Page 19 of Beaten

When I asked Jack why he changed his mind about going to the police academy, he said it was a no brainer to invest in SSI, instead of joining the police force, after leaving the Army.

I remembered Meg saying she’d needed SSI’s help at one point and asked Jack if that was how they met. When he said he met her at Grannie’s I was surprised; Mary had a strict rule about her kids not dating her employees, disappointing a few of my friends who’d worked there. Jack and Jamie had always been good looking, and they were nice guys, so of course all the girls wanted to go out with them. Isabelle won the jackpot when she and Jamie started dating. She also crushed my childhood fantasy because I was that girl; the one who had a silly school girl crush on her big brother’s best friend.

“She was a barista at Grannie’s, and it was love at first sip.”

Jamie groaned and Chris rolled his eyes.

Jack flipped them off before continuing, “I think you’d like her.”

“She seemed nice when I met her at the office.”

“I’m sure she’d love to meet you for a coffee. You can have a girl’s day out at Grannie’s.”

“Jesus Jack, a“girl’s day out”really?” Jamie teased him.

He gave Jamie both fingers. “You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first.”

I interrupted their brotherly banter. “I’m sure she’s too busy.”

“Nah,” he brushed off my concern, “she hasn’t been in Weatherford very long so most of her friends work at Grannie’s or SSI. I’m sure she’d love to talk to someone her own age.”

“Not to mention female. Right now, she’s surrounded by us all day.” Jamie added with a laugh.

“You should do it Em, you said yourself she seems nice. I know Jack is probably biased, but you can trust that she’s good people if Mary and John trust her.” Chris knew I’d lost touch with most of my friends from high school and college. I could probably reach out to a few of them, but I only had one friend in the area I really wanted to reconnect with and that was Ashley. She lived in Dallas so it wouldn’t be too hard to get together.

“Alright, I’m sure it’ll be fun and I haven’t been to Grannie’s since I’ve been back. I always think about how much I miss Grannie’s any time I’m at a chain coffee shop. They’re never as good.” I wasn’t sure about going out and meeting new people yet, but this wouldn’t be too bad.Meg is Jack’s fiancé, we’re meeting at Grannie’s, and someone from SSI will probably be there too.

“Ma’ll be happy to hear that, she loves her shop.” Jamie laughed. “She was none too happy when we stole Meg from her.”

“She’d probably still be giving us shit if I hadn’t saved the day by asking Meg to marry me.” Jack preened like a peacock.

“Whatever little brother.”

“Have you set a date yet?” I asked just as Jack opened his mouth to reply to Jamie.

“Yeah, September twenty-second. A year from the day we met.”

I said ‘that’s so sweet’ at the same time Jamie made more gagging sounds and Chris rolled his eyes again. It’d been a long time since I’d been around them and I’d forgotten how close they were.

“Meg picked the date.” Jack said before shoving a couple of fries in his mouth while giving his brother the stink eye.

“And what Meg wants, she gets.” Jamie wasn’t done giving his brother shit.

“Damn straight I spoil her as often as she’ll let me. She deserves it.”

Jamie added, “That she does, if for no other reason than putting up with you.”

Jack threw a balled up napkin at his brother, who caught it easily and set it on the table. He turned to me and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. “She’s been good for him. Keeps his sorry ass in line.”

I laughed, not a polite chuckle but a good hearty belly laugh.God it feels good to laugh.

Jamie tried to pick up the bill, but Chris grabbed it and insisted on paying, saying it was the least he could do. I thought about saying something about the fact that he was paying them to be there but decided it wasn’t a good idea to stir that particular pot. I didn’t want to upset any of them.

I asked to ride back with Chris, so I’d feel less awkward. After everything that had happened, and still remembering the hug, I didn’t want to spend the next couple of hours alonewith Jamie. With Jack’s encouragement, Jamie reluctantly agreed, and told Chris they’d follow us to my parents house.

When we finally got there I suggested unloading Jamie’s SUV first, so they didn’t have to stay, but they insisted on helping unload everything. I thought about arguing but gave up instead—it’d been a long stressful day and I was exhausted. It’d go a lot faster with the extra help, and the sooner we finished the sooner I could take a hot bath, then settle down with a good book, a tub of ice cream, and a bottle of wine.

As we lugged in boxes, I thought about how badly I’d fucked up my life. Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d be in as much danger after leaving an abusive ex as I was when I lived with him.

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