Page 93 of Edge of Heaven

“She’s talking to the detectives.”

“What’s wrong?” She watches my face intently.

“She’s mad atme,” I say in frustration. “Like it’s somehow my fault that she’s all over the news as some druggie whore whose rocker boyfriend beat her up.”

“Why is she blaming you?”

“Because she heard me mention Callum’s name to the cops yesterday. She seems to have conveniently forgotten that he showed up and made a fool of himself without any help from me.”

“She’s raw right now,” Ryleigh says gently, squeezing my arm. “I’ll talk to her.”

“I don’t understand her perspective. Can you explain it to me?” I give her an abbreviated version of the things Taryn said.

She frowns. “Well, part of it, yes. I do understand. She feels like she’s made a mess of her life and that she makes really bad decisions. So leaving Callum and going straight to you, with the same issues—money, Toby’s illness, the custody situation, not having money or a steady income—would be following the same pattern. And with you, she wants to break the pattern.”

“That part I understand, but the rest of it? I mean, why can’t I help her? Iloveher.”

“Does she know that?”

“We haven’t had a specific ‘I love you’ and ‘I love you too’ conversation,” I say. “But I’ve told her that I’m in love with her, and today I referred to her as the woman I’m in love with, but she doesn’t seem to care about any of that. She keeps talking about how she can’t afford the last two payments and she won’t take money from me. Or you. Or the band.”

“Yeah, we got into a little of that too,” she says, shaking her head. “I think right now she’s in a place of trauma, fear, and guilt. Guilt that she can’t take care of her son. Guilt about what she’s been doing the last year or so, with Callum. She feels cheap, like the only thing she’s good for is sex.”

I wince.

I want to tell her we haven’t made love yet, not really, but that’s private. That’s something I don’t feel comfortable sharing.

“What do I do?” I ask in frustration.

“I think right now you need to give her space. Let her wrap her head around everything that’s happened. Heal both physically and emotionally.”

“Without me.” I say it flatly.

“Maybe right now that’s what she needs. And if you truly love her, you’ll give her the space to figure things out. In her own way. Not your way.”

I sigh and nod.

Because she’s right.

I do love her and if being away from me for now is what she needs, then I’ll do it.

No matter how much I don’t want to.

“It’s going to be okay,” Ryleigh whispers. “I promise.” She reaches out and gives me a hug.

I really hope she’s right.

Chapter32

Taryn

The doctor insistedI stay in the hospital one more day for observation. I had to talk to the police multiple times. Callum is still in jail and the media is talking about us non-stop. Even though my bloodwork showed no drugs or alcohol in my system.

Even though I’m the supposed victim.

The court of public opinion is crucifying me, and I’ve never felt so humiliated.

On top of that, I don’t have my phone, my ID, or even the key to the room I was sharing with Callum, so I don’t know how I’m going to get my things.

---