Page 7 of Seduced By My Bully

Cam sets the box down on the coffee table then looks at me. “Monroe, if we don’t know where he is, we won’t be able to keep you safe. We can find out his phone number and everything else on the guy. You telling us just saves us a step.”

“Duh, Jesus. I’m a mess, Cam. I don’t know what to do anymore.” I say.

“Don’t do anything. If he calls, don’t answer. If he texts, don’t respond. If he sends you another box, don’t open it.” Cam says, handing me his card. “My cell number is on the back. Call me. I don’t care what time it is. I want to know the next time he tries getting in contact.”

“Okay.”

“I’m serious, Monroe. I’m the first call you make, you got it?”

I roll my eyes at him but nod. Johnson clears his throat looking between us curiously.

Going into the kitchen, I pull out my phone to look up Brent’s number and write his name and number down on a scrap of paper. I hand the paper over to Cam and laugh awkwardly at the two policemen standing in front of me. “You think he’ll just leave if I ignore him?”

“Unfortunately, men like him don’t give up.” Officer Johnson says, handing me his card. The way he says it makes me feel like he has experience with that, and it makes my heart hurt for him and whoever was hurt in his life because of an abuser. “If you can’t get a hold of this guy,” he says, tilting his head towards Cam, “give me a shout.”

“Thank you. I will,” I say, smiling gratefully.

Cam and Officer Johnson walk to the front door to leave, but Cam stops and says something in Officer Johnson’s ear then claps him on the back before he walks out. Cam turns around to face me.

There’s a moment of awkward silence before we both start talking at the same time. “I’m sorry you got my-”

“I took the case when I heard it was you.”

“What? You did?” I ask, completely shocked.

He nods. “Now isn’t the time, but we are long overdue for a conversation.”

“Cam, we don’t have to do this. We don’t have to rehash our history. You live your life, and I live mine. Harper Falls is big enough for both of us.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me, and if you’re honest with yourself, I don’t think it’s worked for you either.”

I’m about to deny it when he shakes his head. “Just think about it before you put your walls back up and go back to pretending you don’t remember me. In the meantime, call me as soon as he gets in contact. You hear me, Monroe?”

“I will, I promise.” I sigh.

“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, Roe.” He says with a smile pulling at his mouth, before walking out of the house.

Roe. God, he hasn’t called me that since the summer we met. That was one of the best summers I’ve ever had, and then everything got so messed up. How do you hate someone who you also thought you could love at one point?

I’m just a hot mess and shouldn’t be involved with anyone. I need to focus on me and get back to the woman I was before Brent came into my life. Yet, I want to hear what Cam wants to say to me. I’m curious, to say the least, but I fear whatever he says will only make things more complicated.

I’m feeling confused as I watch him walk to his police cruiser through my living room’s windows. I can’t help feeling a little excited at the same time. At one time, he was the boy I dreamed of marrying when I grew up. Then he turned into a jerk.

I shake my head, knowing nothing good will come from talking about the past. Not with him and definitely not with Brent. It’s better to leave the past where it’s at and move on. I lock the front door then walk around the house, making sure everything else is locked so Brent won't be able to get in if he gets that bright idea. After all this time, all I want is for him to leave me alone. He can go live his life, far away from here, and I can live mine. Why won’t he just leave me be?

Because you’re mine. You’ll always be mine.Brent’s words echo in my head.

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