Page 57 of No Longer Safe

She frowned and pulled my plate to her. She took a big bite and moaned. I wished I could have enjoyed it like that. “He was here?” She said it around a mouthful of food and it sounded more likehe fush ear?

I nodded.

She gulped the food down and leaned back in her chair like she couldn’t believe what I was saying. I couldn’t believe what I was saying, but she was there when he picked me off of the ground. I knew she was secretly rooting for me to date him but I didn’t think that was possible. Alexei wasn’t date material. Alexei wasn’t marriage material. Alexei liked his strippers and his women cheap. I wasn’t going to be a cheap lay for him too.

“He talked to Ace about it.”

I held my hand up to stop here right there. I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want them meddling in this. I still hadn’t officially broken things off with Brian. I couldn’t be thinking about Alexei. Even if things were completely done with Brian, Alexei was another red flag I couldn’t afford. “Please don’t.”

“But I think?—”

I shook my head hard. “Carina. Please don’t.”

She tucked her bottom lip into her mouth and looked down at the plate. “Okay.”

“Thank you. What did Emeline find out?”

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “The only way these designers will do this last minute is if they have creative freedom.”

Thank goodness I wasn’t still eating or I would have choked. “That’s a gamble.”

“Emeline says it’s an honor when all I want to do is go back to that bridal boutique and push the wedding back a little.”

I raised my brows. “Can you push it back?”

“Ace didn’t want to but he said if it would give me my dream dress, we could.”

All I could think about was going back to my job or rather not having one.

“Don’t worry about your job,” Carina gave me a look that told her not to ask any questions. “You will have one when you go back. Ace made sure of it.”

I had a feeling it was more like Ace threatened the superintendent or paid them a lot of money that they weren’t getting from the state. Our poor schools didn’t get enough funding. I was sure they would do anything to get a big fat check from the Cristofs. I didn’t blame them. I was happy they would be able to do more for the kids and hopefully the teachers.

“What if I don’t want it back?”

There was nothing left for me in that little town.

Carina blinked before she launched herself out of the chair and threw her arms at me! “Oh my gosh! Please tell me you’re going to come live here!”

I laughed as she hopped us in a little circle. “I can’t afford to live in New York City, but I think it’s time for a change. You and Ace made sure that I could survive without going to work for a while. Maybe I’ll look into all of my options.”

Her brows furrowed. “You’ve always wanted to live in New York. Please!! You could live here. You and my mom!”

I didn’t know how she would possibly get her mother to stay here with her but I could at least visit for a little bit until I figured out what I was going to do with myself.

“Only for a little bit.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Audrey

A week later,I was standing in the middle of my tiny apartment’s living room. I hadn’t missed it. I never did and I knew it was time for me to move on. I was moving on from Brian, the school, and now my home. Everything in this little space meant nothing to me. There were a bunch of boxes in the back of my SUV but it didn’t even matter. The things I cared about would probably fit in one box. As quickly as I could, I snapped pictures of my furniture and posted them for sale on the little community’s social media page. I posted them cheaply too; I didn’t want to worry about haggling or anything. I wanted it all gone as soon as possible. The faster I got this done with, the quicker I could get out of this town, and begin the rest of my life.

A resignation letter sat on my passenger seat, and I planned to see Carina’s mother before I left as well. If anyone could talk some sense into her, it would be me.

I piled up all of my belongings that I would need in my new life, wherever that ended up. My coffee pot, framed pictures of my family. The ones with Brian would go straight into the dumpster. A few of my house plants could come with. I grabbed my flattened pillows that were worn in just right and of course all of my blankets. I had a few books, but the rest were in myclassroom. Many of the things that meant the most to me were in my classroom, starting with my students. There was no reason to say goodbye, I hadn’t met this year’s class, but I felt sad all the same. Teaching was such a big part of my life, but I knew it was just time to move on.

With rising anxiety, I clicked my mom’s contact in my phone to FaceTime. After a few rings, there was no answer. It was somewhat of a relief. The bruising was completely gone from my face and I was ready to talk to my parents since everything happened. Now was the time.

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