Page 34 of A First Sight

“Are you certain?” Drake asked as we passed the ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING sign Carson had installed.

“Yes, it’s my brother’s building, too. He doesn’t like to put the doors down during the day in case any of his models or business contacts drive in. There’s a private entrance that way.”

As Drake pulled into the garage, I prepared myself for what I had to do now. I’d thought about leaving Dale before, dreamed about what it would be like to walk away from him. Telling my family that he and I broke up was sometimes a part of that, but I never wanted to think about telling anyone about his dark side. I wasn’t sure how much choice I had about it anymore, though.

“Thank you,” I said as Drake parked the car. “I really appreciate everything you did for me.”

“You’re welcome.” He turned off the car. “Shall we?”

He was out of the car and coming around to my door before I realized he intended to go with me. I didn’t ask him to pull in here with that in mind. I simply didn’t want to walk in through the front door if Carson had someone there. This way, I’d use the code for the keypad he gave me, and he’d receive an alert on his phone that someone came in through the back.

As Drake opened my door and extended a hand, I took it without hesitation, warmth spreading out through my skin from where it touched him. Using his hand to balance me as I got out of the car, I could keep from using my left arm, and I told myself that was why I smiled at him.

And I imagined he was reluctant to release my hand.

“This way.” I led him to the security door. Without me having to ask, Drake turned away while I put in the code, and the thoughtfulness tugged at my heart.

I pushed those thoughts aside and opened the door. Despite preparing for what was coming, my head was all over the place. Understandable but annoying.

Drake followed me inside, his presence at my back strangely comforting. He didn’t touch me, but I could feel him there. Not in a threatening way, like how I would’ve been aware of Dale behind me.

Carson appeared before we went more than a few feet, the frown on his face transforming into a smile when he saw me and then returned to a frown when he saw my face.

“Maggie, what’s going on?” His gaze flicked behind me to Drake and then back to me.

“Dale and I got into an argument before work. He hit me and grabbed my arm.” I debated telling Carson what Dale did to our mother’s violin, but the hurt was still too close to the surface. I wouldn’t be able to say it without breaking down completely. “Nothing’s broken, but I have to be careful with my arm for a few days.”

“He. Did. What?” My brother’s normally placid expression was stormy, his hands curled into fists.

“I’m pressing charges,” I hurried to assure him. “I’ve already given my statement to the police.”

“Maggie.”

“I’m leaving him.”

It had been building over the last few months, but when he hit me in public, the last bit of resistance crumbled away. However, destroying my violin was the final nail in the coffin of our pathetic relationship. No more hesitation, no more doubt, or rationalizing.

We were done.

“Damn right you are,” Carson muttered.

I ignored the comment and pushed on. “Which brings me to the reason I’m here. Two reasons, actually.”

“Whatever you need,” he said.

“The incident was outside, in public. I don’t know if it’s going to end up on social media or the news or whatever,” I said it all in a rush. “I don’t want to tell everyone, but I don’t want them to find out online.”

“I’ll call Mom and Da, see that it gets around to the rest,” he said. “What do you want me to tell them?”

“What I told you,” I said. “And ask them to give me a couple of days before calling. I’m still…processing.”

“All right.” He came over to me, his expression troubled more than angry now. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I didn’t know how to answer that question honestly, so I didn’t. Instead, I moved to the second thing I needed to ask. “Can I stay with you until I figure out what I’m doing?”

“Shit, Maggie.” Carson sighed. “When I got home from the airport, my apartment was flooded. Burst pipes. Because I wasn’t there, no one knew for days. I’m staying with a friend until my place is livable again. It might take all week.”

“Oh.” My heart fell. It wasn’t Carson’s fault, but I had it in my head that I'd be safe as soon as I was with my brother.

---