Page 106 of Tamed By You

“This bump is doing just fine, and Jack will love being with the girls. I want to be here with you.” She squeezes my hand and lets out a shaky breath. “You have held me up more times than I can count Ali. When I showed up here with the girls the night, I finally left Alex, you, and Gabby opened the door and welcomed us in. No questions asked. You looked after us when I could barely look after myself.”

Tears fill her ocean-blue eyes as she takes a moment to compose herself.

“So… I am going to be here every step of the way till you find yourself again, okay?”

“I love you both,” I manage to say through my tears.

“We love you too,” they say together.

In this moment I have never been more thankful for these two women. They aren’t giving up on me, so I owe it to them to not give up on me too.

A faint knocking sound followed by hushed voices stirs me from my sleep. I have drifted in and out of sleep, my body seeking the rest. Ria stayed the night, and it’s the most restful sleep I have had since I left London; since I left him. The thought of Harry makes my heart hurt. I miss him more than I have ever missed anyone. The voices become a little clearer, and I rub my eyes to focus. I am lying on my couch, with a light pink comforter over me. I can just about make out the back of Brad’s head as he towers over Gabby in the kitchen.

I sit up and croak out a “Hey.”

Brad’s body stiffens, and he turns to face me. Gabby steps away and picks up the kettle, avoiding eye contact with him.

“I wanted to come check on you,” Brad says in his deep husky voice. He’s dressed in black jeans and matching tee, tattoos on show. He looks so unapproachable with his whiskey, hooded eyes, and tight jaw, but I’ve seen a softer side of him, a caring side, a side that I consider one of my dearest friends.

He heads over to me, sitting at the end of the couch, resting his hand on my leg and giving it a squeeze. “You good?” he asks, giving me a knowing look.

“Ugh, yeah, I think so. I am guessing Harry told you what happened,” I say, avoiding his gaze and picking at a loose thread on the comforter.

“A little, but I’d like to hear it from you.” I lift my eyes to meet his and there’s concern etched all over his face.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” I say, running a hand through my untamed waves.

He leans back into the couch cushions, putting his black boots up on my coffee table, and grins. “Well, I’ve got all day, so how about you start at the beginning?”

I let out a low chuckle, the first bit of emotion aside from anger and tears I’ve allowed myself to feel in I don’t know how long.

“Tea is served,” Gabby calls softly, still dressed in her black silk PJ shorts and vest. She carries two steaming mugs over, handing them to us. “I’m going to take a shower and get sorted. You okay to stay with her?” She directs her question at Brad, but she’s looking at me.

“Yeah, sure, like said, I have all day.”

“What’s this, a babysitting Rota for Ali?” I ask, looking between them.

“Yep, Jack will be over for his shift later.” He winks, and I roll my eyes.

“Gabs, go, I’m okay.” She presses a kiss to my forehead before giving Brad a glance and then heads to her room.

I cradle the mug of tea, inhaling the scent of tea leaves and enjoying the steam as it hits my face. The feeling takes me right back to the tearooms in London Harry took me to, and the ache for him returns.

“I think I fucked it all up with Harry, and I don’t know how to fix it. It won’t be the same now, now he—”

“Why?” he interrupts, saying it so matter-of-factly I lift my head to look at him as he sips on his tea.

“Because… because he knows what happened to me. He was so angry about the pills. I’ve never seen him so mad. I’m scared. I’m scared he won’t be able to accept it and he will reject me and I can’t handle that, Brad. I’d rather him hate me than have him look at me like I’m dirty or…” My words begin to shake, and I swallow back a sob.

He sits forward, taking my tea from me and placing both cups on the table. He takes my pale hands inside his large tattooed-covered ones and holds them tight. “Look at me,” he says, his tone stern.

I look up, blinking through the tears that have started falling.

“No one, least of all Harry, thinks you are dirty or any of the thoughts you have going on up here.” He lightly taps the side of my head with his pointer finger. “What happened to you was wrong and fucked up and that piece of shit should either be 6ft under or rotting away in jail for the rest of his life. But you don’t need to let this define you and dictate the rest of your life.”

“But what if he can’t move past it, what if...”

Brad pulls me close, and I lean against his chest as he sits back. It’s a friendly hug, one I am grateful for. I’ve never had male friends till Jack and Brad, and they make me feel safe.

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