Page 79 of Sunny Skies Ahead
Your body has been told one story, over and over, so when it encounters that story again, the same plot points play out—even if it’s been years since it happened.
“Hey,” Abbie said, reaching through the driver’s side window to squeeze my hand. “I’m happy to stay with you.”
I squeezed her hand back and shook my head. “Thank you. I appreciate it. But I think I need to be alone for awhile.”
There was so much crap I needed to sort through now that the haze of last night was finally clearing. Jacob. Kameron. This weird overlap in my head that shouldn’t even be there, much less affecting me in this way.
“Okay,” Abbie said, pulling her hand back. “Call me if you need anything. I mean it, Imogen. Don’t sit there and be in the bad place.”
Unshed tears sprung to my eyes, and I forced them back, opting for a shaky laugh instead of a full on sob.
“I promise I’ll call.”
I turned towards my house, letting out a shaky breath as I fumbled in my pockets for my keys.
I could do this. I had survived worse things. Yes, my abusive ex-husband was back in town, and the man I was definitely falling in love with had punched him in the face, but I was fine. It was fine. Maybe if I repeated it enough times, it would be a reality.
The first thing I did when I got inside was to lock the door behind me. I then checked every window, every screened door, the back porch. I carefully secured every entrance point. It eased my anxiety only slightly.
Once I was certain I had locked every entrance and there was no possible way Jacob could get in here and catch me unprepared, I made a beeline for the bathroom. I took my time in the shower, cranking the temperature up to scalding hot as I went through my painstakingly long wash day routine. By the time I had my hair towel dried with my curl cream, I pulled on my comfiest PJ set and put the kettle on so I could spend the rest of the day in bed reading with a hot cup of tea. I’d find a new fantasy series that I could spend the day binging and escaping into.
Kam
I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk. I’ll give you all the space you need. But don’t shut everyone else out, okay?
Let Lucas and Abbie be there for you.
Right. Weeks ago, I’d adjusted my do not disturb settings so that Kameron’s text came through. I’d toldmyself it was so I didn’t miss any important work-related texts, but the truth was far more complicated and messy than that.
And those two messages from him hit me like a punch to the gut. He had to be losing his mind, trying to figure out what the future was going to look like. Despair threatened to pull me under when I remembered Seattle wasthis weekend. The presentation that could very well determine the future of Winding Road was just days away, and Kameron was spending the time he should be rehearsing texting me reminders about sorting my crap out.
God, I’d colossally fucked this entire thing up.
I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon wishing I could sink into the couch and avoid all of my problems. I drank tea, read my book absentmindedly, stared at the wall. I didn’t want to think about Kameron, or the terrible way things ended. I didn’t want to consider the notion that I would never be able to fully move past the abusive relationship that had tore me down in a way I couldn’t recover from.
Which is why I was stunned when the doorbell rang. My stomach pitched. I wasn’t ready to face Kam. I hadn’t responded to his texts because I couldn’t let myself go back to that night. I was fighting tooth and nail to keep my wits about me, and Kam—
He’d always had the ability to see right through me. Which is exactly why I was keeping him far away from me.
I slid my feet into my slippers, pulled on my robe, and splashed some cold water on my face before I answered the door.
My knees went weak with relief when I saw Lucas standing there, alone, with two iced caramel crunch lattes from Blackbeard’s. My favorite guilty pleasure.
“Hey Im,” he said. “Can I come in?”
I nodded and stepped aside, not trusting my voice.
We made our way to the living room. I took up residence in my usual spot, pulling the navy chunky knit blanket Abbie’d gotten me for Christmas two years ago up to my chest. Lucas pulled out two coasters and set a latte on each, pushing one towards me. I reached for it gratefully, taking a large sip.
“Your ex is a piece of shit,” Lucas said once we were settled.
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. This was why Lucas and I had become so close. Abbie and Connor had doted on me, asking about my feelings and telling me everything would be okay. And while I appreciated them and the care they had for me, I was barely holding it together. IneededLucas’s humor.
“You’re telling me,” I said, grateful for the distraction.
“I almost wish Kameron had beat the guy to a pulp.”
I closed my eyes and fought to keep my breathing even.
