Page 73 of The Significance of Moving On

“Here we go, Luke again? You gotta get past that.”

“I tried. Then you go and threaten my family again.”

“I’m your family, too.” Daniel bangs the side of his fist against the porch post. “And I got nowhere else to go. Mary and Steve say I gotta figure it out. You’re all I’ve got left.”

“You lost me the minute you threatened my girl.” With nothing left to say or argue out, I pivot to wrap an arm around Tally pulling her tight against me to help her feel more confident when we walk up the steps, passing Daniel. I position her in front of me while unlocking the door. She relaxes the moment it’s closed behind us.

He pounds on the front window shouting at us. “This is all her fault! You hear me? This is all her fault!” The scene he causes outside with those muffled words only drive the wedge deeper between us.

That man needs to grow up. The man-child act stopped working on me a long time ago. Now he finally gets to see the damage he’s caused himself through everyone else’s eyes.

Chapter Thirty-Four

I flip the visor down to block the sun’s bright rays blinding me this early in the a.m. Since it doesn’t hit its peak until noon, and the dashboard clock tells me it’s only a little after nine, we are definitely in for a scorcher—clearly a good day to head to a lake.

Warmth fills the cab already which means the dewdrops will burn off before Tally ever gets outside to see them and she loves to see them. The morning dewdrops are her favorite part about getting up for school during the week.

As I lay in bed last night with my beautiful girlfriend curled up against my side, her soft hair bushed against my nose waking me from an absolutely glorious dream. Several minutes passed with me just watching her sleep, that’s when I knew, just knew that her birthday had to start off special.

Well before she ever got up, I slipped out of bed and left her a note that I’d be back soon. First stop, the bakery, because I’d been busy putting together this weekend that I’d neglected to buy any of the necessary ingredients to bake her something from scratch. I managed to pick her up some of those chocolate filled Danish that makes her squeal with delight when she gets them. Anyone who’s ever heard that squeal can attest to how freaking cute it is.

For the next stop I’d hit the florist shop leaving with a dozen purple daisies, which happen to be her favorite flower in the world, she told me once. She probably won’t remember even telling me, but that’s not something I’d ever forget.

My last stop was Starbucks, because she’s a girl after all, and also as she told me once, all white girls secretly love Starbucks and Taylor Swift.

A warning bell sound in my head when I see a strange car parked in front of my house that hadn’t been there this morning. The front door is open halfway. I hear her screaming. How can the neighbors hear this and not come to help? I just about rip the goddamned handle off the door trying to get out. My heart thuds against my ribcage. She’s still screaming.

“No.”

This is another one of those moments where time seems to slowwaydown as I bust through the front door unsure of what waits on the inside.

“Daniel?” His head snaps around to the sound of my voice at the same moment it registers for me exactly what’s happening. Her bare leg kicks out from beneath his hip. I go rigid. Heat and red. “Get the fuck off her.”

I may give the command, but don’t give him time to comply. One of my hands fists the hair at the back of his head as I spin him, striking with the other. My fist makes contact over and over bloodying his nose, jaw, cheek and chin. His blood smears across my shredded knuckle but I can’t stop myself. “Not her,” I yell and land another blow. “Not her.” A tooth flies out. “Not her.”

The stupid piece of shit falls limp between my fingers while I keep whaling away on his face until her hand comes down to rest against my shoulder and I still from her touch. “Oh god,Tally.” My hands trace the bruising on her face and her body looking for signs of significant injury. “Did he?” Like a coward, I can’t even say the word for fear of it being true. She settles my nerves by shaking her head.

“You saved me.”

“We need to call the cops.” I pull my phone from my pocket, unable to stop searching her for more injuries.

“No, please.” Tally pulls hard at my arm with the phone. “Just make him go away.”

“Sweetheart, we have to call. He could try again.”

“Please, Casey… This way he owes you. He can’t touch me.”

“Tal, Tally.” I swipe a piece of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. “This isn’t a movie.”

“Please just don’t.” She cries and pulls down on my arm begging—hard enough that it physically hurts.

I never thought I’d ever consider letting a piece of shit like Daniel get away with hurting a woman, but if I force her, she’ll resent me. I should be stronger. That’s on me. Though I challenge any man to read her face, swollen and bruised, and still be able to deny her anything.

The strap of her tank top hangs down her back, ripped away from the front fabric and the leg hole of her boy shorts have been stretched horribly out of shape like maybe he had grabbed ahold to try tearing them off.

Looking at her pisses me off. Cowardice or not, I look at the ceiling but offer myself, gathering her against me and hold on. Should I be touching her? I don’t know. But my arms won’t let go and she doesn’t squirm or push away. Tally’s head rests against my chest, claiming the spot over my heart. Before I can talk myself out of it, I take the chance. And I kiss her.

Those gorgeous brown eyes search mine, anxious and scared, almost as if she thinks I’m going to apologize for the kiss. I refuse to apologize. Not when we both seem to need it more than anything save breath in our lungs.

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