Page 7 of Love Takes Home

“What I understand,Virginia, is that I’ve watched that man treat you like shit for two years and you finally get the fucking courage to walk away from him and you want to run right back? Is that what you really fucking want? Because I’ll pull over right now and you can walk your ass back there and into his fucking arms.”

“Joker!” Davis barks through the phone. “Stop.”

I focus my eyes back on the road ahead and take a deep breath. I know I’m being that guy. That fucker who bulldozes his way into whatever he wants. I also know I have to stop or I’ll never have the chance to show Ginny I’m the one she should be with.

“I’m sorry,” I finally say, not looking at her. “That was rude and uncalled for, and if you really want to go back and make sure he’s okay, that’s what we’ll do. You just say the word.”

“I…no. Just get us where we’re going, please.” I hear her sniffle. I know I just royally fucked up, and I swear I’ll apologize for it again later, but at those words, I hit the gas.

“I’ll let you know what I find out,” Davis interrupts my thoughts. “Be in touch.”

I hit the end call button and toss the phone on the console between us. The rest of the ride is silent. I want to say something. I need to say something. But I can’t bring myself to do it. This. This shit right here? It’s why I’ve never allowed myself to get close to a woman. One-night stands, two if it was really great sex, but no attachment, no commitments. No worries about getting hurt or hurting someone else. But this woman? She’s been killing me slowly for two fucking years. Since the very first time I met her, I knew she was supposed to be mine.

I need for her to get on my level. And that’s not going to happen if I can’t keep my mouth shut. Funny thing is, everyone calls me Joker as a horrible twist of irony. I’m not the funny, good time guy. I’m theget shit done and put you in your placeguy. The one who did what I had to do for as long as I could before I saw too much and damn near broke. Virginia Mills could be the death of me, but what a way to go.

Chapter 3

Ginny

“What is this place?”

I look around at the open area with a cabin sitting in the middle. Trees surround the plot, but they’re so tall they cover the cabin. Or hide it. I think that might have been the plan. Also, that’s the first thing I’ve said out loud since Joker basically told me he was going to dump me on the side of the road for being a compassionate human being. I don’t understand what he didn’t get about me wanting to make sure Keith was alright. I would have wanted to stop for anyone in that situation, but the fact it was Keith? Or probably him? I know the sexy man scowling at me right now doesn’t see it, but Keith was my end game.

And I’ve walked away.

“Hey, Ginny. You alright?” Joker asks, a hint of concern in his voice.

Am I okay? No! No, I’m not! I just torched my own life. Gave up on something that would have been perfectly fine and walked away.

“What have I done?” I whisper to the heavens.

My breath is coming heavier now. My heart beating so fast, I think I might pass out. Oh, my God, I can’t breathe in this fucking hideous thing Keith called a wedding dress. Oh, no. The world is spinning. I think Joker is talking to me, but he sounds like he’s a million miles away.

I feel him, but I can’t see him. And all of a sudden I’m floating. Carried in strong arms, holding me tight. Oh, no. He can’t carry me.

“Ginny, it’s alright. You’re going to be fine,” I hear his muffled voice say. At least he doesn’t sound like he’s underwater or on the other side of the mountain anymore. “I’ve got you, Beautiful. Just breathe for me, okay?”

“Put me down. You can’t carry me.” I wheeze the words, not entirely sure they were loud enough for him to hear.

“Fuck that.”

“No. Please. Put me down. I can’t—”

“Can’t what?”

“Can’t breathe. Put me down. Put me down now.”

I’m not sure how far we’ve made it inside the place with him carrying me, but he listens to my plea and puts me down just for my knees to give out.

“Whoa. I got you.”

He holds me up, wrapping his arms around me, which isn’t helping.

“I need—I need you to let me go, Joker.”

“But—”

“No. Let me go. Just let me go. I need you to let me go.”

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