Absolutely Unforgivable(84)

He pulled me up into his arms and hugged tightly and there we stood for a moment. I didn’t want him to let me go. It felt safe and comforting being wrapped securely in his arms like that. For just a brief moment in time all of the problems of the world were gone. There was no Billy, no lies, no band drama, no stalkers, and no photographers, nobody asking for my autograph, there was just Jeromy and I and it was as if that was exactly how it should be.

But still, I knew my time with Jeromy was over. He has always been generous to a fault. Even though I knew it was Billy I wanted to be with, I couldn’t deny how wonderful Jeromy had been to me. Jeromy was in so many ways a great boyfriend, but my heart wanted Billy and no matter how much my brain might have thought Jeromy was the better option, the rest of me wanted nothing more than to fall into Billy’s arms. Jeromy was a good boyfriend, someone I knew and could depend on. He was stable and mature and giving. He was every girl’s dream, just not my dream. I was in love with Billy and no matter how mad I was at him right now, I needed him.

“Now let’s get you back home before they send Vin and his buddies over to collect you. I think that might freak my mother out, seeing them carry you out the door.”

Before leaving I let Jeromy know that I would be returning the car when I was able to get a job and get back on my feet. I appreciated the sentiment but I couldn’t keep the car. It really was just way too expensive. He smiled and agreed but something tells me that’s a battle we’ll be fighting again one day. He doesn’t normally just give in like that.

I took the long way home, wanting to stretch out the drive as long as I could to give me time to think. Through all of this the only one who ended up really betraying me was Billy. Could I ever forgive him for lying to me? Could we fix this? Trust is such an important factor in a relationship, could I trust him again? I had all of these questions and thoughts on my mind as I pulled into the long driveway at Billy’s house. The gate was not only unlocked but it was wide open. As I got closer to the house I saw a police car in the driveway.

My heart sped up. I began to panic. Oh God not again! I turned off the motor, grabbed my purse and ran in the door, frantically looking for Billy, to make sure he was okay. He was standing in the foyer next to Vin, talking to one of the officers from the last attack who had only come back to finish up his report. He had a few more questions for us about the break-in.

“Stacy! Oh my God! We missed you!” Mindy and Bree ran over to me, hugging me and bouncing up and down. Billy eyed me cautiously as he continued to talk to the police officer. Devin and Rocco were now next to me; reading me the riot act about going off by myself.

“Leave her alone!” Bree told the men who were starting to make me cry. Mindy and Bree put their arms around me and walked me into the living room and over to the couch. Devin and Rocco were never more than two steps behind us. There was no way they were letting me get away again.

As we sat down on the couch I threw my purse at them. “Here, jackasses! Take my purse if you don’t trust me.”

Mindy put her arm around me. “It’s okay, Stacy. Just ignore them.” But they weren’t exactly easy to ignore.

In the background I could hear the officer ask Billy what that was about. Billy must have told him about me taking off earlier today because before I knew it he was on his way over to me.

“Miss, are you okay?”

The officer looked around at all the people in the room and when they put their heads down and looked away he asked me to come with him into the other room. He wanted to speak with me alone. Devin and Rocco tried to follow but the officer ordered them to stand down. He put his hand on his gun and assured them I was more than safe with him.

“Want to tell me what is going on, ma’am?”

I sighed. “It’s really nothing. I promise. Just relationship drama.”

“Why did you run off like that without protection? Did you already forget about what happened not too long ago?”

“I don’t know. I think I just panicked and I was upset and I just needed to get away.”

“What had you so upset?”

“It wasn’t a what, it was a who.” I looked down to the ground, thinking about Jeromy and then about Billy. My eyes started to mist over as I thought about all that had happened and my breakup with Jeromy and how Billy lied to me.

“Did someone hurt you?”

“Not physically, no. It was my ex-boyfriend. He saw us on television this morning and he didn’t react well to it.”