Until she says, “So… Ethan had a talk with your mom and Shane’s dad after he blew up and I had to basically tie him up to keep him from going after Shane.”
I push past the idea that she had to restrain my brother as fear roots heavy in my chest, my heart pounding with a rapid painful thump. “What? Why?”
“Because it needed to be done. You should have come to us when it first happened.”
I stare at her, unsure what I’m supposed to say.
“She quit her job too. She said she wouldn’t work for Larson Landscaping because of Shane. She’s working as a partner with my mom now.” Frankie smiles, her eyes tender. “You should haveseen them planning everything the other night. I don’t know why they didn’t do this sooner.”
Well, fuck. Had it been that easy, I would have said something sooner. Jesus.
“What did my mom say about it? Was she mad at me?” I can’t get the look on her face out of my mind when I saw her in the garage. The way her eyes roamed over the bruises, the sadness she tried so hard to conceal. I knew it hurt her to see that.
“I doubt she was mad. I think she was in shock that she didn’t know sooner. She was hurt that you didn’t tell her. You two need to talk.”
And we will when I’m ready. I don’t think I can look at her and not break down.
“I’ll go file the restraining order today, but I really wish you guys wouldn’t have got involved.”
“Evie, someone had to,” she points out, interrupting me. “I knew what he was doing to you emotionally, but I thought you were strong enough to handle it yourself. I never thought he would actually hit you. When we saw that he did, that’s all it took for all of us to step in. We’re not going to lose you over this.” She pauses, her eyes tight, and I understand the meaning. Ethan and I almost lost our mom the exact same way. But they’re failing to realize that my reasoning all along was that I didn’t want anything happening to my family. They mean the world to me.
“So, after you shower and we’ve finished at the police station, I have a fundraiser for the hospital tonight and I was wondering if you’d help out.” She smiles, bright, and it reminds me of Grayson when he wants something. “You totally don’t have to, but last month you said you would, so I signed us up to keep score and run concessions if they need us to. I can cancel if you don’t feel comfortable going.”
“Oh, right. I remember. Is that tonight?”
She nods. “Yeah. Grayson said he’d go if you were and weneed him to play. Ethan is not a baseball player. It’s embarrassing.”
I laugh. My brother didn’t get the athletic gene. Boy can play a guitar and belt out a song better than most, but throw a ball to a target, nope. There’s plenty of windows around the neighborhood that can attest to this.
“I’ll go. I think it’d be good for me to get out of the house for a bit.”
“Oh, thank God. My next option was Kelly, and you know how well that’d go over. First guy to whistle at her and she’d probably throat punch him.” Standing, she reaches inside the bag she brought in yesterday and tosses jean shorts at me along with a bikini top, well, actually strings with two triangles.
I hold it up, wondering where she found this, knowing I will not wear it in public. “There is no way in hell I am wearing that to a baseball game, Frankie.” I throw it back at her. “You’re out of your mind. The black dress was one thing. This is just… illegal and Grayson will lose his shit if I wear this in public.”
She crosses her arms and taps her foot on the ground. “I’m not making you wear it, Evie.” And then as I suspected, a smirk surfaces. “But… it will give you a chance to show Grayson what he’s been missing. Just throw a T-shirt over it.”
“Grayson didn’t say anything to me about playing baseball tonight.”
“He can never say no to his sisters. You should know that by now.”
And I do.
While staring at the ridiculous bikini top, I realize Shane might be at the game and the thought gives me an instant wave of nausea. “Wait, do you think Shane will be there?” Suddenly the anxiety returns and the weight I once felt lifting, pushes down on me again.
“I doubt it.” My cheeks heat. Frankie moves toward me, her hands on my face. “I don’t see why he’d show up there. He doesn’t play baseball.”
“Actually, he did. He played on Larson Landscaping’s fall league.”
“Still, I don’t think he will be there. And besides, you will be well protected by our whole family. We’re not going to let him near you. He will not be able to touch you. And Hicks is the umpire. No way he’d try anything there.”
“Do you think this is a good idea, Frankie?” After everything, I should stay away from Shane and not provoke him. “This bikini, me being there, that’s just asking for trouble.”
Frankie blows out a quick breath. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked you to do this.” She pulls out her cell phone. “I’ll find one of the nurses to help out.”
Now I feel like shit and I know it’s far from her intentions, but I do. I also don’t want to stay in this house any longer than I have to. I need to get out and show my face. Prove to him that he’s not going to keep me down. I grab her hand before she leaves. “Wait, no, I’ll do it.”
“Seriously, Evie. You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked. You’ve been through hell and I’m being so selfish.”