Page 58 of Other Side Of Never
You’re like a bitch in heat.
I shook my head sharply.Arriving back at Mary Lou’s, my head was no clearer than it was before I left.I threw the door open only to come to a startled halt at the sound of my aunt’s harsh voice.
“Don’t call here again.You’re not welcome,” Anita screeched into the phone.
“Who was that?”I asked, incredulous.Never in my life had I heard my aunt yell like that.
“Gary,” she snarled.
I spun around to face the glass storefront.Eyes wide, I scanned the street while backing away.
“Bridget,” Anita snapped.“Did that man hurt you?”
I swung around to face her, my galloping heart stealing my breath.“Not physically,” I gasped.
“That fucker,” she scowled then blew out a harsh breath and opened her arms.“Come here.”
With a shaky chuckle, I covered my fear with teasing, “You’re going to hold me?I’m taller than you, Auntie.”In fact, Anita was one of the only people I could claim height over.“Curvier, too.”
She beckoned me forward impatiently.“What I lack in height, I make up for in attitude.”
As soon as her arms closed around me, I melted into her embrace.
She held me tight, absorbed the tremors, and leant me her strength.“No more, you hear me?”Grasping my shoulders, she pushed me back.“That man doesn’t get one more piece of you.”
I nodded.
She shook me slightly.“I mean it.Gary is the poorest excuse for a man I’ve ever met.”Her eyes narrowed.“He never hit you?Are you afraid for your physical safety?”
I shook my head.“No.”
She tugged me back into her embrace, a look of relief crossing her face.“That insect is nothing more than a speck in your rear view.”
“What if he shows up?”
“Yeah?What if?What’s he going to do?Hurt your feelings?”
Anxiety tightened its grip on my chest but I huffed out a laugh.“Yeah.”
She rubbed a hand over my back.“With his lies.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
She swatted my ass.“Come now, Bridge.We’re made of sterner stuff than that!”
I laughed and pulled back, pressing my palms to my cheeks.“We are.”
Her burnished eyebrows rose as she eyed me.“Why don’t you get out of town for a couple of days?You could use a change of scene.”
I nodded slowly.“I might.I feel like he’s invaded my safe space.”
She wagged her head back and forth.“Well, he’s trying to.Push him back out.”
At the start of my shift that afternoon, I secured a few days off.Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Kian and Isaiah coming in until they settled at their regular table.
“Hey, Iceman!”I pasted on a smile.
Isaiah beamed back at me while Kian studied me with narrowed eyes.
