Page 95 of Love Me Gently

I hadn’t heard a word from Kip yet that morning, but he’d been my first call on my way into work.

Hell, for all we knew, Jonathan was full of it and had driven back to Georgia. Maybe he’d lied about staying close to scare Trina. Who knew what went on in that man’s mind.

“I don’t have time for this crap,” I muttered and reached for my iPad. “Not this week. Not when Trina’s finally starting to open up again.”

She was shutting down just as fast, but she was trying. And this morning, she came straight to me, rested her body against me like she actually felt comfortable with me. I could still feel the weight of her body against mine.

“Those men that guy sent are something else,” Eddy said, and he glanced outside. Brock and Rocco and Jim had followed me into the station to meet our chief. Lannister wasn’t exactly thrilled they were here, but since they were technically just visitors, he couldn’t do much about it, even if I’d gotten an earful after they left to go do their protection thing.

“They bring trouble, it’s going to be hard to cover that up.”

“I think they’ll cover up their own trouble,” I’d told him which had earned me a scowl. “What do you want me to do? Leave Trina unprotected?”

At that, he’d sighed and then relented. The only trouble they’d bring was finishing whatever trouble Jonathan started, and I figured they’d be gone before anyone could pin anything on them anyway. They were the size of mountains and moved like ghosts. Even as a cop, I’d never seen anything like it.

“I’ll keep them in check.”

Chief nodded and then rolled his eyes. “Make sure you call the first hint you need backup. We’re your family, too, Cole. Family protects family.”

I got it. Promised I would and then headed out of his office and back to work. Things were going to erupt soon, and I needed to make sure everyone in the department was ready.

Thirty-Three

Trina

“Please, feel free to call or schedule an appointment whenever you need, okay? I know this is hard, but I’m here for you.”

My voice trembled, but it’d been doing that for the last hour. “Thank you. I will.”

“Seeking help is the first step, Trina. You should be really proud of yourself.”

I felt more like I’d been run over and then beaten all over again, but I suppose therapy did that to a person who’d held on to as much as I had, for as long as I had. We’d barely begun to scratch the surface of the last twelve years, and my emotions were shredded. “Thank you, Zoe. I appreciate that.”

I wasn’t sure I was proud of myself, but beneath all the pain we’d just delved right into, there was a comfort in it, too. As long as I could hold onto the comfort, I was starting to think I could truly do this.

We ended the Zoom call, which had been awkward at the beginning, but then somehow, the therapist Dr. McElroy recommended made me feel like we’d been best friends. As she started asking questions, I found myself opening up before I realized I was doing it.

I closed Cole’s laptop he’d told me I could use and pushed away from his office desk. He’d be back with the girls soon and I wanted to have dinner made for them. A quick trip to the bathroom and I scared myself when I saw my reflection. Starting therapy might have been a good thing, but it was going to wreak havoc on my face. I ran downstairs, gave my face a quick wash, reapplied my makeup, and then headed back to the kitchen.

It was now Friday. The week with him and the girls wasn’t only exhausting, but exhilarating. I was equally ready for him to take them to Marie on Sunday as I was mourning not have their constant excitement in the house. I’d stopped hiding away in my room after dinner after that first night, and now I stayed in the living room. We played various board games and Jenga after dinner and watched cartoons. When Cole put them to bed, I was close enough to hear him read stories, the giggles as they said their bedtime prayers, and then found myself crying, once again, as Cole sang to them. He wassucha good dad, and while it hurt, it was a beautiful thing to witness, even if it was from a distance.

Since I wouldn’t be seeing them for another week, I’d convinced Cole to run to the grocery store for me so I could cook them all a meal. I wasn’t necessarily trying towinthe girls’ approval, and it didn’t seem like I needed it because they seemed to be pretty at ease around me, but I figured it couldn’t hurt anything, either.

When I look at you, I see everything.

Cole’s words from last week came to me in a gentle whisper as I grabbed steak from the fridge. And then that kiss.

In all that had gone on in the last few weeks, I hadn’t truly considered what he was telling me. I’d been so focused on myself, I hadn’t considered he wanted something fromusor for us. Or me.

He hadn’t helped get me out of Jonathan’s grip only for me to heal and get better. He wanted me back here.

With him.

The realization slammed into me, stealing my breath even while I reached for the mushrooms to make stroganoff.

He wanted me. He wanted me with him. He wanted me at the kitchen table with his girls.

How? How could he look at me and still see the girl he loved when I wasn’t sure she existed anymore?

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