I’m still shaking, I’ve managed to stop crying but I’m definitely still shaking. There have been plenty of times where Justin has been a crazy driver, swerving in and out of the lanes, but for some reason he’s not doing that right now. I really wish he would drive a little faster. “You can’t go any faster?”
He looked at me and took a deep breath before looking back at the road and speaking so quietly I would swear it was a whisper, “I’m driving as fast as I can Chloe, calm down, he’ll be fine.”
I hate how he’s always so optimistic in these situations. It’s very possible Brady is not fine. I mean, Gabe did follow me out of the club where he told me how he’s going to try and take Brady away from me. I believe I have every right to be a little worried that he’s now at my apartment trying to take my son as we’re driving so fucking slow. I did call Kelly and told her not to open the door for anyone. It’s a good thing I trust her because if I had any doubt I’d be driving myself even more insane than I already am, if that’s at all possible.
When we finally got to my parking lot Justin jumped out of the car before I could even take my seatbelt off. “Come on, stay with me,” he called back to me and grabbed onto my hand so he wouldn’t leave me behind. I was still shaking, so I was having a little difficulty getting the stupid key into the hole. Justin grabbed it from my hand so he could speed it up a little, “You need to stop shaking Chloe, he’s fine.”
He can say Brady’s fine all he wants but I won’t believe it until I get in that apartment. He opened the door and pulled me inside before quickly dead bolting the door shut and running into Brady’s room. I took a deep breath surprised that I could actually breathe again but I had to hold onto the counter to keep me standing. My life has become such a nightmare recently and I’m getting sick of it. I need to do something to make it change.
“Brady’s fine, he’s sleeping,” Justin announced as he ran his hands through his hair and came back into the room.
I nodded my head, feeling the biggest sense of relief I’ve ever felt in my life. At least I have my strength back now and I don’t need to hang onto anything to stay up. I trust Justin, but I still went in to check on Brady. It just makes me feel better to see him. It’s not like I’m living in a horror movie. I don’t think Gabe would have snuck through the window to take Brady, but then again who knows what is going on in his messed up mind.
“You can leave Kelly, go home,” Justin sat on the couch as I walked back into the living room.
“Is everything ok? What’s going on?”
“We’re ok now Kel, thanks for everything. Go home and go to bed.” I said as I sat down next to her. It’s almost four o’clock in the morning and she’s been here since around ten. God, I really need to stop doing all this shit so she can get a normal night’s sleep for once.
“Maybe she shouldn’t go home,” Justin gave me a look. He is right; we probably shouldn’t just send her out there by herself. I’m probably overreacting, this isn’t a horror movie, but I don’t really think we should chance it.
“Maybe you should call the cops,” Kelly answered as she looked between the two of us.
“Yeah, why don’t you stay here,” I ignored her suggestion and stood up, “You can sleep in my bed, you should sleep.” I grabbed onto her hand and led her to my bedroom, closing the door behind us and grabbing a pair of pajamas out of the drawer for her.
“I feel like a little kid whose parents are fighting and won’t let her know what’s going on.”
“Sorry, it’s just… I’ve been up for a long time,” I can hardly think straight, it’s not like I’m purposely trying to keep her out of the loop. “Gabe was at the club. He’s my… or Brady’s father, sperm donor whatever. I don’t like to call him a father because fathers like… do shit. Whatever, he was there. You know how we’re going to court because of all the other shit? Well he said that he’s going to take Brady. Like he’s trying to act like I’m an unfit parent and he’s so much more capable of being a good parent because of his bullshit job. Anyway, they kicked him out of the club but he waited for me and followed me out of the parking lot. I didn’t know what to do so I went to Justin’s and when we left he wasn’t following me anymore. I mean, in a perfect world he would have just gone home but he’s obviously a little crazy so who knows? I was scared so I went to get Justin because I didn’t know what else to do. But we’re ok now, cause Justin is here and nothing is going to happen with him here. I just don’t want you to like walk out there when it’s dark and everything. So just stay, ok?”
“OK,” she said as she changed her shirt, “And you’re not calling the cops because…”’
“It’s not really necessary right now,” I shrugged.
Kelly nodded her head and crawled into bed. She’s learned not to ask too many questions with me because I don’t give in. “You don’t want to sleep? You should sleep Chloe; I slept for a little while you were gone. You’ve been up for almost 24 hours.”
“I can’t sleep, there’s no way I can sleep.”
“What about Justin?”
“He’s fine, he’ll sleep on the couch if he wants to. Thanks for everything Kel. Go to sleep!”
Justin was pacing around the apartment when I got back into the room. I sat down on the couch and watched him; “You’re making me nervous.”
“Well…” he began but never finished his thought. I can tell he’s really tired, I mean obviously he is. I woke him up and kind of just threw more drama at him. I think I’m finally getting why he doesn’t want to be with me.
“I’m sorry I woke you up. I didn’t know who else to go to. I probably should have gone to the cops or… I just… you were the first person I thought of. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
He stopped pacing and watched me carefully before sitting down on the couch next to me. “I’m glad you came and got me Chloe, you know I’d be here in a heartbeat.”
I nodded my head. I do know that, it’s not like I ever had a question about that. That’s why I went there in the first place. He’s made it pretty clear that he still wants to help us even though he doesn’t want to be with me. “I know. Thank you.” He nodded his head and now there’s some awkward silence. I really hate having awkward silence with him. It breaks my heart really, because we used to stay up all night talking but now it’s like we have nothing to talk about anymore. “Why don’t you lay down? I’ll get you a pillow and some blankets. You have to be tired.”
“I’m fine, I’m not going to be able to sleep. We have to set up a meeting with my lawyers. This is bullshit and it’s not ok. This bastard needs to get his own fucking life and get the fuck out of ours… yours. He needs to leave you guys alone.”
I nodded my head and played with my fingernails, “I’ll meet with anyone. I’ll do anything you want me to do Justin. I’m sick of all the bullshit and I need it to stop.”
“I know,” he whispered and placed his hand on my leg, “It’ll be alright, we’ll get it straightened out.”
Suddenly there was banging on the door causing me to jump a foot in the air. Justin rushed to the door and looked out the peephole before turning to me and nodding his head. “I’ll call the police.”
“No, no Chloe don’t. He’s fine. I’m just going to go talk to him, man to man, and let him know this shit isn’t going to fly.”
“OK, no. That’s the stupidest idea you’ve ever heard. You can’t just go out there and talk to him, in the dark, without like Tiny or the SWAT team or something.”
He actually chuckled, “It’s fine Chloe, we’re just going to talk. I can handle it. He’s not going to stop knocking and he’s going to wake up Brady. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Lock the door, alright?”
Stupid men and their stupid pride. Why does he think that Gabe is the kind of guy that will sit down and talk with him? Why don’t they go get their nails done together and chat? It’s not going to happen. I know damn well that it’s not going to happen and it’s bullshit that Justin thinks I’m going to fall for it.
It’s not that I don’t trust Justin because I do, I trust Justin more than I’ve ever trusted a guy in my life, but I definitely do not trust Gabe. I only waited a few seconds after Justin left to call the police. I know he thinks he’ll be fine but I know Gabe better than he does. It would just be so much better if Tiny were here. Justin has all these security guards always around him except for the one time he actually needs them.
I stood at the door looking through the peephole watching Justin and Gabe actually talk. Justin leaned against the railing with his arms crossed over his chest while Gabe paced back and forth. I knew there was no way that could last long and it was only a matter of seconds before Gabe tried to choke Justin while holding him over the railing. There wasn’t much thinking on my part; I was out there in a second.
“What are you doing?” I screamed. I know I can’t do much to help Justin out at this moment but I did distract Gabe long enough for Justin to get control.
“Hey Chloe, just getting to know your boyfriend a little better,” Gabe smiled.
“Go back inside.”
“No! Come back inside with me. Gabe, get the fuck out of my life, huh? How about that.”
“She’s got that fucking mouth, huh? Never knows when to shut the fuck up. It always got her in trouble. She was always good with those lips.” Gabe’s still smiling. He’s not going to be smiling for long because I know Justin isn’t going to let him say that.
“Are you fucking serious dude? Come on.” Justin began before turning to me, “Go inside Chloe, please just go back inside.”
“Yeah, go inside Chloe,” Gabe joined in, “He’s not going to hit me while you’re out here and you know you want him to hit me. She gets turned on by that shit so why don’t you go ahead and light some candles, get started without him. He’ll be in after he beats the shit out of me. That’s the plan, right? You should let her watch though, bro. It gets her hot, she likes it rough, but you know that already.”
And now it’s on.
There are punches being thrown like we’re stuck in the middle of a scene of Fight Club. Justin has a look in his eyes that I’ve never seen before and it’s even scaring me a little. I’m ready to jump in there myself. I swear I just heard something pop. The cops came quickly and broke them up. I couldn’t tell you how long it was because everything was a blur, although it seemed like forever. They took Gabe away and then waited to get our statements.
“We can go inside,” I suggested.
“No, we’ll wake up Brady. We’re fine out here, right?” Justin is holding tightly onto his wrist. I know he’s trying to act tough and pretend he’s all right but I can tell he’s not. He has those eyes that tell everything and even though he has his glasses on I can still see them.
“Yes, we’re ok. You should get that checked out son,” the officer said as he pointed to his wrist.
“I’m fine.”
I went inside to grab a bag of frozen peas for Justin to put over his wrist. He looks like there’s something else wrong with him. I mean, his lip is all bloody but there’s something else about him that looks out of whack. It looks like he’s not all there.
“I want to take you to the hospital,” I said after the police left.
“I’m fine, I just need to sleep.
“No, you’re kind of fucked up Justin, like there’s something wrong.”
He laughed before sitting on the couch, “I’m just tired.”
“We’re going, at least for your hand. Don’t fight me on this. Kelly will watch Brady; we’ll be back in a couple hours. Come on, we’re going. Get upppp!” I whined and pulled at his arm that’s not broken or at least sprained or something.
“Alright,” he whined back and grabbed onto my hand, “Let’s go wait for five hours in the ER!”
