Page 8 of Narrow Margins

“Tomorrow then, Corrie, and, thank you.”

I end the call and look around, suddenly needing to get out of here, I need to clear my head. But the images of Griff and the sounds he made as he came fill my head. God, he was perfect. He is perfect.

When I enter the room Austin Reynolds is working from, I smile; he really is a good-looking bastard. Holding out my hand, I shake his as he smiles.

“Thank you for agreeing to this. I don’t know how well you know my client, but he is a pain in my ass.”

I cough out an embarrassed laugh and he flushes, “Okay, my apologies. Probably not the best turn of phrase.”

“It’s fine. He does seem to have a self-destruct button, I’m happy to help. I’m confused as to why he wouldn’t want my help?”

“He is keeping those reasons to himself, apart from saying you’ve been through enough without adding this to your worries.” Reynolds shakes his head.

“Okay, what do you need from me?”

We spend the rest of the afternoon going over everything that happened. Well, not everything but the points that matter and how I will be able to testify. When we finish, I think Reynolds is satisfied with everything and he will let me know when I will be called to court.

A few weeks later, it’s over and Griff is free. I’m still happy I did it, but the look on his face hurt me. The shock was understandable, but the way he looked at me and shook his head made me feel worthless, like an embarrassment to him. Admitting out loud I spent the night with him made him recoil in his chair. The shocked sniggers from the hateful woman who caused all this made me want to get out of the witness stand and leave. He didn’t even look up at me.

It was no surprise when he made no attempt to contact me afterwards and, soon, other things change my life, more problems arise. Why can’t anything ever go fucking right?

“What do you mean, I have to leave? I thought you said it was good for as long as I needed it?” I can’t believe this, I’m being pushed out of my apartment.

“Look, Corrie, it’s for your own good. After everything that has happened, I think you need a new area, to start afresh. Another division of the group has offered you a place there; it still has all the rehab facilities and the support, and it will get you away from here.” Matt, from the Vets Org, lets me know a few of the other guys have found out I’m gay and, while they haven’t caused any trouble, they haven’t made it any easier for me and have backed out of hanging out.

“Fine!” I say, throwing down the T-shirt I have been folding and look at him. “When do you want me out?”

“Tate says it’s ready for you now, so, whenever you can get yourself over there, he’ll be waiting.” Matt has the decency to look ashamed.

“So, how did he take it when you told him I was gay? How come the shutters didn’t come down there? Shit! Matt, do you realize how crazy this is? I’m gay, I’m not a psycho-murderer! You know this is dumb, right?” I go back to folding my laundry, too pissed to carry on talking to him.

“I know and I’m sorry. Let me know if you need help packing.” He pats me on the back and lets himself out of the apartment.

Fuck!! This is the last thing I want to fucking do!

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