“Lily. You aren’t safe. He’s put his hands on you, which is disgusting all on its own, but you’re nine months pregnant. What if he really hurt you? Hurt the baby?”

He was right. Lily needed to leave, and as long as Gunner didn’t fire her for a few more days, she’d have enough money to.

“I have a plan, Gunner, so please stop worrying.”

“To leave? He doesn’t deserve you for one more minute, Lil. Drinking all your money away. Does he even work?”

“Gunner, leave it alone.” Jesus, Gia really didn’t waste a minute filling him in. “I’m sure this comes as a surprise because I am so well loved in this house, but I don’t have anywhere to go, and he’s made it clear in the past that if I leave, he’ll take me to court for custody of the baby. You know his family has more money than sense. How can I fight that without a plan first?”

Gunner stared at her, and she could feel the tears gathering at the back of her eyes. No! She was being strong Lily, not soggy Lily. She wouldn’t let them fall. She wouldn’t let him see how desperate her situation had become.

When he didn’t speak after a minute of excruciating silence, Lily turned to the fridge and started pulling out the ingredients she’d need for the soup she wanted to make.

“It wasn’t always like this. James wasn’t always…the way he is. I have to have hope that he’ll find himself again.”

“You think he’s going to find the man you want him to be at the bottom of a bottle?”

“Why do you have to be like that, Gunner? I’m doing the best I can and you have no right to judge that.”

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