Page 84 of Here In Your Arms

Officer Davies clears his throat, “Can you tell me what happened last night? I wasn’t the officer on the scene when the ambulance was called, but I got the basic report from a law enforcement perspective. I’d like to hear your side, too.”

I nod and explain to the officer how the evening was and what happened when I left. Part of me feels a little guilty when I admit my coworker offered to walk me to the car and I declined, but Officer Davies must have ESP because he assures me that I shouldn’t feel guilty. I had no way of knowing what would happen. I hesitate a little and look at Wes.

“You should tell him the whole story, probably,” Wes says.

“Is this repeat behavior from this man?” Officer Davies looks up from his notes at me.

I sigh. “Somewhat, yes. This is the first time he actually hit me. He was emotionally abusive throughout our entire relationship, and when he threw me to the ground for the first time, I got out. I broke it off and stopped engaging with him. Then he started showing up at my job every day, just staring at me from his spot at the bar.”

“So we can add ‘stalking’ to the list of offenses,” Officer Davies states.

I take the time to go into detail about everything that’s happened since I met Kyle and Wes, and as I do, Kyle comes back in, sitting next to Wes and leaning forward. I also give the officer names of people who can corroborate my side of the story and tell him my mother is someone who would actually take Nathan’s side. He seems taken aback that I have no family who would side with me other than a child, but he doesn’t comment. Finishing up my side of things, I look at Kyle and Wes to see if they want to add anything. Neither has anything to add, so Officer Davies adds a couple more notes to his notebook and puts everything away.

“I’m going to go ahead and add this to the report that was filed last night from the call. I would highly recommend you contact the station and pursue a restraining order on this man. His behavior is escalating, and I’d hate to see anything more happen to you. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.”

I thank him and we shake hands again before he leaves my hospital room. I lean back against the bed, sighing in exhaustion. Looking at both of my boys, I smile.

“Let’s go home.”

“Which home?” Kyle asks.

It feels like a big question. If I say my apartment, neither will blink an eye and I know they’ll be there for me every step of the way. If I tell them their house, though, it feels like a bigger statement. It feels like a commitment of sorts. Nothing they would hold me to, but me acknowledging how deep in this I am.

“Your house,” I tell him.

They both smile widely and press the nurse call button so we can be escorted out of the building.

I’m settled in at Kyle and Wes’ house, happy as a clam on the couch surrounded by pillows and blankets. Kyle has helped me get things where I want them on the couch, instinctively knowing how to make it as cozy as possible. He’s my kindred soul in all things comfy. Morgan is on her way over and the guys are cooking up some kind of dinner for us. I told them I don’t have any preferences, so I’m sure whatever they come up with will be perfect.

Someone at the door knocks before twisting the handle and poking their head in. Morgan looks tentative at first, but smiles at me the minute she sees me surrounded by pillows and blankets on the couch.

“Hey!” she says, stepping into the room fully.

“Hey you!”

“Fuck, your face!”

“You wanna fuck my face? I mean you gotta ask the boys first…”

Morgan throws her head back in laughter and comes in, setting a bag on the coffee table and plopping down next to me. “Okay, for real, though, are you okay?”

I shrug. “I think as okay as I’m going to be for now. The guys want me to file a restraining order and I can’t say I blame them for it.”

“It sounds like a smart idea. What do you think?”

“It’s smart, I admit that. It’s also scary and I’m afraid that if I do, he’ll just ignore it and come for me even harder than before.”

She nods and reaches into the bag, pulling out a package of M&M’s. I grin as she opens it and sets it between us on the couch. My hand shoves into the bag and I down a mouthful of the chocolatey goodness. She grabs her own handful, and we chew thoughtfully.

“I mean, honestly, there’s nothing stopping him going at you now. If you have the restraining order, he’ll at least have reason to think about it first, and you have better legal standing to pursue charges against him. It seems like the better option overall. It’s scary though, that’s for sure.”

I nod, agreeing with her, and the guys choose that moment to come into the room, bowls of homemade fried rice in their hands. Kyle hands one to me while Wes hands one to Morgan and we all settle in.

“Thanks for the food. It smells amazing,” Morgan says, grinning.

“Thanks for coming over with goodies,” I tell her.

My spirits are lifted as the four of us sit and watch a movie, happily munching on dinner and the various snacks that Morgan brought with her. She leaves after one movie and I scoot over on the couch, inviting Wes and Kyle to sit on either side of me. They snuggle under the blankets with me, and I feel safe and warm.

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