Share

Running Back

Author: Siwa Rose
last update Last Updated: 2024-09-23 00:32:21

Imogene Scott

The morning sun streams through the bedroom window. Despite the late hour—it’s already 8:30—I continue to lie in bed with my eyes closed. I need to get my head together, to make sure memories of the night are real and not dreams.

“Hey, lazy bones.”

Damien’s voice resolves the confusion. I open my eyes. Dressed in only his boxer shorts, he stands beside the bed, two cups of coffee in his hands.

“You want a cup of coffee?”

I quickly hand-brush my hair, prop my pillow behind me, sit up, and pull the sheet over my breasts.

“You look great,” Damien says, as though he’d read my mind.

“You need to see an eye doctor.”

He smiles. “There’s nothing wrong with my eyes. It’s my back I’m worried about.”

“Why?” I ask, concerned.

“After last night . . . .” He lets the comment hang until he sees that I understand he’s teasing.

I feel my face go hot. “You’re going to stand there all day?”

Damien vents a deep rumble of a laugh and sits on the side of the bed. He hands me a cup. “Would
Locked Chapter
Continue Reading on GoodNovel
Scan code to download App
Comments (6)
goodnovel comment avatar
Judy Cunningham
Great story . I hope Elinor doesn't ruin everything.
goodnovel comment avatar
Patricia Davis
elinore is jelious
goodnovel comment avatar
Phylease Sams
this is a really good book ... a lot of suspended with out the violence
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Never Let Go

    Imogene Scott After Elinor’s words, I feel as if I’ve been doused with cold water. "No running back to anyone," Yet, she doesn’t know. I’ve already crossed that line, and there’s no turning back now. I steal another glance at Lily, she’s still soundly asleep. For her, everything is probably simple, either you love someone, or you don’t. But life is never that black and white, and I’m tangled somewhere in the gray. As Elinor picks up her phone again, I murmur something about needing to clear my head and slip out of the room. I make my way to the lobby. How do I tell Elinor the truth? How do I face the world knowing that, against my own promises, I’ve let Damien back in? “I can’t believe this is real.” Damien’s words from this morning replay in my mind. And I can’t believe it either. Three years of building walls, of telling myself that I’d moved on and grown stronger without him, all seemed to melt away when I was in his arms again. But the world doesn’t know Damien like I do, or m

    Last Updated : 2024-09-23
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Being A Part Of Something

    Damien ShawWe fly back to LA two days later. Imogene insists we keep our little relationship a secret for now and I’m thrilled to even be in one with her. The feeling of finally getting back the family I’ve always wanted. The feeling you have when you know every effort you’ve put into fighting to get back what you lost, wasn’t in vain.That feeling is pure bliss. I’m never going to let them go again. No matter how much money I have or don’t, I’m at my core, happy because I have everything I need in front of me. This is it. Imogene is it. Some part of me has known that since the minute I laid eyes on her all those years ago.It doesn’t matter how much time we’ve spent apart or what hell we’ve gone through and made it to the other side. I believe this is perfect. Us. Our little family.I exhale sharply as I lean back in my seat. My office phone rings. I consider letting it go to voice mail, then decide maybe I should pick it up in case it has something to do with the upcoming tech c

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Family Movie Night

    Imogene Scott The microwave dings, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I nearly jump. I let out a small breath and move to open the door to pull out the bowl of popcorn. The heat radiates from it as I place it carefully on the center table. Lily is perched on the couch, busy playing with her plush rabbit and completely absorbed. I glance at the clock on the wall. 7:16. Damien was supposed to be here at 7. My heart does a little flip, and my stomach twists in that familiar, uncomfortable knot. What if he doesn’t come? What if he’s having second thoughts? I run a hand through my hair, pacing across the living room. Am I taking things too fast?Damien and I already agreed to keep our relationship discreet until after the Tech Con is over. Elinor doesn’t know about him yet, I’m not sure what she would react if she knew. Maybe it’s a good thing she doesn’t know about it. I’m putting my happiness first, for once.I feel the palms of my hands grow clammy, and I wipe them on my jean

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Family Movie Night Gone Wrong

    Imogene Scott "I’ll be right back," I say, handing Damien the remote and forcing a smile as I head to the door.Who could it be? I can’t think of anyone else besides Elinor so my brain immediately does the maths. I weigh my options—on a scale of 1-10, how violent would she react if she saw Damien here?—I conclude she’s going to lose it. But I can’t hide this from her forever either.I muster all the courage left in me and pull open the door. It’s really Elinor. Her face is unreadable, but something in her eyes makes my skin prickle with goosebumps."We need to talk, Imogene." she says, voice low as she steps through the threshold.I glance back at the living room, where Damien is now sitting with Lily on his lap, her small hands gripping his shirt. They’re both laughing at something on the TV screen.“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!” Elinor curse under her breath as she turns around, walking back into the quiet hallway.I immediately follow her and shut the door behind me. “

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   More Problems

    Imogene Scott"No," I say, shaking my head, taking a step back. "That’s... that’s impossible."But Elinor’s face is painted with raw emotion, and I know she’s telling the truth.“It happened a month ago. The night of Keith’s proposal,” she says, her voice breaking. “I was drunk. Damien was drunk. We didn’t mean for it to happen. It was just one night, Imogene, but now…” She gestures toward her stomach. "Now I’m pregnant with his child."The world seems to narrow, tunneling in on this moment, and I’m hit with a tidal wave of emotions. My throat is tight, and my mind can’t even begin to process what she’s saying.No, not this. Not again.I feel my voice crack as I speak. “Why... why didn’t you tell me?”“I wanted to,” she chokes out. “But I didn’t know how. I didn’t want to ruin things between us. You and Damien—there’s so much history. I didn’t want to be the reason—”“Reason for what?” I snap, stepping away from her completely now, rage bubbling up in my chest. “For breaking my hea

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Some Things You Can’t Undo

    Imogene Scott Damien looks away for a second, and in that moment, I know. I already knew the second Elinor told me, but seeing him now, confirming it... it’s like the final nail in the coffin.“It was a mistake,” he says, his voice low. “It was one night. I was drunk—”“Oh, so that makes it better?” I snap. “You think being drunk excuses sleeping with my best friend?”“No, of course not!” he says quickly. “It doesn’t. I messed up, okay? It was the night of Keith’s proposal... I was angry, and I drank too much, and she was there—”I throw up my hands, cutting him off. “I don’t need to hear the details, Damien! I just—God, I can’t believe this.”“Imogene, please,” he steps closer again, his voice softening. “It didn’t mean anything. I was a wreck after you took Keith’s proposal. I thought I’d lost you—”“You did lose me!” I yell, tears now streaming down my face. “And now you’ve ruined any chance of getting me back!”“You don’t understand,” he says desperately. “Elinor... she might b

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Love Shouldn’t Have To Hurt This Much

    Damien Shaw"Do you ever for once stop to think that maybe you were such a horrible person in your last life that you’re being deprived of joy in this life?" Breonna’s voice echoes through the quiet of my room, cutting through the dull hum of my laptop screen as she steps into my room. I don’t look up. I’ve been staring at lines of code and business reports for hours, though nothing has really stuck in my head. Work has been the only thing keeping me from spiraling, but even that feels meaningless at this point.I hear her drop something on the dresser—the tray of food she’s been bringing me for days now. She’s always playing the caretaker, even when I don’t deserve it.“You’re not going to eat again, are you?” she sighs, coming closer.I lean back in my chair and finally look at her. Her face is soft but tired, and I know part of that exhaustion is because of me. She’s been staying in my house for the past five days to, quote-unquote, take care of me.“I’m not hungry,” I mumble.“Th

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24
  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Causing Her Pain

    Imogene Scott I rise from my work table, stretching my aching back. My muscles are stiff, protesting every movement after being hunched over for hours—finishing the last touches on my digital mural. The Tech Con is in two days, and it's all I’ve been focusing on. It’s my only distraction from the heavy, suffocating weight pressing down on my chest.The apartment is a mess. Clothes are strewn across the floor, empty takeout containers are stacked on the coffee table, and unopened mail is scattered across the kitchen counter. I haven’t left the house in days, haven’t spoken to anyone, haven’t even checked my phone.All I’ve done is work on the mural and now it’s finally done. What other work do I have to focus on that can serve as a good distraction?Chores.I start picking up the trash, throwing away remnants of meals I barely remember eating. I try to focus on the small task in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting back to him. To Damien. Why can’t I stop thinking about hi

    Last Updated : 2024-09-24

Latest chapter

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Can’t Do This Alone

    Imogene Scott It was hard to focus on the dull ache in my lower abdomen, because I’m in a constant reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything. Abortion pills. The words echo in my mind. How? Why? I didn’t take anything like that. I wouldn’t.“Your gynecologist recommended drugs to you?” I nod, confused and uncertain at the same time. Yes, Dr. Pepp had prescribed something, and I’d taken them without hesitation, trusting they were for the twins' health. I can still see the disbelief in Damien’s eyes, the storm building behind them before he stormed out of the hospital room. Now I’m alone, left to piece together the scattered fragments of what had happened.I sit up slightly in the hospital bed, staring blankly at the door Damien just stormed out of. The words still echo in my head. It doesn’t make sense. I only took what Dr. Pepp prescribed. My hands tremble as I press them to my belly, trying to anchor myself to the reality that my babies are still safe. I can’t sto

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Emergency

    Damien ShawThe office feels suffocating tonight. It’s past 9 p.m., and I’ve been waiting all day for feedback about Gerald’s latest screw-up. Patience isn’t my strong suit, and right now, it’s wearing thin. I glance at my phone for what feels like the hundredth time. No messages. No missed calls. Not from Imogene. That’s what surprises me the most. She always checks in, even if it’s just a quick text. Maybe she’s just tired. The drive home is quiet. When I pull into the driveway, the house looks the same as it always does. I step out of the car and into the cool night air. Inside, the aroma of something faintly sweet greets me. Sheila’s in the kitchen, wiping down the counter. She looks up and smiles when she sees me. “Evening, Mr. Shaw,” she says cheerfully. “Long day?” “Yeah.” I drop my briefcase by the door and loosen my tie. “Where’s Imogene?” “She’s been asleep since this afternoon,” Sheila says. “I didn’t want to disturb her. She looked so tired.” I frown. “That’

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Checkup

    Imogene Scott The air inside the car feels suffocating as I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white against the leather. The phone call is still replaying in my head including my conversation with Lila. It wasn’t her that made the threatening call. I’m sure of it now. But if it wasn’t her, then who was it? I force myself to focus on the road ahead. My fingers tighten around the wheel as I take the familiar turn toward the hospital. The parking lot is half-empty. I pull into a spot near the entrance and kill the engine. For a moment, I sit there, staring at the hospital entrance. Six months. I rest a hand on my stomach to feel the faint stir of life within me. “We’re okay,” I whisper softly, but the weight in my chest doesn’t lift. I climb out of the car, the cool breeze biting against my skin as I cross the lot. The hospital doors slide open with a faint hiss, and I step into the sterile, overly bright lobby. When I reach Dr. Pepp’s office, she’s waiting for me. H

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Betrayal

    Damien Shaw I walk into the office that morning, lost in thought. I can still feel Imogene’s body next to mine from last night. I wanted to ask her about Ville Road, but I don’t know how to do it without sounding accusatory. Without making her feel like I’m questioning her. Hell, I’ve never been good at that—asking the hard questions, digging into the things I want to know but don’t always want the answers to. I close my eyes briefly as I move down the hall. What the hell was she doing there? I tell myself I trust her. I do. I reach my office, push the door open, and step inside. The moment I do, I stop dead in my tracks. Kia’s pacing in front of my desk, her heels clicking against the floor. Her brows are furrowed, and she doesn’t even notice me until I clear my throat. “Mr Shaw,” she says, stopping. “Gerald dropped by earlier this morning.” I feel relief at the mention of Gerald’s name. “Gerald?” I repeat, still standing in the doorway. “I told you he was only caught u

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Threats

    Imogene Scott I sit frozen on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone screen, the words "Unknown Caller" still burned into my mind. The robotic voice from the call plays over and over again. “Whatever you think you’re doing, stop it now. Things might get ugly.”A chill runs through me, and I rub my arms, trying to shake it off. My mind races. Who was it? How do they know what I’m doing? And why now? The door creaks open, snapping me out of my thoughts. My heart jumps in my chest, and I instinctively clutch my phone tighter. But it’s Damien. Relief floods me, but only for a moment. His face is drawn. Something about him feels off. “Hey,” I say softly, rising from the bed. I move toward him and wrap my arms around him. He hugs me back, but it’s not the same. His body feels stiff, like he’s holding something back. I pull back and study his face. “Are you okay?” I ask. “Just work stress,” he mutters, brushing past me. Work stress? I know Damien better than that. He’s hid

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   What Is Happening?

    Imogene Scott The city stretches out in front of me as I drive. My fingers drum lightly against the steering wheel. How am I supposed to find out what this key unlocks? From what I’ve seen, Lila will continue to be tight-lipped. But at least I know how important the key is amd whatever “this is bigger than you.” threat she spilled isn’t going to scare me. I grip the wheel tighter. The dashboard clock flashes 2:45 PM, and I realize it’s almost time to pick up Lily. I push my thoughts aside, turning the car toward her school. When I pull up, I see Lily. She’s standing by the gate, clutching her little pink bag. Her mouth set in a pout. Normally, she runs to me the moment she sees the car. But today? Today, she walks. Slow. When she reaches the car, she opens the back door herself and climbs in, offering me only a quiet, "Hi, Mum," before clicking her seatbelt into place. When did my baby girl become such a grown up?"Hi, sweetheart," I say softly, turning in my seat to look at

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Secrets

    Damien Shaw I pull into the parking lot of Shaw Tech. I’m a little stressed from all the drama this morning. Between Lily's tantrums of her avoiding Imogene and Imogene’s sudden emotional distance. I can’t seem to focus. It feels like I’ve been juggling too many balls, and any minute now, one of them is bound to drop. I grab my briefcase from the passenger seat and step out, adjusting my tie as I walk toward the building. The elevator ride up is quick, and when the doors open to my office floor, Kia is already waiting by my door. Her crisp blouse and tightly pulled-back hair are as perfect as always."Good morning, Kia," I say as I step into my office. "Morning, sir," she replies, following me in. "We’ve got a problem." I drop my briefcase onto the desk and loosen my tie slightly. "Don’t tell me. Let me guess—Gerald still isn’t here." "You guessed right," she says. "Three days now without any notice. And sir, I don’t think it’s just a personal issue." I pause mid-reach

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Mystery Key

    Imogene Scott As soon as Damien and Lily leave the house that morning, I take a moment to gather my thoughts together. From what I discovered yesterday, Terry and Lila used to be together but Lila left him to get married to my father. My question now is why Lila would date someone who had nothing, someone like Terry. Could it be because she needed access to something? The key he made for dad? I mean Terry made the key which is something seemingly important so that’s the only explanation.I shove the thought aside as I rush into the bathroom. The water in the shower is scalding, and I let it sting my skin as I hurriedly scrub myself clean. I need to see Lila again.After a quick change into dark jeans and a simple blouse, I head downstairs and I spot Sheila walking in through the front door. She’s carrying a small tote.“Good morning, Imogene,” she greets me.Her smile is bright and unnervingly warm. Something about Sheila stirs an uneasy feeling in me, though I can’t place it.

  • He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back   Frustrated

    Note: the last two chapters have been edited. Read them before proceeding.Imogene ScottI wake up to the sound of water running in the bathroom. The spot next to me in bed is cold, Damien already gone. The faint hum of the shower fills the room, but it does little to distract me from the heavy knot of guilt in my chest. Last night’s events play on a loop in my head—Damien’s disappointment, Lily’s tears, Sheila stepping in where I failed. I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glance at the clock on the nightstand. It’s just after 6 a.m. Damien’s workday will start soon, and I don’t even know how to approach him after what happened. But more than that, I don’t know how to face Lily. I take a deep breath and swing my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool against my bare feet as I walk to the closet. Pulling open the door, I automatically grab one of Damien’s pressed shirts and a tie, laying them neatly on the bench by the foot of the bed. The shower contin

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status