Finally...My Forever - Kristi Pelton Page 0,62

no expression. My throat tightened.

“Phoebe,” I whispered. “Nick could have killed you.” I attempted to distract her. The nest of freckles I loved were surrounded by redness from her recent tears.

“Who were those men?”

I leaned in brushing a kiss over her forehead. “I’ll explain everything, but we have to be somewhere.”

“Are you in the mafia?” she shook her head following the words she spoke. “How is it possible I’m even asking that? That seems so antiquated.”

For six months I’d thought about this conversation. Brainstormed. Practiced. And, nothing.

“Phoebe. Nick is clearly not in his right mind. You know what I do.”

Releasing a deep breath, light laughter fluttered up her throat, relaxing me. “May I see your phone?”

A couple got into the car next to us sidetracking me for a second while they stared at us. “My phone?” I clarified with my heart walloping against my chest. Texts from both Joe and Frank were on my phone. I could not give her my phone.

“Yes.” Her hand opened waiting for it.

Praying she was going to possibly Google something, I willingly pulled it from my pocket and handed it to her. She held it in front of my face, which unlocked it. Moving next to her, I watched over her shoulder. Her tiny index finger tapped the messages app, opening my messages.

Freebie

Hannah

Frank

Seth

Mom

Joe

My mind raced, thinking of my next move. Her finger tapped on Seth first, which surprised me.

Can’t wait until you and your girl are here. I want you to meet Tori.

“Where?”

“Oregon. I am…was flying you there tonight.” I swallowed the words I wanted to follow up with. “I brought Benadryl just in case you wanted to be knocked out.” I smiled. She didn’t.

Closing out of Seth’s messages, she tapped on Frank. Instantly, I reached for the phone, closing my hand over hers, gently sliding the phone from her hand. There was no way she could read those texts.

“It’s true, then? That’s why you’re hiding it?” she half whispered half huffed.

“Of course not. That was work related. It’s confidential.” My eyes tried their damnedest to communicate truth. The thought of lying to her rocked me let alone doing it. My family was mafia. I wasn’t. Though even I knew that wasn’t possible.

Her green eyes floated from me, to Joe’s car, to Frank’s car then to the apartment. There was no doubt her mind processed the possibilities.

“I don’t want to go with you,” she whispered, clearing her throat.

I nodded. “Ok. We can do whatever you’d like.”

Once again, her eyes took in me, the two cars, the apartment.

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you.” Her voice broke simultaneously with my heart.

“Phoebe.”

“Austin, don’t. I suddenly don’t feel safe. We don’t.” She back stepped away from me, the black and silver dress not allowing her to take large steps. Even as she stepped away from me—possibly leaving me, she was the most beautiful woman I’d even seen.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Phoebe. You’ve never been safer. The kids have never been safer.”

I began a slow walk toward her. Following her. Her hand came up, forcing distance.

“Please.”

“Please what, Phoebe?” I raised my voice more than intended.

When she glanced at the diamond band on her wedding finger, her thumb rubbed over it. I swallowed the upcoming bile, but I was certain I would be sick if she gave it back. In all the possible scenarios, she always forgave me. She loved me enough to move past it. To become a part of my life. For better for worse. To death do us part.

“I can’t do this. I don’t want this anymore,” she said, looking up at me and maintaining eye contact for the longest time. The look on her face…more of indifference than anything. I wasn’t sure if she could see my eyes fill but I inhaled a breath so deep that my chest hurt, trying to make the tears go away.

“I don’t think I know who you are,” she whispered. “Every single turn there is something else. I don’t know anymore.”

“Yes, you do, Phoebe. Look at me. I love you.”

“Austin,” she gritted through clenched teeth. “I just had a gun pointed at me, then four guns pointed at my ex!” she screamed and cried simultaneously. “Leave me alone.”

I opened my mouth to speak, then shut it, realizing no matter what I conjured up would only sound like excuses and lies. Then her teeth clicked together in silence. That was it. The day I thought my world stopped spinning.

As much as I wanted to, I didn’t stop her from closing the