The Best Man (Jasper Falls 2)

“I mean it, Julie, you either get your ass in that car and come home, or we’re finished. I won’t let you come back.”

Her body began to shake, and she wanted to scream. He meant it. She had no doubt Lance would move on, just to spite her. He’d make sure she somehow saw him moving on, too. Despite the horrible things he said and the unbalanced way he made her feel, part of her still loved him, and seeing him with someone else would hurt.

That was the ugly truth of abuse. And that was the moment she truly recognized herself as a victim. But, more importantly, that was the moment she decided she wasn’t going to be a victim anymore. It was a choice—her choice—and she had finally made up her mind to get away from him, no matter the consequence.

Her bones seemed to tremble as she held his stare. “I can’t be with you anymore, Lance. I need to be myself, and I can be that when I’m with you.”

“It’s always about you, isn’t it? This is just more of the same old drama. You’re never satisfied with the way things are. Good luck getting your shit back. I’m throwing it away as soon as I get home. I should have listened to everyone else and not wasted my time with you. You disgust me!”

With that, he stormed off into the dark lot and peeled away. For a moment, she feared he might try to run her over, but then he was gone.

She exhaled the moment the taillights disappeared, her hands shaking violently. The sound of gravel scraping underfoot startled her, and she looked up to find Jo and Pat approaching. She burst into tears, knowing they heard the entire thing.

Jo was there, hugging her and telling her she’d be all right. But Pat stood back, cautiously watching her. She couldn’t stop sobbing and was certain there would be no returning to the wedding.

“I should have slashed his tires, but then we never would’ve gotten rid of him,” Jo said.

“What am I going to do?” What if she couldn’t do this on her own? She had no job, no money, no place to live, and a baby on the way. She’d have to, eventually, contact him again to tell him about the baby. He’d have rights, and she’d be tied to him for the rest of her life through their child. She didn’t know if she had the strength to handle that.

“You’re going to cry and then you’re going to clean yourself up and do whatever you have to do, Jules. You’re strong and capable, and you’ll get through this.”

A jagged breath shook her as she looked over her sister’s shoulder to find Pat’s watchful stare on her. His eyes were tense with concern, and she could only imagine what he thought of her after hearing all the terrible things Lance said.

Jo took a step back. “I should go back inside, give you two a chance to talk.” With one last squeeze to Julie’s hand, she let go and headed back to the bar, affectionately tapping Pat’s shoulder on the way.

They stood in silence, several feet apart.

“I can imagine what you think of me—”

“No, you can’t.”

His abrupt interruption stunted any excuses she’d planned to make. She couldn’t read his expression enough to tell if he was angry or upset or disgusted.

“I just watched a man try to tear you down with every insult he could think of and you didn’t flinch. You didn’t see what I saw. You didn’t see the woman I love raise her chin and face down her tormentor. You didn’t watch her tremble. You didn’t feel me shaking with her. You don’t know the rage that burned through me at hearing someone speak to you that way. It probably scarred me for life. And you don’t know how hard it was for me to let you handle that on your own. So, let’s not pretend you know what I’m thinking.”

Her head lowered and humiliation knifed through her. She never wanted him to witness this side of her life. She brought this ugliness here, and now, he’d never forget it.

“When I saw that tear roll down your face, I wanted to slaughter him,” Pat rasped. “But then I realized what you were doing. You lived with him. You know how a toxic narcissist’s thinking works. There’s no arguing with their alternate reality. They make it whatever suits them at the time. He couldn’t handle your rejection, so he needed to turn it into his.”

Her head lifted and she nodded. “The books say a break up with a narcissist has to be sudden and is almost always brutal.”

He closed the distance and didn’t stop until he was holding her face. “I hate that he hurt you.”

“Me, too.” Another tear fell and he kissed it away. “I hate that you heard the things he said.”