15
DeSean
I was late.
The meeting with Paxton went longer than expected. We ended up on the phone with the producer’s assistant and next thing I knew, it was well past noon. I knew Tegyn. She wouldn’t be home waiting. She’d said as much. So instead, I drove the short distance to the parking garage, made my way to the top and used my binoculars to scope her out on her way into town. I expected to meet her inside the parking garage and surprise her, let her know I hadn’t forgotten her. I didn’t want to call her or text her while she was driving. There were texting laws in North Carolina.
Sure enough, within minutes, I’d spotted her vehicle. She seemed calm enough behind the wheel. I watched her turn into the parking garage and was about to start my descent to the lower floors to meet up with her when I saw another vehicle turning in, a big black truck.
This shouldn’t have come as a surprise. I knew he was going to be here because they had mediation scheduled. Arriving right behind her could be a coincidence. But when I heard the motor revving seconds later, while I was still a floor above them, my heart started pounding in my chest. Once before, Tegyn and I been so close to having it all, only to have it snatched away. I suppose I half expected it to happen again. I’d never wanted anyone so much, never had a dream so big for myself in all my life. Everything else was stuff. Tegyn was what mattered. Maybe I didn’t deserve her, but I’d be damned if I’d let anyone harm her.
By the time I reached the third level, I could see he’d parked and was catching up to her as she made her way toward the elevator to the street level. I trusted her. There was a possibility she could handle Trent herself. If I interfered, I could make her look weak, and she’d never forgive me. So, I hung back, but never let her out of my sight, even if she was unaware of my presence. As I neared, he had backed her into a pillar and I could see the fear in her eyes that she was so desperately trying to hide. I had to act.
Within seconds, I had rushed toward them. I was acting purely on instinct, fueled by the audacity of the thought that someone might hurt Tegyn and the fear that I could lose her. Grabbing Trent by the neck, I backed him into a pillar several feet away. “What are you doing? I heard the lady ask you to leave her alone.” I glared at him.
Tegyn froze, but I also heard her breathing slow and her shoulders heaved in response to my presence. “Mediation,” she mumbled.
“Yeah. We have mediation.” Trent’s eyes were wide and he was struggling to catch his breath.
“Leave her be. No more coming by her house,” I ordered in a low voice.
His brow furrowed and he glanced at Tegyn. “I only wanted to check on you.”
“Don’t talk to her. Talk to me. Got it?” I squeezed a little tighter and heard him gasp. I quickly loosened my grip, realizing there was a possibility I could actually kill the guy right here in the courthouse garage. “I’m going to let you go, but we’re not done talking yet. Got it?”
Trent nodded and I released his throat.
Standing a few feet from him with my arms crossed over my chest, I blocked Tegyn from his view as much as possible. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shiver and was reminded how chilly it was. “Do you want to wait for me in the car?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “No,” she whispered as she stuffed her hands in her coat pockets.
I turned my attention back to Trent. “No more threatening letters,” I said gruffly.
He frowned. “I never sent any letters.”
Tegyn nodded sadly. “I believe him.”
“The baseball through the window? The spray paint on the house?” I studied his face for any hint of deception and found none. The man looked confused and bothered.
“Someone threw a ball through your window? You’ve been vandalized?” Trent shook his head vehemently. “I’d never do that. I have too much respect for other people’s stuff.”
With a sigh, Tegyn murmured, “I figured as much.”
Then Trent did something that surprised me. He glanced back and forth between us and sighed. “We’re really done, huh?” he asked as his eyes settled on her face.
Tegyn nodded. “We really are.”
He seemed to be taking it all in. It was incredibly painful to watch. And I felt even worse knowing that his acceptance meant she was free to be mine.
“So, you’re saying we’re really done and you’re never coming back?” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and his shoulders slumped.
“Yes, we’re really done. I bought a house. I thought you understood I was serious.” Tegyn frowned. “I’m not trying to hurt you, but we don’t make each other happy, Trent. We haven’t in a really long time.” She took a step closer. “You should be with someone who doesn’t want to change you. You should be with someone you want to change for. That…wasn’t us.”
Trent nodded. “Okay. Yeah. Right.” He stared at the cement floor for a moment before lifting his face. “I guess I’ll see you in there.” Then he took a few steps before pausing for some last words. “You know, I really did love you.”
“You did the best you could,” she countered.
“I did.” Then Trent slowly walked away.