Page 60 of Silver Linings
“A guy grabbed Lily. We’ll talk about it in a sec, but I want you to check her over. She had postpartum preeclampsia after Sage was born that landed her in the hospital, and now her fingers are swollen and she said she feels off. If there’s any worry about her blood pressure, I want to know so I can get her to the hospital.”
“Gunner, it seems like you’re the one who needs to take a breath.” Lily turned to Stone and smiled. Suddenly, Gunner was pissed she wasn’t smiling at him. “I’ve just been hydrating well the last few days to make sure my supply isn’t lowering for nursing Sage. The medication I’m on warns that a little swelling can happen. And the rest is just from the stress of that guy putting his hands on me.”
“Well, there’s no harm in me checking you over, just to be sure. Since we’re heading back to the office, why don’t you guys follow me to my car? My rucksack is up there and should have everything we need to get you checked out.”
Forty minutes later, the team had everything packed up and moved over to Stone’s apartment. Lily’s blood pressure had been perfectly fine when they checked it, just like she knew it would be, but Gunner was still hovering around her, asking if she needed anything and checking in on how she was feeling.
“I can’t believe he just tried to grab you like that, Lil. It’s terrible,” Mae said as she scooped some potato salad onto her plate. The food certainly had not gone to waste, and Lily’s belly was full from indulging.
“It was probably just some creep who saw an opportunity and tried to take advantage of the fact you were alone,” Gage offered.
Lily shivered.
“Lil, you okay?” Gunner asked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side.
“Silver Springs just feels so safe. I know we aren’t really a part of the community yet, but there was a sort of new place glow. I think I’m just shaken, knowing Sage could have been with me. Something could have happened to her.”
Gunner nodded.
“Even more reason for us to have those self-defense lessons for the women in the community. Lily, you should share with the class about what happened and then we can show the moves you used to get away.”
“I don’t think I used any moves, Mae,” she laughed. “I literally just panicked and stomped on his leg. That was about it.”
“That’s not nothing, Lil. You were amazing.” Gunner looked down at her with nothing but pride in his eyes, and for some reason, emotion choked her.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “But I don’t think I’ll be going to any public restrooms without you by my side anytime in the near future.”
“Well, you’ll have to do without him for girls’ night. No boys allowed and all that.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be up for it, Mae. Maybe I can catch the next one?”
“No! I’m going to introduce you to some of my friends from Bell Ridge! It’s going to be so fun! Tell her it’s fine, Gunner.”
“I don’t think you’ll like my position on this Mae. If my wife is uncomfortable going, then I’m team ‘Lily Stays Home’ all the way.”
Twenty
Standing in front of the full-length mirror in Gunner’s room, Lily flattened her hands over the white shirt she’d paired with jeans that squeezed her curves. She hated it. Just like she’d hated the last four outfits she’d tried on. It was hopeless.
Her postpartum body was going to be the death of her. Quite literally in the beginning, and now, from eating away at every insecurity she had about how she looked. No wonder Gunner was so happy to have his bedroom back to himself when they moved in. He had probably been so uncomfortable lying next to her for weeks as she floundered.
Although she’d told Mae no to girls’ night only four days ago, she now found herself trying to get ready to go. Mae had been whispering in her ear all week about girl power and not letting the actions of disgusting, sick men take away from living her best life. It had worked, giving her the confidence to agree to tag along. Until she saw how terrible she looked in all of her pre-baby clothes.
“Lily…” Gunner’s gravel-filled voice startled her out of her downward spiral. She whipped her head around, cheeks flushing with embarrassment that he’d caught her not only in clothes that did nothing for her body, but in his room, nonetheless.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to be in your room. I mean…I did, but that’s because I don’t have a full-length mirror in my room.”
He stood silently, moving his eyes over her body. “You can’t go out like that.”
“I know. I look awful.”
“What? No. You look too good.”
“Oh, I?—”
“How am I supposed to stay here knowing you are going to a bar looking like that? Every one of your curves on display. How the fuck am I supposed to protect you from here?”
“You know, I’m just going with Mae and some of her friends. Emma is supposed to be there, too. You don’t need to worry.”