Lead Me Home (Fight for Me #3)(93)

Instead of going right for the basement stairs to set up like I typically would have done, I slipped into a deserted hallway to the left and tucked myself into an alcove where I’d be out of view.

I lifted my phone and snapped a picture, giving the barest hint of the pretty much nonexistent cleavage revealed by my pretty blouse.

Ollie definitely didn’t seem to mind.

Me: That’s going to have to tide you over until later.





Ollie: Dying.





Ollie: So gorgeous.





Ollie: You’re ruining me, baby.





Redness flushed across my skin as I read the words that kept blipping through.

Me: I think you have it all backward. It’s you who’s ruining me.





Ollie: Hurry up and get that sexy ass home. I’ll see you at ten.





Ollie: I miss you.





Me: I miss you, too.





I felt as if I was riding on a cloud, floating down the stairs that led to the basement. I was halfway through setting up the circle of chairs when Ms. Kathy came in, started a pot of coffee, and arranged the donuts she’d picked up on a tray.

“I hear congratulations are in order.”

I beamed. I couldn’t help it. “I can’t believe I’m really finished.”

Yesterday, I’d gotten my certificate in the mail from the online college.

I officially had my bachelor’s degree. All I needed to do was take the state test and I would be certified.

“This is when the fun part begins.” She winked at me.

“Uh-oh. Tell me that wasn’t a warnin’,” I said, laughing a little.

She made a humming sound. “Some days will make you feel like a champion and others will drop you right to your knees. But what you can count on is it will never be dull.”

I hesitated for a second, peeking over at her. “Is it worth it?”

She reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Always.”

Fifteen minutes later, the secluded basement was a rumble of voices and screeching chairs as we all gathered around the circle.

I opened the session with our mantra. “I am strong. I have control of my life. I have control of my body. I have the right.”

I looked around the group of faces. Even though so many were full of sorrow, it filled me with extreme hope. I did my normal introduction, telling them this was their safe place and completely confidential.

“Tonight, I would like us to talk through how you might look at situations differently since you’ve been attending this group. How has this changed the way you’ve reacted? How has it changed the way you handle the hurdles you face? Would anyone like to start?”

I was surprised when Brenna raised her hand. “I’d like to start, Miss Nikki. There’s something that’s been bothering me, and I want to make sure I’m handling it right.”

Over the last few weeks, she’d really come out of her shell, exuding a confidence that had been lacking before.

“Okay, tell us what’s happening.”

Almost nervously, her attention darted around the group before she began, “Well, Caleb has been in rehab for six weeks now. He’s now allowed to make calls. He’s called a couple of times and is promising me he is changing. That he’s making a real effort. I don’t want to walk through life with a chip on my shoulder, but I also don’t want to be na?ve.”

Pride welled inside me, and I started to speak, but I stilled when tentative footsteps echoed down the stairs.

I paused to look over my shoulder, and like all those weeks ago, my sister appeared in the doorway.

Her eyes met mine.

There was something so broken there that my heart froze in the middle of my chest.

I tried to swallow around the apprehension that climbed to my throat as my little sister moved around the circle and tentatively took an empty seat.

I should have been relieved.

I should have taken solace in the fact she was there.

But I swore, I felt the air go cold.





31





Ollie





“You want another?”

“You know I do,” the old guy said as he drained his fourth beer of the evening.

I filled a chilled glass, foam overflowing down the sides as I cocked him a look. “You better watch yourself, or I’m gonna have to cut you off.”

He laughed and waved a flippant hand over his head. “You think this old-timer can’t handle his liquor? Couple of cold ones sure aren’t gonna hurt me. Why do you think I’m still alive and kickin’?”

Laughing, I slid him the pint glass. I’d been chatting with him all afternoon. He was either telling some tall, tall tales or the old bastard had lived quite the life.

Olive’s had been quiet during the dead hours between the lunch rush and the after-work crowd. Evening was setting in, and the place was beginning to fill up.

For so long, my bar had basically been my entire life. Now, I couldn’t wait for the night to pass so I could get back upstairs.

Fact I kept looking at my phone was proof enough.

“Who ya got on that phone? You got yourself one of them sassy modern girls? Bet you do.”