Page 61 of Four Times Saved

And now I felt like I had a moral obligation or I was in debt to the one who heard my prayer and saved her, because I was grateful. More than grateful. Having Lily back was everything to me. I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that.

"Say what you want," Tyler shrugged. "I just thought you'd want to at least give them a piece of your mind, resolve all your unfinished business before I got rid of them." He walked away, leaving me twisted up and confused.

Chapter 30

Lily

Tyler came walking over to us. Ann-Marie regarded him with the same love I saw blasting through her eyes on her wedding day. The eye contact he made with her was so strong and compelling, I flushed from being in proximity. I remembered the harsh judgment I had passed on him before I allowed myself to be loved by good men.

After all she told me about the lengths he went through and how bummed he was that he wasn't able to help the guys out more in their search, I realized I owed him an apology. Even if he didn't know what I was apologizing for.

Before I could think about it, I stood up and caught everyone off guard when I wrapped him in a hug.

"Woah!" He stumbled with his arms open wide.

Over his shoulders, I caught sight of my men and their gazes were tense. I smiled at them. If they were jealous, they should have known better by now. My heart only beat for them. They were the only ones who made my skin buzz. In my eyes, no one else compared to my four men. Still, I released Ann-Marie's husband before she got the wrong idea as well.

"Thanks for your help." I stepped back. "I know I haven't been welcoming to you before." I gave Ann-Marie an apologetic glance. "But you stepped up and helped when you didn't have to. I think that's the character of a good man. And I'm happy Ann-Marie has you in her life."

"Thanks." He cleared his throat before joining the sofa next to his wife and taking hold of her hand.

"You know, you are allowed to accept a compliment." She grinned at him before mouthing, thank you.

"I did." Tyler smiled. "I said, thanks." He nodded awkwardly.

"I don't know why he's pretending to be shy." She waved off his discomfort and turned her attention back to me. "I have to say, for someone who has been through hell and back, you're glowing."

"Aw, thanks. You're sweet. The truth is I'm a wreck, but I'm lucky I have these guys in my corner. I don't know what I'd do without them." I smiled in their direction, but they were still tense, shooting darts at Tyler.

Surely that hug couldn't have caused them to get that worked up. But I guess they had no way of knowing for sure that I was committed to just them. After all, this was still new to us. Yes, a lot had happened in the past few days that had bonded us closer than ever, but we'd never actually established the boundaries of our relationship, you know, whether they'd sleep with anyone else, or I would.

I went from Eric to all of them without a second thought, why would they believe that it's not just them I want? That they're the only ones who will ever matter to me romantically? I hadn't been communicating with them. I'd been running from deep conversation as soon as possible, using their bodies to help me forget my hell.

"I can imagine." Ann-Marie quirked the side of her lips up at me, but her cheeks strained and her eyes went blank as if leaving the room for a few seconds.

Once, she had let something slip about her being kidnapped, but she didn't expound and I didn't press. I knew she'd been through other traumas with the men in her life as well, so I trusted that her imagination was pretty spot on.

"Hey." I reached out and touched her knee, bringing her back out of that place, even though I was still stuck in mine.

"Have you set up an appointment with a therapist already?" She reached out and placed her hand over mine.

Pulling my hand away, I wrapped my arms around my midsection. "Not yet."

"Have you spoken to anyone about it?" She asked.

"No. I wouldn't know what to say, anyway." I started shaking my foot.

It was like my mind was chasing my feet and all I wanted to do was get up and run out that door, but I couldn't because the assholes were still out there.

"Maybe you're right." I conceded as a chill ran down my spine.

Like a loud noise, the image of my father's face flashed in my head, fast, like the flashing lights of a siren and I shook my head to dissolve the picture.

Dropping my head in my hands, I groaned. "I need help."

"That's it." Ann-Marie moved from her seat on the sofa and knelt before me, pulling my hands from my face. "We're making an appointment at The Women's Shelter. It doesn't matter if you don't know what to say. You can sit in silence. You can speak only the words that come to you in the moment. I'll be right there with you. Hell, I gotta see a therapist, myself."

"About your kidnapping?" I swallowed. She tightened. "I didn't forget."

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