Page 21 of Elusive Embrace

How did I let my life get to this? My fingers reach for my necklace but it’s not there. The little pendant is safely tucked away in the nightstand—Egon thought it was his new toy—until I can get a chain. I must do so soon. I need my talisman back.

Chapter 9

Matt

The living room iswarm and cosy, the fire crackling softly in the background as Ghostbusters plays on the TV.

“I can’t believe you’re still wearing that,” Nat giggles and pokes me with her toes. Her feet are pressed against my thighs. She is using me as her personal heater again, like she always did back when we were married.

“Hey. It’s tradition,” I grin, stroking proudly over my Ghostbusters overalls. “But to be honest, these are the third ones. A little boy spewed green vomit all over the first ones, and Venkman peed on the second ones, unbeknownst to me. By the time I found them, the stain was permanent.”

Nat laughs out loud, the first laugh I’ve heard from her since the monster beat her up and it warms my heart, having her here feels… right. It’s Halloween and it’s always been our thing. I can’t help but think back to the time when we were in our early twenties, that first Halloween when we slept together. Feels like a lifetime ago.

The credits start to roll and I stretch, yawning dramatically. “You know, this film never gets old,” I say, grinning at her.

“Maybe we’re just feeling more nostalgic,” she sighs.

“Probably a bit of both,” I agree, switching off the TV. I glance at the fire then back at her. “Fancy lying down in front of the fire? We haven’t done that in ages.”

She hesitates but nods and grabs a couple of cushions as we shift down onto the rug. We lie there side by side staring up at the ceiling, the warmth from the fire seeping into our bones. It feels good, familiar.

After a while I break the silence. “What do you think the future holds for you, Nat?”

She’s quiet for a moment, and when she finally speaks, her voice is small and uncertain. “I don’t know. I just want to stop feeling scared all the time, you know? I want to feel safe again.”

“You will,” I say, trying to inject as much confidence into my voice as I can. “You’ve already done the hardest part, getting away from him. The rest... we’ll figure out together.”

She turns her head to look at me, her eyes searching mine. “What if I can’t?”

“You can,” I tell her firmly. “You’re stronger than you think, Nat. Anyone who makes it through a rela—situation like that is a warrior.”

"Can I ask you something?" She rolls onto her tummy, resting her head on her folded arms.

"Anything you want," I say, turning to face her.

"You know when you told me that a real man doesn’t lash out?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that something you figured out on your own, or…?"

"My grandpa," I say, the memory of him making me smile. "You know my parents and I never really got on. After you and I divorced my dad told me he'd warned me that becoming a vet wouldn't make enough money to keep a wife."

She gasps, her eyes wide. "I knew your dad always wanted you to go into finance or corporate law but you never told me he was that materialistic."

"Yeah well, I think that's where I got the stupid idea that I needed to offer you some boujee lifestyle. It took losing you to realise how wrong I was."

"Matt—"

"I’m sorry. I really am." I reach out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But to answer your question, my grandpa was different. He especially didn’t believe in physical confrontation and always said there’s not much that can’t be solved by talking."

"I’m sorry I never got to meet him," she whispers. My grandpa died a few years before we got married.

"He would have liked you," I say softly. "He always told me to find a girl who makes me smile, even when we’re not naked." That makes Nat laugh again.

“Why are you still single?”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve been in a couple of relationships. But they just didn’t work out. Maybe I’m too picky, or maybe…” I trail off, unsure how much to say.

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