Page 46 of Yes, Love

Ava told me to go and not come back.

Maybe I was stupid for not fighting for her. Maybe I should have told her exactly how I felt and kissed her beautiful lips until they smiled for real. But it was shit timing. Lucy had just been through hell, and I’d never walk away from someone in her situation. It wasn’t in my DNA to turn away from Lucy’s need and send her back to England alone.

I told myself that was the only reason I left. It wasn’t because I was scared of getting my heart broken again.

Lucy’s eyelids fluttered as I watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful, and a flash of rage surged through me, thinking about Will putting his hands on her. I’d still be apt to murder the bastard if I ever saw his face. That was why I’d sent Noah and a few of his mates to collect Lucy’s things for her. I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from beating Will until he choked on his last breath.

Noah settled on one solid punch and left him with a black eye. Noah’s three friends might have each left their mark on Will as well. Good men.

Lucy awoke as the plane began its descent and sat up suddenly as if startled. I watched her eyes dart around the plane before she slowly relaxed. “How long was I out?”

“Not long. Maybe an hour or two.”

Lucy nodded. “Thank you, Dom, for coming with me. I’m still a wee bit jumpy, and it helps to have you here.”

“Course.” I hated that she felt this way. It was so wrong. Lucy should be full of banter and light-hearted jokes. She should be teasing me right now for growing facial hair and choosing biscuits for my in-flight snack.

Lucy blinked her large green eyes at me and bit her lip. “My mum will want you to stay for dinner. She loves ya. I thought I’d never hear the end of it when we broke up.”

Lucy’s loud, Scottish mother loathed me at first because I’d flirted with other women on Wild Love before Lucy and I got together. If that small transgression brought on Mrs. Macklemore’s wrath, I didn’t need to wonder what she’d do to Will if she ever got her hands on him.

“I’d never refuse your mum, not unless I had a death wish.”

Lucy laughed aloud for the first time since she’d left the bar with Ava. It gave me hope that she’d heal and find herself again.

***

After an uncharacteristically quiet dinner with the Macklemores, Lucy walked me to the front door. The sun was sinking in the sky, splashing it with fiery hues as we stepped onto the front porch. A slight breeze lifted Lucy’s curls and sent the familiar scent of citrus and vanilla wafting toward me. The smell used to drive me mad with wanting her. Now, I just missed Ava’s sweet candy smell. I’d try calling later tonight. I wanted to hear her voice, to know if she missed me as much as I missed her.

“Dom,” Lucy smiled and laced her fingers through mine. “Thank you for everything. I can’t believe I let things happen like that with Will. I must have mug written on my forehead or something.” Lucy let out a dry laugh and shook her head.

“Stop. You’re not stupid. He’s made you feel like you’re nothing, but you know better, Luce. You’re going to be all right.” I gently squeezed her shoulders and then released her. “Do you think you’ll stay in England this time?”

Lucy shrugged and leaned against her parents’ front door. “I think so, at least while I’m healin’. I’ve got months of therapy lined up, and I don’t think my dad will let me leave his sight for at least a year.” Lucy sighed and folded her arms. The bruises were fading now, and I prayed another would never appear. “What a mess I’ve made of my life.”

“No, you haven’t. And you’ve got ages to build yourself back up even stronger.”

Lucy smiled. “Like your mum.”

“Like my mum.” I nodded. After Lucy was settled, I was going to visit my mother. It’d been far too long. I spoke to her on the phone as often as I could, but I avoided seeing her, like a shit son. I wanted to know that she was safe, always, but sometimes seeing her brought back too many ugly memories.

“I’m sorry. This all must have been torture for you. And I was so cruel when you tried to help.” Lucy bit her lip, and tears glistened in the corners of her eyes.

“Please don’t apologise. You were terrified and in survival mode. But you’re safe now.” I cleared my throat. “Speaking of that, do you want to get a restraining order started? We did that with my father. It took a few weeks, and we had to go to a court hearing. I’m not sure how it works from the US to the UK, but we can figure it out.”

Lucy shook her head. “Will won’t come here. He hates the weather and long plane rides. You know what I am gonna do, though?” She stood up straighter with a bit of her usual fire back in her eyes. “I’m gonna run his name through the mud and make sure everyone knows what he did to me so he can’t do it to anyone else. I wasn’t his first victim, but I will be his last.”

“Good. He deserves to rot in hell.” I sighed, and Lucy nodded. We stood on the front porch in silence for a moment before I said. “Well, if you don’t need anything else then, I’ll be off. I’ve got a bit of a drive to get to my mum’s. But call me if anything comes up at all.”

I leaned in to hug Lucy, but as I pulled away, she stopped me and studied my lips. She always used to do that before kissing me, like she needed to lock in her target before she went for it.

Lucy meant to kiss me.

Six months ago, I’d have given anything for this moment. Now, though, I felt nothing in her arms. Lucy was a friend. I’d finally moved on, and I didn’t want this. As she closed her eyes and leaned in, I backed away.

“Oh!” Lucy’s eyes popped open. “I’m sorry, Dom!” She jerked away from me and covered her mouth with one hand.

I cleared my throat as the awkwardness settled between us. “That’s all right, Lucy.”

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