Page 26 of Defended By Bam
Shutting the grill lid, I went to sit. “We have a clinic I can take you to.” I started to take a sip but quickly added, “Only if you think you need it. I wasn’t implying you–”
“It may be a good idea. Who knows what he was doing, honestly. He liked to go to bars a lot. He thinks I don’t know how his shifts work, but there were nights he wasn’t working but he wasn’t home, either.”
She was watching Sadie, but I was watching her. I still couldn’t wrap my head around how not only did he beat her, but he obviously treated her like shit. “I’m sorry you dealt with that. But I’m glad you're safe now.”
“I hope you’re right. All of this still seems like a weird dream. I keep having moments that snap me back to reality, though. But then I drift off again, like it’s some weird vacation or something. I don’t know if that makes sense.”
“I get it. The only thing I’m still worried about is the preschool.”
“Oh shit. You’re right.” She leaned up, her elbows on her knees. “Pre-K is treated like big kid school in Georgia. If she misses too many days, they’ll report me for truancy.” She sat back up, running her free hand through her hair. It was a little wavy today, but it looked good to me.
“Schools open early, right?” She nodded so I continued. “We’ll get you up early, you call them about her missing some days. Do you think he’ll go by there?”
She scoffed. “He probably can’t even remember which one she was enrolled in. And he’s not on any of her paperwork. The only thing that could be an issue is the address is the same as his. But they said anyone not on the paperwork can’t even get inside. It was crazy to even get her enrolled. Now I’m kinda glad.”
“Hopefully that works in our favor. But they need to know the situation. Because if he tries to flash his badge and scare them, they could let him in. If what you said is true, he would need a warrant. If he hasn’t reported you missing, that’ll never fly.”
I stood up to check the grill. The heat of her gaze was on me and when I turned my head, she didn’t try to hide it.
“Seriously, this is all so surreal. Like, how did I even get here?” she asked with the hint of a grin.
After flipping the steaks, I closed the grill and took a sip of beer. “Pretty sure Allie threw you in the truck then I drove ‘til we got here. Or something like that.”
She smiled this time, those dimples deepening in her cheeks. “I mean, I’m worried, don’t get me wrong, but it’s like I snuck out of my house and my mom has no idea where to look for me. So, I’m just having a good time.” Her smile melted away. “At least until I gotta go home.”
I put my beer on the side of the grill and walked over to her, kneeling and grabbing her non-beer-holding hand. “You’re not going back there. That I can promise you. Where you’ll go, I don’t know yet. But for now, you’re both safe here with me.”
Her eyelids drooped and her tongue licked the side of her lip. She started to lean toward me, and without thinking I leaned in, too.
“When’s dinner ready?” Sadie asked.
Brooklyn jerked back, sitting straight up and blew out a breath so hard that it ruffled the hair around her face. “Soon, sweet girl. Why don’t you go inside and wash up?”
Sadie pounced up the stairs then headed inside. Turning back, Brooklyn was now standing.
“Kids and timing,” she said with a grin.
“I just gotta grab these steaks. Why don’t you go on in and I’ll be right behind you.”
Her lips twitched, but she simply nodded, then went inside.
Standing over the grill, flipping the steaks one last time, I shook my head. I wasn’t trying to hurt her feelings. But she’d been drinking and was in a weird spot. She’d be glad we got interrupted and I didn’t have to feel like an asshole.
Except, seeing the hurt in her eyes made me feel like an asshole anyway.
Chapter 14
Brooklyn
It was still early when I went to bed the night before. The steak was delicious and Sadie was in a great mood. But I couldn’t get away from him fast enough. How embarrassing. What was I thinking? A man like that would never fool with someone like me. A washed-up single mom with nothing to my name.Do I even have a name anymore?
I sat quietly, mostly watching Sadie as she ate. She and Bama carried on quite the conversation. That only made the whole meal less comfortable. I couldn’t even look at him. He was done before me and started cleaning as I finished up. Men always ate so fast. But he said he was going to clean the grill, so once he wasoutside, I cleared our plates and hustled her to the bathroom so we could both get ready for bed.
He caught us as we shuffled down the hall to the room where he assembled the bed. Once I fumbled through pretending to be exhausted, he simply gave me a nod before I turned and headed to the room.
The sun wasn’t up yet but I’d hardly slept. He slept in his room last night, so I figured I’d be safe to head to the kitchen and try to make coffee. I was a pro at being quiet. The bathroom was down the hall from his room, but hopefully with both doors shut, he wouldn’t be disturbed.
I tiptoed from the room, thankful the door didn’t squeak when I closed it. Sadie would sleep in as long as she didn’t hear a lot of loud noises. Light didn’t bother her. I had no clue what time it was. Before we got here, this room was clearly just for storage, and there wasn’t a clock.
