Page 8 of Cautious Love

“Just give it back, and I’ll leave,” I whisper, feeling smaller than I ever have.

“Too late, baby, already gone.”

“I know you have three hundred dollars shoved around here somewhere. Give me what’s mine.”

“Or what?” he asks, crossing his arms and puffing his chest.

I snort. “You feel like a big man, don’t you? Stealing from me? Cheating on me? This is a small town Grey, it won’t take much. I do have some dignity left, so I’m keeping my mouth shut, but make no mistake, I’ll tell everyone about what you did.”

“Oh shut the hell up. You know we weren’t working for a long time. You’re a goody two shoes who thinks she’s better than the rest of us. You sure as hell weren’t too good when I bought you things withmymoney.”

“You’re right, Grey. I wasn’t because that’s what couples are supposed to do for each other. Take care of each other.Providefor one another.”

“What is this then?” he yells gesturing to the trailer.

“I can’t do this,” I mumble and try to walk around him, holding my mug close to my chest.

Before I can get past him, he grabs my arm and yanks the mug from my hands and throws it against the wall. It shatters, and so does my heart with it.

“You asshole!” I scream.

“We’re finishing this conversation,” he says.

“There’s nothing to say! You stole from me, you treated me like shit, and seem to think that it’s my fault! I’m done with you!” I scream.

“I treated you like shit?” he yells. “What about every time I wanted you, you were too tired? What about when I asked for your help with a run and you told me no?”

My jaw drops and I shake my head in disbelief. “Of all the things that were wrong in our relationship, you’re mad I didn’t want to have sex with you every five minutes, or run your drugs for you? What planet am I living on? Get over yourself and get out of my way,” I say and push past him.

My first mistake was giving him my back because he took the opening and pushed me headfirst into the side table next to the door.

My head hits the corner and I feel the blood before I see it dripping past me. But I don’t feel the pain. All I feel is anger.

I force myself to my feet and turn on my heel, sucker-punching him.

He brings his hand to his face, warped in utter shock.

My hand pulses. I might have broken a finger, but I don’t care.

“Touch me again, and I’ll kill you,” I say, pointing my finger into his chest.

That was my second mistake.

Before I can lift my arms to protect myself, he backhands me so hard I fall back onto the kitchen floor. I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth and smile. “That all you got, you piece of shit? Only pathetic cowards hit women.”

His eyes go dark, and I’ve never seen the look on his face before. That was my third mistake. I’ve always known he’s had a dark side to him. But I loved the bad boy in him for a long time. What I didn’t realize until this very moment was that his bad boy, turned dark, evil.

Grey grabs my hair, throws me to the floor, and kicks me in the ribs, over and over again.

I try to protect myself, roll away, scream at him to stop, but no words come out.

I feel a rib crack. I know I shouldn’t have done it. But I was the son my father never had. I don’t back down in a fight.

Grey pauses, catching his breath, and I take my moment, using every ounce of strength I have left, and punch him in the nuts. He goes down, groaning, cupping himself, and I take my moment, swiftly kicking him in the side, then stumbling out of the house and run to my car.

Right as I close the door, Grey comes fumbling out, and I don’t look back, gunning it down the street.

I blink, trying to keep the blood out of my eyes. He’s never once hit me, accidentally or intentionally. But I should have known. I should have known not to push him. He’s always been volatile, but never to me.