Page 73 of Embers in the Dark

“Well, that burly man does seem to care quite a bit for you,” Sydney says while wagging her brows at me and fanning herself with her hand.

“Your boyfriend is sitting right next to you,” Jacob says to her.

“Yes, yes, I’m well aware.” She blows a kiss in his direction and winks.

Sydney and Jacob made it official last week and it’s pretty cute to see them transition to romantically dating. The way he melts for her when she walks into the room is pretty epic. I love watching him just fawn over her.

Jada and I laugh as they bicker back and forth, and there’s a refreshing lightness in the room after the heaviness I just dropped.

I once again realize I’ve been blessed by so many incredible people around me. I just wish the one thorn in my side, my brother, would come around. He’s the one person I still haven’t spoken to and have avoided since I started dating Tucker. I don’t want to talk to him because I want to focus on putting everything with Myles behind me first.

It feels like that should be my focus and not Danny’sselfishness. I’m the priority and what my brother is doing seems utterly childish. He should be checking on me and making sure I’m managing okay. But instead, he’s been standoffish and putting his feelings and needs first.

It’s November, and I’m packing for my pre-trial conference in Connecticut. I can’t keep the nerves from multiplying as I get things in order, knowing I’ll have to face Myles in the next forty-eight hours. It’s the first time I’ll be seeing him since the night he attacked me.

I’m going through my room, grabbing things for my meeting with the prosecutor tomorrow, along with items to wear for the conference. I’ll be spending the night with my old roommates, sort of like a girls’ night to distract me before my inevitable run-in with my monster ex. Tucker isn’t loving the idea of me going without him, but it’s what I want to do, and I need to face this part of my life on my own.

Before Myles, I stood on my own two feet without needing a man to conquer things for me. I’d like to tackle this on my own as well. Since the incident, I’ve been walking on eggshells in many ways. I finally told my new friends about the attack, and now I’ll face Myles and put this chapter of my life even more behind me. Dr. Nuys and I have discussed that as much as this door of my life will never fully close, there are pieces of it that I can choose to hold on to as lessons versus fears. I won’t allow this attack to hinder me and hold me back from my life. Myles has done enough damage, and I won’t let him take my future happiness away too.

We discussed my decision to return to Connecticut on my own at my last therapy session. Dr. Nuys agreed that as long as I had a safe plan to stay with my friends and I felt comfortable doing this, it was a good decision. I have a restraining order against Myles, I don’t think he’d be stupid enough totry anything heading into the pre-trial. Tucker put up a fight a few times, however, it’s ultimately my decision.

My first stop will be the prosecutor’s office, which I’ve never been to as we have only met via virtual meetings since my attack. Mrs. Lupchick, the prosecutor taking my case, was kind enough to interview me virtually, due to my desire to remain safely in Boston ever since Myles came after me that night.

Now that the pre-trial is upon us, I have to meet with my attorney tomorrow. She’s kept me apprised on the case and has gathered evidence and done her interviews throughout the last couple months leading up to this week. I’ve felt so comfortable with her, and I’m grateful she’s never made me feel like because of Myles’s mother being a hotshot attorney, I wouldn’t be heard. She feels confident we have a solid case and has been diligent about gathering as much evidence as possible. She’s really glad I went to the hospital and called the police right away, as that really helps.

“Hey, Bay!” Tucker calls from the living room.

“Yeah, I’m in my room!” I yell as I fold a few more things into my bag. As much as this istechnicallymy room, I only use it to keep my clothes in the closet until we can get around to organizing the closet in the main room.

I hear his footsteps down the hall. Once he’s at my door, he stops and leans against the doorframe. “Any chance you’ve changed your mind and want company?”

I look over at him as I continue folding my clothes. “Tucker, we’ve talked about this. I want to do this on my own. It’s important to me.”

He walks into the room. Grabbing the items in my hand and tossing them onto my carry-on, he seizes my cheeks, looking into my eyes. “I’m just scared. He almost took you from me. He could’ve easily taken my world that night. So don’t fault me for wanting to hold you closer. I know you want to do this on your own. But while you’re trying to standtall, I’m here wanting to hold you closer because I just figured out what loving you like this feels like.”

He catches a tear as it falls down my cheek with his lips and I bring my hands to his wrists.

“I love you. I know you’d be there if I needed you to be. I appreciate it. And I promise you I’ll let you know how things are going, step by step. This is just something I have to do on my own. Not because I don’t want to do it with you, but because you’ve shown me I’m strong enough again. He didn’t ruin who I am. I’m whole thanks to you, Tucker.”

“I love you, Baylee. I know you can do this on your own, you are strong.” He kisses me. “And if you feel like he’s trying to pull you away from remembering that, you dig deep and hear me saying that from here, alright?”

I nod, the lump in my throat too big to allow words to come through.

“You’re taking my truck tomorrow so that he doesn’t recognize your car,” Tucker tells me.

I’ve had my car at my parents’ house this entire time, in fear Myles would cross state lines and follow me throughout Boston, looking for me once he got out on bail. When I heard the judge didn’t put him on house arrest because it was his first offense, I knew keeping my car far from this apartment was the best decision.

“Are you sure?” I ask him.

“Baylee, this is non-negotiable,” he tells me. “Now, take a break from packing and come eat. I got us take-out from that Thai place you love down the street.”

“Oh, did you get those Pad Thai noodles with the extra spicy sauce on the side?” I clap, jumping up and down.

“Of course, baby. Let’s go.” He grabs my hand. “Oh, and my friend Hunter is coming over.”

“Who?” I look confused.

“Hunter. He’s the probie at the station. He doesn’t know many people in town and I thought he could come over. Hemight be a good distraction. Is that okay?” He looks over his shoulder.

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