Page 32 of Praise Me: Soldier

“I feel a teeny bit bad forcing July to work late,” says the one I haven’t met. “She already works her ass off.”

“It’s for her own good,” drones the other one. “The more time she spends at the office, the less time she spends with that monster. She’ll thank us when she comes to her senses.”

Monster.

They’re talking about me.

My bones threaten to melt down into the pavement. Did they see her bruises? The bite marks? July was walking a little differently this morning, thanks to the rough ways I took her last night and this morning. Did they notice?

A lot like the morning I fled July’s apartment, my brain tells me to do the same now.

Leave this woman alone, so I can’t hurt her.

I can’t do it, though. I might as well walk into oncoming traffic, because leaving her would be worse than death. And I promised her I wouldn’t disappear again. I don’t break promises to my girl. There’s also a part of me, maybe the tiniest spark of progress from therapy that denies what they’re saying. I’m not a monster.

I’ve just been through something monstrous.

I’m going to get through to the other side. For the man I used to be.

For July.

As the women walk by, I turn my back and duck my head, so they won’t clock me. When they pass by, I unclip a security card from one of their pockets and slip inside the building, the need to see July and reassure myself that we’re on solid ground multiplying by the second.

CHAPTERTWELVE

July

I stareover at the window with tears in my eyes, resolutely focusing on my work. I have at least one more hour, then I’ll go home. Theo will find me.

There’s no question of that in my mind.

I’m more upset because I feel walked all over. Put in a corner.

Managed.

Not listened to.

Worse, I let it happen.

Taking a deep breath, I release it and attempt to focus. I’m the only one left in the office, everyone else having fled to happy hour at five o’clock on the dot, including the two women who imprisoned me here. I open my reference sheet to make sure my back-up plan idea meets all the necessary criteria and—

Footsteps.

My fingers freeze on the keyboard.

Those aren’t the footsteps of a co-worker, they’re too…slow. Creaking. Not the crisp and purposeful gait of someone who spends eight hours a day in this office. I lift my gaze to the monitor of my computer and see a shadowed figure in the reflection, weaving in and out of the cubicles behind me. I’m in trouble. No one is on this entire floor, except me.

And this person. Whoever they are.

I pick up my stapler, intending to use it as a weapon, stand up and turn around.

My hand drops like a five-hundred-pound boulder when I see Theo coming into view, his beautiful face splitting into a wry grin.

“Theo,” I breathe, pressing a hand to my chest. One might assume my heart would slow down once I realize I’m not about to be accosted, but no. It speeds up. My throat tightens, warmth crowding behind my eyes. Seeing his rugged soldier’s frame in this professional environment brings home exactly how different he is from everything in my life. How new.

How beloved and perfect and gorgeous.

Without a second thought, I drop the stapler and run to him, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist, listening to and loving his gruff whisper of my name. “I missed you so much,” I say, meaning every word. In fact, it’s an under exaggeration. I’ve been yearning for him since I left his side this morning. “How did you get into the building?”

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