Page 67 of Tear Me to Pieces
When I step out, Simon is standing on the other side, looking confused. Maybe a little worried. “What were you laughing about?”
“Me being dumb.” I go to my dresser and pull out the comfy garments I spend my evenings in. After slipping on a fresh pair of panties since I’m not sure where the pair I had on is now, I layer over leggings and a tunic style sweatshirt. Onceeverything’s in place, I turn to Simon and find him still frowning at me.
“You’re not dumb.”
I roll my eyes because he’s so freaking cute. He’s also freaking wrong.
I walk over to where he stands, looking grumpy that I would ever consider myself anything but perfect. Lacing my arms around his neck, I pull him down and press a kiss to his lips. “Maybe I’m not dumb anymore, but I definitely was.” I kiss him again. “Dumb enough to think I wouldn’t fall in love with you the second I stopped pretending it couldn’t happen.”
Simon’s expression shifts, turning serious. “You love me?”
“Of course I love you.” I lift one shoulder in a shrug. “There was never really any other option if I’m being honest.”
Simon’s arms wrap around me, pulling me closer. “I love you too.”
Yeah. He definitely doesn’t realize he already said it, which is my favorite part of the whole thing. “I know.”
It’s there in everything he does. The way he treats me. The way he speaks to me. The way he tries to make my life easier and listens when I talk. The man is so freaking in love with me it’s not even funny.
Actually, it’s a little funny. Funny that I didn’t see it until just now. Just like so many other things.
“We should get—” Simon’s words are cut short by my doorbell.
A doorbell he put in because he wants me to feel safe. One more way I should have known he loves me.
He backs us up out of our room, keeping his hold on me as he leans to peer down into the entryway. “Fucking Butch.”
“Ugh.” My head falls back. “I kinda hate that guy.” I don’t really hate him. He just has the worst timing in the world.
I guess not the worst. Technically he could have rung the doorbell ten minutes ago.Thatwould have been the worst.
Simon sighs, the sound long and loud as he turns. His arms drop from my body, but he immediately catches one of my hands in his. We go downstairs together, standing side-by-side as he opens the door.
That’s when I see it’s not just Butch on my porch.
Becca gives me a cautious smile, lifting one hand in a little wave. “Hi.”
After talking with Felicity, I feel kind of bad for trying to snatch Becca bald the other night. It didn’t realize she wasn’t a stranger. That many of the people in town already knew her. Not only had she once worked with Felicity, but she’d also lived with Shawn’s wife Shelly for a period of time years ago. It’s still super strange that she and Butch ended up crossing paths in a completely unrelated way, but I guess everything happens for a reason.
That whole six-degrees of separation must only apply to Kevin Bacon.
“Hey.” I step back making room for them to pass. “You guys want to come in?”
“Just me.” Becca offers another tentative smile. “I’m the one who wants to come in.” She shoots Butch a glare. “Butsomeonedidn’t think I was capable of crossing the street on my own.”
Butch’s head drops back, like he’s dealt with this from Becca before. “I’m trying to make sure you stay safe.”
“I thought I was here because this place is safe.” She lifts her brows. “I bet Shelley and Felicity will just love to hear you’re worried someone’s going to come abduct me off the street where their kids play.”
I get where she’s coming from, but honestly, so does Butch. I know from personal experience. “It’s happened before.”
Becca scoffs. “So why am I even here?”
“That was a totally different situation.” Butch seems to know the details about my ex, brother, and father taking Lydia, Piper, and me off the sidewalk outside.
Piper was so amazing that day. She fought like crazy to survive. Even when she was broken and bloodied, the woman never gave up. Never stopped being a pain in the ass. She found ways to cause destruction and pain and handed it out like free samples at Costco.
I wish I’d been more like her. Then maybe it would have ended before they even got us out of the neighborhood.
