—
As September flies by, Evangeline and I fall into a ritual of sorts. Either I stay at her place or she stays at mine, even if I don’t get home from work until two a.m. On those nights, I go to her apartment, so I wake her, but we end up having sex anyway.
Tonight I got home early, but since she is in the middle of cooking dinner, I come to her place instead. We’re eating roasted veggies and baked salmon. I will say that it’s a healthy dinner, except for the basket of yeast rolls that I’ve already eaten.
Running an extra mile or two will most definitely be on the plan for training tomorrow. Flab can’t hit worth shit, as Hayden likes to say.
I nod at the guitar propped up in the corner. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it. Evangeline’s not the type to go shopping for things she doesn’t need, something I learned when we spent one Saturday at a flea market.
Nodding at the guitar, I ask, “Is that for show or can you play it?” I suspect it’s the latter but want to hear it from her.
“Right now it’s only for show,” she says with a sad smile.
“But you can play it?”
“The old me used to play it all the time. I even made money off it.”
“I’m dating a musician—sweet. Maybe you can dedicate your next song to the hot cop across the hallway? That would be me in case you’ve forgotten what I do for a living.”
She rolls her eyes. “Anyway, I have a YouTube channel. Used to upload videos all the time.”
“There’s money in that?” I ask skeptically.
“One of the top-earning YouTubers ever. Or I used to be.”
“What happened?”
“Couldn’t make videos with bruises and Pe—AE wouldn’t allow me to wear makeup, so I stopped altogether.”
“Do you still get paid?”
She nods. “Not as much as I used to, but AE stole and spent every bit of the money I had in savings, so…I have to be very careful with my money now.”
That’s the thing with abusers. They take every system of support, every venue of leaving, away from their victims.
“Do you want to do it again?” If she does, I’ll find a way to make it happen. I’ll find a way to support her. Doesn’t matter that I know less than nothing about the entire thing.
She places her fork beside her plate, her gaze steady. “I’m not sure. It seems like a different girl made those…I don’t want that kind of attention anymore.”
“What kind do you want?” I ask.
A shy smile curves the corners of her mouth. “I like the kind you’re giving me.”
Chapter 16
Evangeline
I feel like something bad is about to happen. Since I moved to Forrestville, one good thing after another has happened. I know that can’t last. The law of averages and bad things happening to good people prove it.
However, I can’t let that get me down. I can’t let it control me. Yet, that stupid feeling won’t leave me alone.
At work I throw myself into cleaning and feeding all the animals. It’s yoga day, so I know that Mr. Rigglesworth had a blowout and his entire kennel will need to be hosed out. To confirm it, Saylor walks by, holding Mr. R at a distance, her nose wrinkled.
“We have a fucking new girl, so no poop duty for you,” she says.
Instead of being happy at the news, the dread inside me grows. “That’s good.”
“Totally. I’ll introduce you to her after this poopy head gets a bath. She’s getting some gloves.” Saylor marches away.
Suddenly, I hear Saylor’s panicked voice pleading with the dog. “Don’t shake, Mr. R. Please don’t shake.”
“Shit.”
It’s all I can do to keep from laughing, but on the inside I’m dying. I take off for Saylor, fully intending to help, but the smell overwhelms me and I skid to a stop.
Saylor is covered in dog poop. So are the walls and floor of the hallway. Mr. Rigglesworth looks happy, though.
“He had one more in him,” she says, then huffs. “I should have known.”
“Want me to take him?”
“No, he can shower with me.” Still holding him at arm’s length, she begins to trudge toward the back of the shelter. “By the way, your lawyer’s secretary called and asked for your new number. Said she needed to get ahold of you for some final paperwork.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m changing my name back—officially, that is.” But I’d already given it to her a while back. It is possible she lost it, since she rarely has to deal with my case.
“I gave it to her. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Saylor disappears around a corner, and I finish up a few last-minute things before heading home. Tonight, Hunter has plans for us to go to a local lounge to listen to an up-and-coming band. It’s like he’s reading the lines of music that still live in my heart.
I turn the radio up, giving myself permission to belt out songs like I used to. Maybe I should update my YouTube channel. I bet I could do a special video for the shelter to raise awareness and donate the ad money generated from it to the shelter as well.
It would be a win-win.
My phone rings. It’s my lawyer.