Page 14 of Chasing Forever

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“I really like it here.”

My head squeezed and my nose began to sting. “I do too.”

He chewed on his lip for a second before finding the courage to ask the question that was obviously on his mind. “Do you think, if we’re really good, and do all our chores, that Mr. Tristan will let us stay?”

God, he was killing me. That little boy had been through so much in his short life already. He deserved some peace and security. He deserved not to worry or be scared, and in that very moment I made a silent vow to do everything in my power to make sure he got the childhood that had been stolen from him up to this point.

“I bet he’d let us stay a good long while.” I moved back into the room and resumed my earlier spot on the side of the bed. “But, buddy, even if we don’t stay here, I promise wherever we end up, it’ll be great. We’ll make it exactly how we want it.”

“And it’ll be you and me? I’ll get to stay with you?”

There was no way to hide the fear in his voice as he asked that question, and I knew that had been weighing on him. “No matter what happens, it’s you and me from here on out. I promise.”

His little body relaxed, my answer chasing away whatever demons had been lingering and giving him the relief he needed. “Okay. Goodnight, Aunt Merri. Love you.”

I forced down the emotion clogging my throat just then and won the battle against my tears. “Love you back, sweetie. More than you could possibly know. Now get some sleep.”

He squirmed beneath the covers and rolled onto his side, settling in. I managed to hold it together until I made it into the hall and pulled the door closed. Then I rested my forehead against the cool wood and squeezed my eyes closed as sorrow and rage warred inside of me, battling for dominance.

“Everything okay?”

I started at the sound of Tristan’s voice, jerking upright and whipping around to face him. “Yes. No.” I dragged a hand through my hair, the adrenaline I’d been riding all day long finally depleted, leaving me feeling worn down and exhausted. “I don’t know,” I finished on a weary sigh. “Right now it’s taking everything in my power to keep from climbing into my car and driving to the hospital so I can beat the ever-loving shit out of my brother.”

“Can’t say I don’t understand the desire. But instead of aggravated assault, how about I pour you a glass of wine?”

I heaved out a breath. “That actually sounds perfect.”

He waved me away from Levi’s door. “Come on. I’ll crack open a bottle.”

In the kitchen, he uncorked a bottle of red and poured me a glass before grabbing himself a beer from the fridge and popping the cap off. I sat on one of the stools at the island while Tristan stood across from me, and I sensed he was in detective mode.

I could feel his eyes on me as I took a healthy sip. “Feel better?” he asked before bringing the amber bottle to his lips and drinking a swig of his beer. Warren had always favored scotch, and now I couldn’t stand the smell of the stuff. Just a whiff was enough to twist my stomach into knots.

The bottom of the glass clinked against the marble counter as I set it back down and swished the liquid around. “Not really,” I answered honestly. “Maybe ask me again after a second glass.”

He studied me closely, and I couldn’t shake the feeling he was seeing more than most people would. “You want to talk about it?”

Bracing my elbows on the counter, I lowered my head and massaged at the ache in my temples. “Honestly, I’m not sure where to start. Do I start with my junkie brother who, despite having the world’s greatest kid, couldn’t give a shit?” I spat angrily. “Or should I start with the fact that I’m back in the same town as the man I married who got off on hitting me and belittling me every chance he had? Or what about the fact that I’m now responsible for the well-being of another human being—a human being that just so happens to be the most important person in my world? It felt like a dam had opened inside me, and now that it was all spilling out, there was no way to plug it back up.

“I can’t let him get his hands on Levi again,” I said, speaking of Ozzy. “I have to protect him no matter what, but when I think about what I look like on paper—what I looked like to that social worker today, I’m terrified they won’t find me fit to keep him. I spent the past six years in an abusive marriage, so what does that say about my judgement? I’m technically homeless, jobless, and for the past two months, I’ve been on the run from my old life. I’m a disaster, and I’m afraid I’ll never find my footing!”

Tristan rounded the island quickly. “Hey, hey. Stop that.” He wrapped his fingers around my forearms and crouched down to put us at eye level. Somehow the touch of this man that I barely knew—despite the fact that I was now living with him—managed to ground me when I felt like I was spinning out. “Take a breath,” he ordered.

I pulled in a deep breath, holding it for three counts before letting it out slowly.

“That’s good. Just like that.” He waited for me to take another breath before continuing. “Now, of course when you list it all out like that it’s going to be overwhelming. But that’s not how the world works. You have to take one step at a time, oneproblemat a time. Let’s start with the easiest one first. You aren’t homeless.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he lifted a hand to stop me. “Look, I get that this all came out of nowhere, and I know we don’t know each other well...yet, but this is your and Levi’s home for as long as you want to stay. As for a job, I’m sure that won’t be an issue for long.”

“Thanks to you,” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Tristan’s brows snapped together in confusion. “What?”

“I heard you earlier,” I confessed with a grimace. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Well, that wasn’t technically true, but he didn’t need to know that. “I heard you on the phone with someone, talking about getting me an interview.”

His throat worked on a swallow. “Listen, if I overstepped?—”

Before I could think better of it, my hand shot out and came down on top of his, my fingers closing over his. His eyes darted down to where I was touching him, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his throat worked on a swallow. “No, you didn’t overstep,” I insisted. “I’m beyond grateful for everything you’re doing to help me and Levi. It’s just... it’s just that I don’t understand why you’re doing it. Why are you helping me?” I asked, finally putting to words the very thought that had been dogging every one of my steps all day long. “You don’t know me. I could be a psychopath or planning to rob you blind.”

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