Page 53 of Sorry

I leant down and kissed his beautiful paint covered lips. “I love you Pup. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“I love you too Honey, you guys go and have fun.” he waved.

CHAPTER 55

SAM

Iwas pretty sure I would be finding paint in my ass crack for the foreseeable future. I needed to try to at least tidy up one corner of this mess, so I could restart making the new sign. After I washed my hands I grabbed my phone and earphones so I could see if anybody was on the Live, so that I had company while I was crafting. I set the phone leaning on the planter because it was the only place not covered with paint. They might have some forget-me-not flowers in their face but they could see me clearly enough.

“Hey everyone, how's y'all day going?” I snickered when I joined @TristianFinnally’s Live.

“What the fuck happened?” somebody asked, laughing.

“Sam, did the gender reveal party explode all over you? @GiorgioBeans asked giggling.

“HA HA HA, very funny. Alex and I were making the sign for the front of the bakery and we started messing and wrestling. That was an epic fail so now I am making a new one; while he is out with our friends for a few hours, spreading posters for the job position in the bakery.” I said, blushing under the paint covering my cheeks.

“He is so swoony Sam, we couldn’t be happier for you. You deserve only the best in life. @LindenTree says, tearing up.

“Stop guys you'll make me cry and I have paint all over my face, if it goes in my eyes that would be a disaster.” I whispered, blinking fast to stop the tears from falling.

Focusing on my project while listening to their chatter in my ears, I made great progress with it. When I felt Alex walk behind me and I smiled. But when I turned around I didn't see Alex. I saw Kyle! Standing over me like a grim reaper, looking furious and smug.

I was paralyzed, I couldn't breathe. This could not be real! It can’t be real! How did he find me? My eyes filled with tears. All of the fear, all of the memories of past, the injuries, rape and agony flooding back in. He will take me away from Alex, from The Crew and the bakery.

“Hi Love. I see you have been playing house with someone new. Did you think humiliating me and making a fool of me would go unpunished?” He sneered at me, in that low tone I knew so well and I knew what was coming.

I heard my friends screaming in my ears, asking if that was my ex and how they could reach Alex. Someone screamed to call 911 but they didn't know the full address. But I couldn't speak. I didn’t want him to take me. I would have rather him kill me than live without Alex.

He reached for my hair and grabbed a fistful, pulling me easily to my feet. His face was so close to mine, I could smell the alcohol and the cigarettes on his breath. Flashbacks in my head from the smell made me want to vomit.

“You thought you were so smart didn’t you? I have to give it to you. I didn’t have a clue where your grandmother lived but I knew you ran to her. But I remembered the times you were telling me about that app you love to use, to talk to your friends on. You shouldn’t have used your real name, but lucky for me you were as stupid as always.” He pulled me even closer, nose to-nose. I was not even fighting him because I knew there was no point.

“Imagine my luck, when I was watching one of your happy ramblings about how you have a boyfriend, how happy you were and how you’d like for your friends to visit your bakery here in Lantry. BINGO!” he shouted in my face, spit hit my cheek making my stomach roil.

Voices from my friends in my earphones were muffled now, my head spun, I was so petrified that my heartbeat was just a loud woosh sound in my ears. The first thing I felt was his knee connecting with my stomach. I folded forward in pain and then he kicked me right in the face. The pain exploded through my jaw. I was folded up on the ground as he lay into me, kicking me all over, screaming at me. He stomped on my left arm and I heard a crack. I almost passed out from the pain.

I couldn't even open my mouth to plead with him because my jaw was either dislocated or broken. The taste of blood filled my mouth. He stomped on my right hand and broke some of my fingers.

He screamed as he was kicking my back then my stomach. “I waited for your new boyfriend to leave, I almost ran into him as he was walking out.” KICK, KICK, “How lucky for me. Nobody knows I am here Sammy… nobody. When they find your dead body, guess who is going to be blamed for it? You are right! Your new beau.” He let out the most evil, satisfied laugh.

NO! Alex no! I never should have gotten involved with him. I knew I would ruin his life. I knew better. I was fading now. My head was throbbing. My whole body ached. I floated in and out of consciousness, as I felt Kyle spit on me like on a piece of trash, and saw him walk away running off, stumbling clearly drunk.

Gasping for air and I knew this was the end. I couldn’t hear my friends anymore or my surroundings. I could barely see a few feet in front of me. Somehow, I managed to extend my broken arm and scoop the mixture of paint that had spilled beside me. With slow, pained movements, I wrote my last message to Alex.

CHAPTER 56

ALEX

“Iwant to do something nice for Sam after we finish with these posters. I think I want to get him a pretty tea pot, with a cup to go along with it, and loads of his favorite teas from ‘Snack & Brew’. I’m sure Miss Jenny would know all the blends Sam loves.” I told the guys, as we were almost done with poster distribution.

We damn near covered the town. Could be an overkill but for my Sam, nothing was too much. I’d quite literally glue posters in whole Oklahoma while on foot.

“That’s so sweet Alex. But you never bought me anything pretty.” Jake said, pouting.

“That’s because I'd never let you bend me over the dinner table Jake.” I said it flatly. Jake sputtered, coughed and his face went red.

He thought he was the only one that knew how to fuck with people. But Jake surprised me by asking me seriously, shyly even, “Did he really? You never responded to me before. Did…em...did it feel good?” almost whispering, making sure Matt was walking a little bit in front of us. Odd.