Page 114 of Tamed By You

I flinched the minute I said it. Because what if we are never anUsagain? I flick on the dryer to break the tension.

When I’m done, I place the dryer on the countertop and she turns to face me, suddenly feeling nervous to speak to her. I don’t want to fuck this up. This is a big deal, her coming here.

“Are you, uh, hungry?” I fumble through my words as I tidy up the bathroom.

She shakes her head. “No, I ate before I left.”

“Cool, ermm. Do you want to, watch a movie?” Her eyes light up. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

We head back to the main living area. I gesture for her to go sit on the couch. “You pick the movie; I’ll get us some drinks.”

I boil the kettle and make us both a mug of English breakfast tea, her favorite. It’s all I’ve drunk since London, thinking of her every time I do. Heading over to my couch, I hand her thesteaming mug of tea, then grab the gray blanket I keep rolled up in a basket behind the couch.

She blows into the steaming mug and takes a few sips before placing it down on the coffee table and I set mine down beside hers.

She gasps. “Oh, my god, I haven’t watched this movie in ages.” I look at the screen. The titleCrazy Beautifulflashes on the screen. Very fitting, because that’s how I see her. Crazy beautiful.

“Put it on,” I tell her as I relax into my corner and drape the blanket over the back of the couch. The movie plays, we sit at opposite ends. Scene after scene plays, we’ve likely watched half now, but I’ve barely seen any of it. I’ve just been too busy watching her.

I lean across the couch and pull her towards me, bracing myself for her resistance, but she doesn’t. I lift my arm, signaling for her to come closer, and she does without hesitation. I wrap my arms around her, stroking a hand through her hair as she sniffles against my chest.

This, this is what I’ve missed the most. Holding her, and for the first time since this all happened, it feels like a little piece of her has come back to me. The end credits roll, and her body grows heavier beneath me. I tug at the blanket and drape it over us.

“Thank you.” Her voice is so quiet I barely hear her.

Pressing a kiss to her head I reply, “I’ve got you, Ali Cat, always. When you are tired of falling, fall into my arms. I’ll always be here to catch you, and I’ll never let you fall again.”

Chapter Fifty-Four

Ali

The night I showed up at Harry’s apartment drenched, cold, and feeling vulnerable changed everything. I ended up spending the night, lying in his arms and it was the safest I had felt in months. It’s been nearly two weeks, and I have spent every night at his. Nothing physical happens, nothing more than a kiss on the forehead, but he holds me.

Every night he presses his body to mine, reminding me he’s not going anywhere, that he’s got me. When I’m with him, the nightmares fade. I sleep, really sleep. I even dream. We’ve fallen into a comfortable routine. I go home when he’s at work and he picks me up on his way home. Even if it’s 2 am.

It’s a risk for sure, trusting him with my heart, my secrets, but he’s proving every day he’s a man of his word, and I desperately want to hand my heart over fully to him, but I need to get todayout of the way. I only told Ria and Gabby the confirmed court date. I know Harry would have been here if I asked, but I didn’t want to put him in that situation. It’s bad enough I’ve dragged Gabby and Ria here, but I wouldn’t be able to do this without them.

I step into the courthouse, the day I have been dreading for months, finally here. I walk down the long corridor to the courtroom where I will be giving my statement. The same corridor I walked down at just fifteen years old, with no one to hold my hand, no one to support me. I never got my day in the room with him, never got to look him in the eye and see if he acknowledged what he did. I was taken to a separate room. But today I get to face him, and I think it's what I need to finally heal and move on. I want to look him in the eye and tell him he didn’t win. As I walk, I wonder what these walls have seen. If walls could talk, what would they say?

“You doing okay?” Gabby asks, concern in her tone. Not able to find the words to reply I simply nod. I know I’ll need to save my strength for what I am about to do and see behind that solid oak door. My shaking hands adjust the ribbon tie of my white blouse and smooth down my black suit pants. I’ve paired them with my black pumps, and I feel as ready as I’ll ever be. My long blonde hair secured in a low ponytail I anxiously twirl my fingers through.

“I’m going to go get us some coffee,” Ria announces, and again, all I can do is nod. The shrill sound of a ringtone makes me jump. I really am on the edge here. I let out a slow breath watching as Gabby scrambles around in her purse, pulling out her obnoxiously loud phone. She bares her teeth in that awkward way and mouths the word ‘sorry’. I give her a small smile before she turns to take her call. I walk over to the wooden bench outside courtroom 6. The bench feels hard and cold beneath me. Titling my body forward, I grip the edge of theseat with my fingers. Closing my eyes, I try my hardest to steady my breathing.

You can do this. Don’t let your fear win.

I feel a presence beside me, a familiar scent floods my senses, and my stomach somersaults. My eyes spring open, my head slowly turning to see Harry. Dressed in a crisp white dress shirt and navy suit pants, he gives me that famous Walker smile and my body instantly relaxes just a little.

He came.

“Hey, Ali Cat,” he says just loud enough for me to hear.

“Hey,” I manage to say on a shaky breath. “You didn’t need to come.”

“I wanted to, we all did.” I furrow my brow unsure what the “we”means. He gives a pointed stare with his eyes over to where Gabby stands. I turn my head and there, beside Gabby and Ria stand Jack and Brad. They each give me a smile and I return the gesture. Squeezing my eyes closed, gripping tighter to the bench an overwhelming feeling takes over my body. I’ve never had this, people who want to show up for me. All those years ago I had to do this alone. Not a single person was here to hold my hand, reassure me or share words of encouragement, and today I have an abundance of love and support. I want to show him how grateful I am, but I am too stunned to speak.

Tears trickle down my cheeks and a tiny wave of panic hits me, sending my heart racing. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I whisper.

“Look at me,” he says, his tone firm but kind.

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