Page 342 of Bad for Me

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Poppet. Where do you want to meet?”

He sounds genuine. Maybe…maybe the feelings I have aren’t misplaced, and we can… No. Now’s not the time to be thinking about the future. I have to get my kids.

“Let’s meet at a diner out on Route 62. It’s five miles from my house, and I could use some food. It’s called Maggie’s.” I smile, thinking about the diner and how, when I saw it for the first time, it reminded me of my daughter.

“We will be there. How far are you?”

“Well, I went to see Jacob, but he wasn’t home. I drove back toward my house in hopes that I would have an email, but there’s cops there, so I drove past it. I’m three minutes away.”

“Alright, we will be there soon. Hang tight, alright, poppet?”

He almost sounds like he truly cares. “Yes, I will.”

After we hang up, I feel somewhat better. It’s been a crazy two days, and I’m not sure I can take much more.

* * *

Lookingout the window of the diner, I search for them. It’s been too long. What if the police pulled them over? Mitchell would end up going back to prison. My kids would have to go through with the media again and have no peace. Good lord, everything is such a mess.

I’m about to get up and leave when I see Fred’s blue BMW pull into the parking lot. I get up and run out the door to my babies.

Magnolia and Jacob meet me halfway and we hug. Tears fall down my face as Mitchell comes over and takes us all in his arms.

“They are safe, poppet.” He runs a hand down my hair, and the relief that runs through my body is overwhelming. “I got you,” he whispers into my ear, and I smile.

“We are safe, Mom,” Jacob says, and I put my hand on his face. There’s bruising on his cheek and he has a black eye. Someone has been hitting him, and by the way Mitchell is acting, it wasn’t him. He can abuse me all he wants, but not my babies.

“Yes, you are. Why did… You know what, it doesn’t matter. We are all together. Let’s eat, and then we have to get out of here.”

“Actually, I need to get this BMW out of here. I’m sure the police will see it and come looking.”

I look around and realize he’s right. There’s no reason for Fred’s car to be here. “Yes. You are right.”

“Mom, I don’t want to go without you,” Magnolia says, clinging to me. My sweet girl has always been close to me, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Mitchell stops my train of thought as he speaks. “Jacob, you ride with me. Rosie and Magnolia can follow us. We all have to disappear. There’s no choice now.”

Jacob looks between Mitchell and me, trying to discern if he can trust him. “You aren’t going to split us up.” My boy isn’t a little guy anymore. He’s grown up, and the way he’s trying to take charge makes me happy.

“Jacob, we have to get out of here. If you want to ride with me, that’s fine, but it would look less conspicuous if you rode with Mitchell.” I smile, and he smiles back at me.

“Alright. But you’ll be right behind us, right?” He looks at Mitchell and gives him an evil eye. I almost laugh.

“You better believe it.”

Magnolia stands up straighter and walks toward my vehicle. I notice the red marks on her arms, and I hope my sensitive girl will be able to bounce back from this.

As Jacob walks back to the BMW, Mitchell grabs me. “I’ve missed you.” He says right before he kisses me. What might have started as something evil has turned into something much more.

There’s no hesitancy in my kiss back. Our tongues wage war with one another as our lips consume each other. If it weren’t for the kids honking both cars at the same time, I’m not sure I would have stopped our make-out session.

“That blush looks good on you, poppet. Follow me closely, and let’s get the fuck out here.”

I walk back to get into the driver’s seat and realize that I don’t want to be without Mitchell.

EPILOGUE

MITCHELL

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