Page 21 of Unbroken

Weston

It’shard as hell to crawl from the tent this morning. Lucy is snuggled into my side, burrowed in the warmth of my body. She fits against me like a glove. It shouldn’t feel this good, this right. After two failed marriages, I never thought I’d find someone who held my attention and made me want a relationship, but Lucy isn’t like any woman I’ve ever known. She makes me want to live, not just exist. Her goodness shines from her with an internal flame that I can’t look away from.

The first rays of sunlight are peeking across the sky when I step from the tent. Pacey is already by the grill, stoking a flame to life for coffee. I pull a chair up and wait for the pot of water to heat. Malcom peeks his bleary-eyed head out thirty minutes later as I’m pouring my first cup. It’s been hard as hell to not call him on the shit with Elisa. But in the end, he’s a grown ass man and able to make his own decisions.

I’m not even mad about it, honestly. It’s the fact that he’s strung Lucy along for the ride that really sets my blood boiling. And until yesterday, she had no idea either.

Speak of the devil. Lucy looks adorable as fuck this morning with fresh just-fucked hair and a flush to her cheeks as her eyes meet mine. “Is that coffee I smell?”

“Hot and fresh. Want a cup?” Pacey says, pressing down on the carafe, soaking the roasted beans in hot water.

“I’d kill for one. Literally. Line up your foes.” Her mouth opens on a yawn, her arms stretching high overhead.

“No killing required. Have a seat and I’ll pour you a cup.” He winks, reaching for another mug.

As she passes Malcom, he wraps a hand around her wrist and pulls her into his lap. “I saved you the perfect seat, babe.” Her body is tense, and when her gaze meets mine, I can see the struggle playing out behind her eyes. Until now, she’s managed to keep her distance from him, to avoid his touch, but now she’s stuck and doesn’t know what to do. The alarm is written all over her face. It makes me want to step in and pull her from his arms, especially when his hand starts caressing up and down her silken thigh.

She squirms in his arms, pushing against his chest, “Uh... nature’s calling.”

He doesn’t immediately release her, choosing instead to nuzzle his face into her hair and along her neck.

“Unless you want me to pee in your lap, you need to let me go.”

When Lucy is far enough away, I turn to Malcom, pinning him with a stare. This ends now. If I’m forced to watch him touch her one more second, I’m afraid of what I may do. Already, the sight of her struggling against his hands on her body has me seeing red.

“Do not touch her again. That’s enough. She’s not a pawn in some sick, twisted game.”

“What are you talking about? She’s my girlfriend. I’ll touch her whenever I want.”

“No, you won’t. You won’t lay a finger on her ever again.”

“And why is that?”

“Do you think I’m stupid? I know about you and Elisa. I know about it all. When I say that your relationship with Lucy is over, I mean it.”

His face blanches, all color leaking away. His mouth opens and then closes repeatedly before he stands and races back inside the tent. I glance at Pacey, who’s just watched everything in silence. “Not a word.”

“Me? I’m Switzerland. Count me out.”

Satisfied, I take the cup of coffee from Pacey’s hand and go to find Lucy. She might be pissed. I didn’t even think of that, but it’s for the best. She’s mine now, and it’s about time everyone else knows it too.

As I round the corner of the bathhouse, I hear someone screaming. It takes a second for me to realize Lucy is on the phone. I pause to give her time to finish the call, but it’s hard not to overhear the conversation

“How could you do that? Because of you, I’m going to lose everything. You’re such a lying, ungrateful brat. You need to apologize right now.”

“I will not apologize. I did nothing wrong.”

“You lied. Roger would never touch you. I’ve seen the way you watch him. I know you want him.”

Lucy scoffs.“I watch him because he gives me the creeps. Every time I walk in the room, he grabs his dick, Mom.”

Fucking hell. This is her mother? This is the shit she deals with at home? I don’t know who Roger is, but if I ever run into the sonofabitch, he won’t have eyes left to watch her with.

“You will apologize to him and mean it. He’s packing his things right now, refusing to stay here with someone who flings such baseless accusations.”

“Good riddance.”

“No. I won’t lose him because you’re a little slut, teasing him. You either apologize or don’t bother coming back.”

---