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Chapter 207: For Emma's Sake
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Pelican Bay Security Chapter 208: Criminal Record
"Daycare? How can I let my girlfriend's child go to daycare when I'm capable of taking care of both of them? Plus, with Josie unable to work she'll be missing a paycheck, something I'm sure you, as a concerned father, care about and want to open up the checkbook and help with the extra expenses." Nate ends his short speech with a knowing smile and my heart blossoms for the man who a few hours ago I worried had a criminal record.Barry and I both stand looking at him with our mouths open. Me because I can't believe he called me his girlfriend. He's doing it for shock value because that's something he should ask for approval on in advance."Well, um, things haven't been great at the firm, but I can slip you extra grocery money. I can keep a record and make the courts take it out of future child support checks once you're back on your feet," Barry stumbles over himself getting all the words out.This time it's my turn to roll my eyes. I may hate the trait, but I picked it up from hi
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 209: You Don't Want Me Here?
"You don't want me here?" he asks, as if the sheer idea I would want to spend time without him hovering over me is unimaginable.I shake my head so he can see. "I want to be alone and go to bed."His face hardens and his lips pinch together in agitation. I don't get what he's upset about. I'm the one with an ex-husband trying to steal her daughter and an overflowing toilet. He gets to leave here tonight acting like he did a good thing helping me out today and enjoy his nice normal life leaving me and this mess as a distant memory."Fine," he says the word breathily. "Be that way, Josie. I'm here trying to help, but I'm done. You've made it known you don't want me around, so fine. Stay here by yourself."He stands from the couch, the back of his polo shirt coming untucked from his jeans, and without a second glance back he storms out of my apartment and life as fast as he barreled into it.I don't watch him leave, preferring to be alone with my sadness, but the heavy sound of
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 210: Everything Under Control
Yesterday, I saw what he considered under control, but I haven't eaten breakfast, let alone breakfast alone, in months.I wash down my morning pain pill with the glass of orange juice and eat the eggs in under five bites before I remind myself to calm down and chew slower. There are no devious little giggles coming from the living room and besides a steady clatter of pots and pans, nothing sounds as if it's breaking.It's a pleasant morning.A different scene than the one I went to bed with last night. After I let out two years of tears and relayed my entire life history and the ugly divorce while Nate cradled me on the couch, he put me to bed. Tucked me in and everything. Before he left, he said he'd see me in the morning, but I thought I'd scared him away for good. I was only 25 percent certain it wasn't all a dream.Once the eggs are finished, he hasn't come back to collect the tray. There's no way I can carry it while using my crutches, so I abandon the dirty dishes to the
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 211: We're Friendlier
"No? For what?" We may not be best friends, but I thought we had gotten friendlier the last few days. He didn't mention anything about being arrested. I even asked if he'd ever been to jail."Well, he almost ran you over with his truck." Tabitha nods her head, waiting for my response like this is obvious.Okay, fine, it should have been. My mind has been full lately with work and taking care of Emma. I haven't put thought into what happens to someone who hits a person with his vehicle. But it can't be good."Ridge got him out of immediate trouble, but you could still press charges. You almost broke your ankle.""No. I don't want to press charges." The thought never crossed my mind."Well, he needs to pay for any medical bills, and make him do a lot more crap around your apartment. Rearrange the furniture or paint something." Winnie grabs another pink macaroon. "Lift heavy furniture.""It's the absolute least he can do. And the town will tar and feather him if he doesn't," T
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 212: You Have No Idea.
"I feel horrible about what happened, Josie, and I would be here making sure you and Emma were okay regardless, but the driving force pushing me is because I want to learn more about you.""Me?""You have no idea. Do you?" he asks around a grimacing laugh, but he's the only one who gets the joke. "I hit you because I was staring at you when you were standing in the parking lot. I can't sleep at night knowing I almost hurt Emma and did hurt you.""Excuse me?" How did he hit me if he was checking me out? "What?""I ran into you at the grocery store about three weeks ago. You didn't even glance in my direction. The day in the lot I saw you standing next to Winnie and I couldn't believe you were talking to someone I'd met. Small fucking town. My eyes were glued to you. I couldn't pull them away and then you ran right out in front of my truck. It was like my worst nightmare happening in slo-mo."He takes a deep breath before continuing. I couldn't stop him even if I wanted. Which
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 213: Another Message
I shake my head. "No, I left another message, but no one called back." I can fill out my time off paperwork online and I'm not in a super rush since I don't qualify for anything yet, but I'd be happier if I talked to someone. Maybe Nate will drive me over there in a couple of days. Let me get out of the house and smell fresh air.In reality I should be ready to go back to work in a few days. I'm getting around with my crutches much better and as long as I keep my foot propped up during the day, I'll be okay. There's been no major swelling today. My bruises went from blackish to a weird green hue. I'm down to just using Advil as a pain pill. But I'm also in no rush because I fear that going working again means an end to having Nate around as often. If I'm able to work, why would he need to be here assisting me?Watching the towering man was his tight T-shirts and his big open smile care for Emma are images I hope I've seared into my brain. He's so gentle with her. And me.Yesterda
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 214: She Saw a Crumb
"IS this the only bottle of Pine-Sol you have?" My mother peeks her head out of the kitchen, sloshing back a half-full bottle of brown liquid.I nod. "Won't that be enough?"I've only washed the floors once since living here, and the kitchen's not that big. The bottle should be plenty."It will have to do," she says going back to her job of scrubbing the kitchen floor.By hand.I'm sure she saw a crumb down there from the previous renters, but now she can go to all her friends back home and tell them how she saved my life by cleaning my kitchen floor. Thank god she's not on Instagram. She'd post before and after shots.I will go insane soon if she doesn't leave.It's been almost two hours since Nate went to the hardware store and he hasn't come back. I'm starting to worry he picked up word my mother is here and knows to stay far, far away. He's a deserter in my biggest time of need."Where's your required bottle of bleach," she calls from the kitchen.I swallow, knowi
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 215: Is this Love
The smart phone, my link to the outside world, balances precariously on the arm of the couch. It only takes a few quick text messages with Winnie and we have a solution to the problem on the way. Having a friend who works at the bakery comes in handy.The metal spatula scrapes against the pan as Nate does his best to chip away the blackened cookies hiding in the kitchen trash while I stare at him from the entryway.It makes me stupid, but I can't help the way my thoughts are changing for Nate. The first few days he was an intruder into my home driving me insane, but there's this other part of him. The sweet part. I know the way we've been acting as a couple today has all been a show for my mother, but a part of me wishes it were true.I'm worried I'm falling in love.Which is absolutely ridiculous. First, I promised myself I'd never fall in love again. Second, I've only known the man like a hot minute. He could still be a serial killer and I wouldn't even know. Third...I don't
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