Page 64 of Truly Forever

Her arms over her chest become a shield. “It’s my decision, John. My life.”

My footthunksthe carpet. “Yes, let’s talk about your life. You’re ready to play around with it? What? You going to be the big bad barrier between danger and your son? They’ll have to go through mama bear to get to him?” She could be sleeping on the sofa and the next brick would land on her!

“I’ll do whatever I have to to protect my son.”

Except use common sense.

“Aren’t you blowing this out of proportion, John? It’s a scare tactic. That’s all. Right?” Lurking fear rolls out with her question.

I take one step. “You ready to chance that?”

Her cheek wobbles.

“What if it is a scare tactic, but when you don’t scare, the perp goes next-level?”

A swallow bobs her throat.

Another step. “What if a guy with a gun comes in? Then what?”

“John…”

“What if this perp’snotplaying around?”

She backs up.

I surrender no ground. “Don’t think this kind of creep won’t plow through you to get to Jacob.”

Talk about next-level. The fear in her eyes picks at my conscience, but my own fear screams louder.

“What if you come home from work and he’s here?” Pressing my growing advantage, I scoot closer. “You ready to wake up to some guy standing over you in the dark and—”

A strangled sound emerges from a deep place.“Stop.”

The tone, coupled with the word, freeze my feet to the carpet. Quivering hands press to her mouth, and the ghastly paling of her skin knocks me in the gut.

Too far?Yes, John, too far.

Again.

I reach out. “Hollie.”

She flinches, backing away as if I’m the perp.

“I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t have said that.” I stutter, of all the freaking things. And an apology, no less.But am I wrong?And yet, my brow begins to sweat and my shirt beneath my arms suddenly feels sticky and wet. The churning in my stomach rolls on, gathering momentum.

My fear that something terrible will happen to Hollie has given way—to the gut knowledge that something already has.

Chapter 13

John

Lest I’ve become more of a problem than a help, I retreat to the recliner, shrinking my footprint in the room. I know from experience, it’s a principal in general…the scared ones run. Or do nonsensical things when backed into a corner.

Hollie is both right now. Scared to death, and yeah, I’ve cornered her, almost literally, not to mention metaphorically.

I was only trying to help. Truly.

The separation stinks. What I want is to…hold her. Comfort her. Draw her in tight and rub circles on her back, all the while cooing sweetness into her ear. Upright all in her world that’s spinning on its head.