Page 62 of Finding Her Strength

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HOPE

Laughter filters into the kitchen as I put the final touches on the food. I’m finally hosting the dinner I dreamed about when I first moved into the house. It’s still a little unfathomable that I have friends to invite over now, but I’m going with it.

“Hey, love. Are you ready to put everything on the table?” I turn at Levi’s voice, his hazel eyes shining with love, as well as a little weariness. His hand lands on my hip, and I sag against him, overwhelmed with his constant support despite my inability to talk to him.

“Yes, everything is ready.”

He leans down, pecking me on the lips before taking the bowl of paella to the table. I grab the carafe of wine and follow Levi into the dining room.

Max, Lucy, Cooper, and Quinn meet us at the table. Each one says something about the meal looking amazing. Of course, I beam at the praise, ecstatic my friends are happy.

I wish the others could have come, too, but they were each doing their own thing tonight. It’s probably for the best with my nerves still feeling frayed beyond repair.

It’s been three days since I got Antony’s note, and Ihaven’t felt a moment of peace since. Which, I’m sure, was the point. His goal was to put me on edge, to scare me so he would have the upper hand, and I let him. I’ve let him scare me before, but this time, it’s different.

I’m not afraid for myself. I’m afraid for Levi. My friends. There’s no predicting what Antony will do when he’s pissed off. And he’s pissed at me. For many, many reasons. All of which he will use as justification for punishing me.

If I step out of line or tell anyone about the threat, I know he’ll go after my friends. He’ll use the ones closest to me since it would hurt me the most. He won’t just threaten them, either. He will actually cause them harm, both physically and mentally. I can’t have that on my conscience.

Going to the police is out since there’s nothing they can do anyway. I don’t have a restraining order in place, believing he’d be in prison for the rest of his life. He hasn’t physically attacked me. I don’t have proof he sent me the note since it wasn’t signed, and Antony isn’t stupid enough to leave prints. There’s nothing anyone can do.

No one has ever been able to stop him.

If I were stronger, I’d leave. Pack up and head out of town so he’d follow me instead of harming the ones I love, but I’m not. I’m weak. I don’t want to leave these people. Not when I’ve finally brought them into my life.

Like I said, weak.

Selfish.

All the cruel words used against me in my past are true now.

“Lucy, how are you feeling?” Quinn asks. They told everyone about the baby a few weeks ago, which, of course, caused a huge buzz of excitement in town. Everyone kept asking about it when they came into the store. I think the gossiping hens expected me to share the juicy details since I’ve been hanging out with the group more. They were highlydisappointed that I was sticking to my predilection for being close-lipped.

“Pretty good, all things considered. I’ve had a little bout of morning sickness, but it hasn’t been too awful. It’s still early, though. I’ve heard it can get worse.”

“I will always be in awe of a woman’s ability to grow an actual human being in their bodies,” Levi says, shaking his head. “I mean, us guys get off easy. We get to do all the fun stuff while the girls get the shaft.”

“Glad you recognize the imbalance, Levi.” Quinn laughs.

“Hey, I’ve always been a huge supporter of worshiping women.” He winks.

“Oh, really?” I raise my eyebrow at him. “And what women are you worshiping?”

He starts sputtering. “Not, like,allwomen. You… you’re fantastic.”

I bust out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. Quinn and Lucy join in on teasing Levi as he shakes his head.

“How dark is it in that hole you’re digging?” Cooper teases.

Levi gently grabs the back of my neck and pulls me to him. “You’re evil.” He grins, then kisses me.

“You can worship me later to make up for your comments,” I whisper.

His eyes heat to a molten gold. “Happily.”

I turn back to my friends gathered around my table, laughing and eating the food I made, and a feeling of rightness comes over me. This is everything I’ve ever wanted in my life. A group of friends who unconditionally love each other and a partner who supports my dreams.

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