Because of You

by Megan Nugen Isbell

  My touch must’ve woken him up because his eyelids finally opened. He seemed to be struggling with focusing on where he was, but then he looked at me and a smile formed on his face.

  “Morning,” he said, his voice deep and husky and he sat up, clearing his throat. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Really well,” I answered and when I looked into his dark eyes, I realized it was the first time I’d slept that good in as long as I could remember.

  “I’m glad,” he said, the sweet smile still on his face as he looked down at me, pushing some hair behind my ear as his eyes moved over my face. “You’re really very pretty in the morning, Sam,” he said softly and I could feel myself blushing.

  “You’re not too bad yourself,” I said, causing his smile to grow before he leaned in slowly, pushing his lips gently over mine for a few moments before pulling back.

  “And as much as I’d like to stay, I have to get back to my place and get ready for work.” I’d almost forgotten he had to work and I couldn’t help the disappointment I felt, knowing he had to leave.

  “Can I see you tonight?” I asked and he nodded, running his fingertips over my cheek.

  “How ‘bout dinner and a movie at my place?”

  “Sounds perfect,” I answered, reaching for his hand and holding it for a moment before pulling the covers back.

  It was chilly outside of the blankets. I reached for a sweatshirt in my closet, pulling it over my head while Gabe slid on his shoes and put on his sweater and jacket. He reached for my hand again as we walked down the hallway and towards the door.

  “I’ll call you tonight when I’m off,” he said quietly, doing his best not to wake my sister.

  “I’m at O’Leary’s till seven, but I’m free after that,” I told him.

  “Then I’ll see you then.”

  Our eyes met again and he pulled me to him, holding me for a moment before pulling away and kissing me on the cheek, the feeling of his lips leaving a heaviness on my skin when they were gone. I found myself reaching up to where his kiss had just been, already anxious to see him again even though he was right in front of me.

  “Thank you for last night,” I said softly. “Thank you for being so understanding.”

  “Of course.” His voice was quiet and I could see the concern on his face that had been there since the moment we’d met. “I’m here for you, Sam. Whatever you need. I’m here.” He squeezed my hand and I swallowed through the forming lump in my throat as the goodness of this man seemed to envelop me.

  “I know,” I whispered. Our eyes locked as he ran a hand over my hair before opening the door.

  “I’ll see you tonight,” he said and I nodded. He kissed me once more on the cheek and then walked out. I couldn’t deny the ache in my heart watching him walk away. I shut the door and turned slowly to head back to my bedroom when I saw Rachel in the hallway, arms folded and a grin on her face.

  “Was that Gabe I saw leaving just now?” She smirked at me, but she knew exactly who it’d been. She was just having fun teasing me.

  “You know it was,” I said, smiling shyly back at my sister as I headed towards the kitchen, needing a drink before I went back to bed.

  “Things are moving quicker than I thought,” she said as I poured myself a glass of orange juice.

  “Not as fast as you think,” I said, eyeing her and she knew what I meant.

  “So, you and Gabe? You didn’t…” she said, before I cut her off.

  “No. He stayed because I asked him to. I didn’t want to be alone.” I met Rachel’s eyes and she knew what I was implying.

  “He’s one of the good ones, Sam,” she began. “I wasn’t sure they even existed. I’d heard the legends, but I thought they were like the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot…only a myth, but he’s real and I think he’s growing pretty fond of you, little sister.” The smile that curled up on her face was a playful one and I laughed quietly.

  “I think so too,” I told her.

  “I’m happy for you, Sam,” she said, still smiling, but a more serious one now. One of relief and gratitude. “You deserve this.”

  She reached for me, resting her hand on my arm, our eyes meeting for a few seconds before she turned and headed back to bed, leaving me in the silence of the apartment with nothing but my thoughts and after a few moments of the quiet, I knew my sister was right, I did deserve this. I deserved a man like Gabe and I closed my eyes for a moment, picturing his face and all the kindness he’d shown me. Tonight couldn’t come fast enough.

  Twenty-One

  After Gabe had left my apartment, I’d tried going back to sleep, but I couldn’t and instead, I spent the next couple of hours trying to get ahead on some of my class work before taking a shower and heading to the pub at eleven.

  When the clock struck seven, I was ready to leave and get home before hopefully heading over to Gabe’s for a late dinner. As soon as I was able to, I clocked out, grabbed my jacket and purse and headed for the door.

  The air was chilly when I stepped outside and it was dark already even though it was just after seven, the way it always was in the fall. I picked up my pace and started down the sidewalk towards home. I’d only taken a few steps when a voice stopped me.

  “Excuse me, Samantha.”

  The voice was deep and firm. I didn’t recognize it and when I turned towards it, I saw the backseat window of a black Mercedes rolled down and a serious man with perfectly sculpted gray hair staring back at me. I felt my heart start to beat faster and a wave of adrenaline rush through my veins when I realized who it was. Gregory Reeves.

  I couldn’t say anything. I simply stood there, staring into the intimidating brown eyes of Tyler’s father. The car door opened and he got out, his daunting figure approaching me a moment later. He was tall like Tyler and towered over me just as his son did. He may have been in his sixties, but his stature was still impressive and I knew he was a man who didn’t like to be messed with. The closer he got, the harder my heart beat. I didn’t know what to do. Should I run back into the restaurant? Stay and talk to him? Call Gabe? Before I could decide, he started speaking.

  “I was hoping we could talk,” he said, his eyes boring into mine as he remained stone-faced in front of me.

  I swallowed hard, trying to gain my composure. I didn’t want Mr. Reeves to see how frightened I was.

  “Wh…what do you want?” I stammered with as much courage as I could muster.

  “I’m going to be blunt, Samantha,” he began, his voice getting lower, but not losing any of its authority. “It’s come to my attention that you have filed a restraining order against my son. Is that correct?” he asked and I didn’t answer right away. I couldn’t and so I nodded.

  “Yes,” I finally answered and he was silent for a few long moments as he continued to stare at me. The longer I looked into his eyes, the more frightened I felt myself becoming. His eyes were so much like Tyler’s. Deep, dark, and cold. I knew exactly where Tyler had learned his behaviors from and I didn’t want to be anywhere near this man, but I couldn’t move.

  “I don’t know who you think you are or what you plan to gain from this little stunt, but I’ve come here as a courtesy to tell you I won’t have you ruining my son’s life. You need to have that order lifted.” He squinted now as his eyes pierced mine even harder, making him look even more intimidating.

  “No,” I said, my voice shaking as the word came out.

  “There is no option, Samantha. You will go to the courthouse and have the order lifted.”

  “I said no,” I returned, surprising myself with the strength behind my voice. I could tell my defiance was making him angry. “Your son is not going to hurt me anymore. I won’t let him touch me again.”

  He stepped closer now. So close I could smell his cologne and the cigars I’d known he’d been smoking in the car.

  “I don’t think you’re understanding this conversation. My son’s life and reputation will not be ruined by the lies of a whore. I know you, Samantha.
I know all about your past and I’ll never understand why my son ever wasted his time with a piece of trailer trash like you, but whatever your motive is, Tyler will not be your victim. You will not take away everything Tyler has worked so hard for.”

  I could feel a lump burning in my throat as his words hit me like a Mack truck. Whore. Trailer trash. Lies. His words echoed in my head as I fought to keep the tears away. But the words that hurt the most was that he was calling Tyler a victim. I was the victim. I was the one who’d been knocked around. I was the one Tyler had assaulted and his father had the gall to stand here and say he was the victim.

  “I am the victim, Mr. Reeves. Me. Not your son.” My voice was shaking now, but I’d said the words. He’d heard them despite the lies Tyler had told him. “Your son beat me. He…he raped me.” The last few words came out as a terrified whisper and I watched as Mr. Reeves’ jaw clenched and a vein throbbed in his neck.

  “No one will ever believe you. It’s your word against his. There is no proof of anything and honestly,” he said, pausing as a smug smirk curled up on his face, “who do you think they’ll believe? A young man with a stellar record starting Harvard Law next year or you? You’re nothing, Samantha. I suggest you remember that if you insist on pursuing this. You will lose. And I have already drafted the defamation of character lawsuit if you continue on with this nonsense. So, think long and hard if you want to go to battle with me. I will destroy you.”

  He was looking at me as if I was nothing. Nothing but a piece of dirt he would likely spit on if he could. I realized it was the same way Tyler had looked at me too and I couldn’t fight the tears that filled my eyes now. My whole life I’d felt like nothing, but I’d never felt more worthless than I did at this moment. I’d never felt more defeated.

  “Are we clear, Miss Everly?” he asked, stepping back.

  I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. My voice was gone as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

  “Do you understand?” he asked again and I finally nodded slowly, not knowing what else to do. “I hope this is the last conversation we have then.” He looked at me once more, his face threatening me without words before returning to the car. The door shutting echoed loudly and I remained frozen as the Mercedes eased away from the curb and disappeared.

  ~~~

  Somehow, I made it home. It’d been a blur, but when I walked into the apartment, I shut the door quickly, locking it behind me and sitting down on the couch, putting my head in my hands and sobbing. A few tears had escaped during the conversation with Tyler’s father, but I’d had to hold it together as I made my way home. But now that I was safe in my living room, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I cried until my body shook. I couldn’t get the words out of my head or the hate on his face out of the thoughts. I’d finally done something to protect myself. I’d finally stood up for myself and I was more afraid than ever because of it.

  The sound of my phone ringing caused me to pull myself back to the present. I knew who it was. I knew it was Gabe on the other end. He’d said he’d call after my shift and he had. I didn’t want to answer it, but he’d worry if I didn’t.

  I forced myself off the couch and found the phone in my purse. His name was flashing on the screen and with a trembling finger I accepted the call.

  “Hello?” I said, trying to sound as if nothing was wrong.

  “Hey,” he said, his voice singing through the receiver. “Are we still on for dinner? I can grab some pizza and head over.”

  “Um…. yeah. We’re on,” I said.

  “Are you okay, Sam?” I could hear the concern in Gabe’s voice. I thought about telling him I was fine in hopes he would brush it off, perhaps thinking I was simply tired from my shift at O’Leary’s, but then I imagined his face on the other end of the line. I could see his dark eyes looking at me, his brow creased in worry. He’d been nothing but good to me. He’d stuck by me through all of the craziness that had been enough to cause any man to run away. He hadn’t run away though. He’d only run towards me. I was afraid and I knew I needed to tell him. I had to tell him.

  “No,” I whispered. “I’m not okay.”

  “What happened?” I could hear his voice change from mere concern to fear.

  “I…I just need to see you.”

  The line was silent and I waited for him to demand what was going on. I knew if the roles were reversed, I’d want to know immediately and not wait, but he didn’t press me because he didn’t do that. He was patient and he knew if I needed to wait to tell him, he wouldn’t push me.

  “Alright,” he said softly instead. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Okay,” I said and then hung up the phone. I didn’t move from the couch as I stared at the phone in my hands. The tears were still stained on my cheeks and I wiped at them, taking a deep breath and trying to swallow through the burning in my throat. It was then I noticed my hands. They were trembling slightly. Not much, just small tremors from the pounding of my heart as I thought about telling Gabe about my run-in with Tyler’s father. I just wanted it all to end. I wanted Tyler out of my life.

  I forced myself off the couch and into my room. I changed out of the jeans and polo shirt and climbed into the shower. It would be at least twenty minutes before Gabe got here and I wanted to lose myself in the hot water of the shower. It didn’t exactly work though and I kept seeing the piercing eyes of Gregory Reeves and hearing his threats.

  I had to do what he said. I had to remove the restraining order because everything Mr. Reeves had said was true. He was a high-powered attorney with any means necessary of defending his son and I was nothing, just as he’d reminded me. A trailer trash whore, in his words, who was only pretending I wasn’t. Rachel may have gotten us out of there, but I knew we’d never really leave. That was who we were. Two girls with a mother who didn’t love us and surrounded us with men who showed their love with their fists and their cruel words. Try as we might, we’d be branded with that past for the rest of our lives.

  I finally turned off the shower and wrapped myself in my robe before going back to my room and changing into a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I ran a brush through my wet hair and returned to the living room to wait for Gabe.

  The buzzer finally went off a half an hour later and I was both relieved and nervous to know he was here. I buzzed him in and a minute later, I heard his footsteps approaching. I opened the door before he could knock and found him standing there with a pizza box. Our eyes met and he tried to smile, but when I didn’t, the sides of his mouth returned to a straight line.

  “Hey,” he said cautiously.

  “Come in,” I said, stepping aside and motioning him in. He did and I shut the door before I took the pizza from him, setting it on the coffee table just as he was taking off his heavy winter coat. When he was finished, our eyes locked and I knew he was anxious to say something, but he was waiting for me to make the first move.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” I said, walking across the room and before I realized what I’d done, my arms were around him and I was nuzzling into his chest. His arms wrapped around me too and he pulled me close.

  “What is it, Sam? What happened?” he whispered.

  “Tonight, when I walked out of the pub, Tyler’s father was waiting for me.”

  I could feel his body stiffen at my words. He didn’t say anything for a moment, but then he pulled away, holding me at arm’s length and looking into my eyes. I felt him leading me towards the couch and we were side by side a moment later, his hand threading with mine and resting them in his lap, his thumb gently stroking the back of mine.

  “What happened?” Gabe’s voice was quiet and kind, but I could also hear the edge to it. Cop Gabe was starting to come out.

  “He wants me to lift the restraining order. Told me he wouldn’t let me ruin his son’s life.” A tear fell from my eye and I wiped at it, looking down at our hands.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him no. I told him what Tyler did to me and
that I wouldn’t let him hurt me again,” I said and I heard him sigh, hooking his finger under my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze again.

  “I’m so proud of you, Sam,” he said, a nervous smile forming on his face, but even his smile couldn’t override the fear Gregory Reeves had caused to pulse through my veins.

  “He…he said if I don’t, he’ll do whatever it takes to destroy me. Called me a trailer trash whore and said no one would believe me.” My lip started to tremble and Gabe’s face started to blur from the tears.

  “You can’t listen to him. He’s angry, but you can’t believe anything he says,” Gabe said, reaching up and running his fingers over my cheek.

  “I do believe him though. You didn’t see him, Gabe. You didn’t see his eyes or hear his voice. You don’t know him. You don’t know that family.”

  “They can’t hurt you, Sam. You’re safe.”

  “That’s the thing though,” I said, choking up, “I don’t think I am.”

  I couldn’t hold it in anymore and when I blinked, the tears spilled over and I started to sob. I felt his arms around me, pulling me close as he let me cry. I felt his hand on my back, rubbing it gently as I stained his sweater with tears.

  I don’t know how long he held me or how long I cried, but I finally felt myself calming. My breathing slowed and the tears stopped. I sat up, drying my cheeks and looking into Gabe’s eyes.

  “It’ll be okay, Sam,” he said softly. “I know you’re afraid. I know his father scared you, but that’s what he wanted to do. He wants to frighten you in order to make you back down.”

  “I know,” I sighed.