The Right One - Felice Stevens Page 0,1

really need me to, but that’ll mean me staying up late…”

“Of course not. You have an important week ahead of you.”

“I’m glad you understand. You’re just a kindergarten teacher. It’s easy for you.” Jeffrey pulled him closer and kissed him again. “Love you so much, baby. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m sorry I got so carried away earlier. It’ll never happen again. I promise.”

“It’s okay, Jeffrey. It’s going to be okay. Once you make partner, everything will be perfect.”

After one of his “episodes,” Jeffrey was at his sweetest, and Morgan had clung to those moments through all the bad times as proof that they were an aberration and Jeffrey could change. He would. Morgan was certain. It was only in the past year that Jeffrey had turned violent. Before then, he’d never hit him, had never given him any reason to suspect. Morgan had been swept off his feet by someone who showed him the New York City he’d only seen on television. Living it had been a dream come true.

Until it became the nightmare he couldn’t escape.

Morgan’s vision swam and he touched the slight lump on the back of his head, his fingers trembling at his close call. It could’ve turned out so much worse.

That evening, when the front door banged open on its hinges, Morgan had known he was in trouble. Jeffrey’s first blow had sent him to his knees.

“I didn’t make partner. They told me my work wasn’t up to par, but we know the real reason. You fucked me over. It’s your fault.”

Morgan had lost consciousness when his head hit the floor.

Lucky for him, school was over for the year. No classes to teach meant not having to make excuses for his absence. And the doctor in the emergency room had assured him it was only a slight concussion.

“You’ve been here several times with an assortment of injuries, I see.” His sharp eyes met Morgan’s. “Is there anything going on you’d like to talk about?”

There was no time to answer as Jeffrey opened the curtain. “They told me you woke up. Thank God, baby. I was so scared when you fell down the stairs. Doctor, he’s going to be okay, right?” The earlier purple rage had faded from his face, replaced by anxious concern. Over the years, Jeffrey had learned to play the part of sympathetic spouse so well.

Ignoring Jeffrey, the doctor held his gaze. “He will, if he takes care of himself and avoids these mishaps.”

“Our Morgan here is a little bit accident-prone.” A laugh from Jeffrey, but the doctor didn’t smile. “Two left feet, but I’ll make sure to watch him like a hawk. You won’t see him here again for sure.”

“See that you do. Morgan, you got lucky this time.” That piercing gaze remained locked to his as the doctor gave his shoulder a quick squeeze. “We’ll be releasing him tonight. Make sure you take it easy. No more…accidents.”

He knows. Oh, God.

“Don’t worry. I’m happy to play nurse for my husband and take care of him. Morgan will have everything he needs, right, baby? I love taking care of you. I won’t leave your side.”

“Y-yeah.” Morgan licked his lips. “It’ll be all right.”

And after gathering up his courage and fleeing the apartment in the middle of the night, it finally was.

Every creak and noise sent him jumping, nerves skittering, heart thundering, fearful Jeffrey would catch him packing his bags. He was really doing this. He was finally going to be free. Be safe. The front door of the apartment closed behind him, silent on its well-oiled hinges, but even inside the elevator, Morgan still wasn’t sure he’d make it.

The car pulled up to the curb and after shooting one last fearful glance over his shoulder, Morgan opened the door and slid inside, melting into the dark interior. Lights from the streetlamps flickered against his face through the car window as they pulled away from the high rise, and he closed his eyes. He was alone for the first time in years, and it terrified him.

He shouldn’t be alone when he had a husband who’d promised to love him forever…

But he shouldn’t have to worry that his husband was going to hurt him so bad, one day he might wind up seriously injured, or worse.

Almost a year after he’d fled Jeffrey in the night, Morgan still couldn’t believe he’d escaped relatively unscathed, fully convinced he would’ve risked his life had he stayed in the marriage. He lived with his