After We Fall (Take the Fall, #3)(47)
“Do you still get paid?”
She nods. “Not as much as I used to, but AE stole and spent every bit of the money I had in savings, so…I have to be very careful with my money now.”
That’s the thing with abusers. They take every system of support, every venue of leaving, away from their victims.
“Do you want to do it again?” If she does, I’ll find a way to make it happen. I’ll find a way to support her. Doesn’t matter that I know less than nothing about the entire thing.
She places her fork beside her plate, her gaze steady. “I’m not sure. It seems like a different girl made those…I don’t want that kind of attention anymore.”
“What kind do you want?” I ask.
A shy smile curves the corners of her mouth. “I like the kind you’re giving me.”
Chapter 16
Evangeline
I feel like something bad is about to happen. Since I moved to Forrestville, one good thing after another has happened. I know that can’t last. The law of averages and bad things happening to good people prove it.
However, I can’t let that get me down. I can’t let it control me. Yet, that stupid feeling won’t leave me alone.
At work I throw myself into cleaning and feeding all the animals. It’s yoga day, so I know that Mr. Rigglesworth had a blowout and his entire kennel will need to be hosed out. To confirm it, Saylor walks by, holding Mr. R at a distance, her nose wrinkled.
“We have a f*cking new girl, so no poop duty for you,” she says.
Instead of being happy at the news, the dread inside me grows. “That’s good.”
“Totally. I’ll introduce you to her after this poopy head gets a bath. She’s getting some gloves.” Saylor marches away.
Suddenly, I hear Saylor’s panicked voice pleading with the dog. “Don’t shake, Mr. R. Please don’t shake.”
“Shit.”
It’s all I can do to keep from laughing, but on the inside I’m dying. I take off for Saylor, fully intending to help, but the smell overwhelms me and I skid to a stop.
Saylor is covered in dog poop. So are the walls and floor of the hallway. Mr. Rigglesworth looks happy, though.
“He had one more in him,” she says, then huffs. “I should have known.”
“Want me to take him?”
“No, he can shower with me.” Still holding him at arm’s length, she begins to trudge toward the back of the shelter. “By the way, your lawyer’s secretary called and asked for your new number. Said she needed to get ahold of you for some final paperwork.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m changing my name back—officially, that is.” But I’d already given it to her a while back. It is possible she lost it, since she rarely has to deal with my case.
“I gave it to her. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Saylor disappears around a corner, and I finish up a few last-minute things before heading home. Tonight, Hunter has plans for us to go to a local lounge to listen to an up-and-coming band. It’s like he’s reading the lines of music that still live in my heart.
I turn the radio up, giving myself permission to belt out songs like I used to. Maybe I should update my YouTube channel. I bet I could do a special video for the shelter to raise awareness and donate the ad money generated from it to the shelter as well.
It would be a win-win.
My phone rings. It’s my lawyer.
Turning down the music, I answer it with a curious hello.
“Hi, Evangeline. Sorry to call you so late in the day, but Penn is accusing you of harassment.”
“What?” I almost slam on the brakes in the middle of traffic. “But I haven’t spoken to him since the last time you and I discussed it.”
“Oh, it’s not you personally talking to him. He’s claiming emotional distress and virtual harassment from your social media accounts.”
“I don’t go on social media anymore, except to check on my family.”
“He says that the old pictures you still have up, along with the lack of name change on your profile, is preventing him from moving forward with his life.”
“I’m preventing him?” Outrage and fury fill me, twining together to burn a hole in my stomach. “Tell me the judge will dismiss this.”
“There are cyber bullying and harassment laws on the books now.”
“The only thing I’m remotely guilty of doing is having an account. So sorry I didn’t think to change my stupid name.”
“I know, and I’m sure that we would prevail in court, but in the meantime, we’ll have to—”
As she lists all the thing that would need to happen, all I can imagine is my bank account balance growing smaller and smaller. It’s like Penn’s stealing from me all over again. Like he’s trying to prevent me from moving on, from having a life without him.
“Asshole.”
“Excuse me?”
“Not you. Penn.” I adjust my grip on the steering wheel. There is no way I’m going to allow him to do this. Not anymore. I’m done. “Lucy, I’ll need to call you back.”
I end our call and dial Penn’s number. Of course, he never bothered to change his. I’m the only one who had to change everything, including my name, my numbers, my residence…everything.