Committed (Book 2) (30 Days) (7 page)

ELLE
My gray skirt suit skims my knees and hugs me in all the right places. I feel good in it. It doesn't however make me any less nervous. I sit, knee bouncing uncontrollably, in the courtroom with Joe. Colin is in the first pew behind us and periodically leans forward and tries to rub some of the tension from my shoulders. Elle, Ben and John sit anxiously next to him waiting for everyone else to arrive. Ryan’s parents are sitting on his side staring coldly at my back. His mother’s dressed in a cheap ill-fitting suit like always and the smell of his father’s cologne makes me bristle with irritation. It smells like Ryan and a barrage of hurtful memories assault me causing me to shiver.

Ryan and his lawyer enter five minutes late for our scheduled hearing and the Judge is not happy about it which at least works in my favor a little. When he strides past me the ice cold glare he directs at me instantly puts me on high alert. My heart starts beating furiously in my chest and all I can hear is its resounding
thump, thump
in my ears. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I can’t tear my eyes away from his intense scowl. He looks older and disheveled. There are dark circles under his eyes and his hair looks like he just rolled out of bed. I don’t want to look at him but it’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. I tremble lightly at the pure rage rolling off of him.

A warm hand slides under my hair and squeezes my neck gently and I thank God that Colin and crew are here for this. Not as though they had much choice, Ryan’s lawyer was calling them as witnesses to try and prove that I’m not mentally fit to make my own choices, including divorcing Ryan.

The hearing is volatile and long. Ryan’s lawyer dug into everything he possibly could to drag me through the dirt. He tried like hell to make me look mentally unstable. Conversations that only Dr. Rand and I had are shared making my blood boil at the blatant lack of confidentiality. Luckily none of it amounted to much. Thank god Joe kept his cool and calmly turned everything around. By one in the afternoon on November twenty eighth I was officially single and not a single cent poorer.

Ryan had tried many different angles and tactics to walk away with my money but Joe had done his job and done it well and the Judge ruled that Ryan would not be receiving a single cent and also needed to vacate our house immediately. When it was over, I’d excused myself to the ladies room to gather my wits. Jenna joined me, letting me stand in silence and stare at myself in the mirror while sucking deep breaths in and out.
“Ready?” She gently asks.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” I push through the bathroom door and take one step into the corridor crashing directly into Ryan. Startled I look up to apologize and freeze at the site of him.
“I meant what I said.” He snarls through gritted teeth and shoves me backwards sending me tumbling into Jenna.
“Fuck you.” Jenna barks while tugging my hand and leading me away from him. Ryan snickers and continues on his way with his parents in tow.
“Are you alright?” Jenna asks till leading me down the hall.
“I... yeah.” I stutter.
“Where have you two been?” Colin asks pushing off from the wall. He takes one look at me and instantly I find myself enveloped by him as Jenna babbles on about the run in with Ryan.
“Joe, I think we need a restraining order too.” Colin clips.
“May not be a bad idea.”
“Elle, are you alright?” He leans back just enough to get a good look at me while still holding me close.
“Uh, yeah. I’m fine. It just startled me.”
“I can kick his ass for you.” Ben offers making me chuckle.
“No Ben, it’s ok. I’m ok. Please, let’s just get out of here.” I say to all of them. Five heads all nod their agreement and we move on to less touchy subjects, like where to celebrate.
After a brief stop at the hotel to change the six of us reconvene in the lobby for dinner at Grace. I’m pleased to have the company of such amazing people even if everyone’s doing their best not to let the shadow of Ryan’s words put a damper on our small victory. It’s obvious that everyone’s on edge and treating me with kid gloves, careful not to talk about my run in with him. I’d rather just talk it out and put it behind us but I don’t think it would be a quick conversation for them, especially Colin, so I let it slide and do my best to lighten the mood and keep the congratulatory dinner in good spirits.

COLIN
“You’re finally mine.” I gravel. She presses a soft, open mouthed kiss to my neck making my entire life zero in on the point of contact. I can't form a coherent thought with her lips on me. My hands tangle rough in her hair as I press her up against the wall, my insistent erection prodding her. Her small hands wrap around my neck as I hook her legs up around my hips and begin to move in and out of her until her eyes fall half-mast. Moving us to the bed I run my fingers along the ridge of her spine and a trail of goose bumps follows in their wake making me grin. With Elle, I know it to my core that I will be happy just having her, making her come undone time and time again. When she finally moans my name low and needy triggering my own release and I bury my face in the back of her neck as I come apart in her.
Propping myself up on my elbows I stare down at her as she lies spent and sated under me. I don't think I’ve ever seen a more stunning view. Her dark brown hair is fanned over the pillows and she's flushed a pretty pink. Her eyes pools of liquid emerald looking back at me as she grins. “The things you do to me Mr. Wilder.” I roll to the side relieving her of my weight and she immediately tangles her limbs with mine.
“How are you, really?” I ask softly.
“Good. Relieved. Free.” She murmurs as I kiss her temple. Dinner had been good but not as good as it should have been. We were all painfully aware of the threat Ryan had insinuated dulling the happy feel of the celebratory meal. Elle had shaken it off as much as she could but I sensed that it still weighed heavily in her thoughts.
“I won't let anything happen to you.”
“Don’t Colin, you can't promise that. You don't know for sure.” She mumbles into my chest. It kills me to admit it, but she's right. I can't guarantee that I can protect her. I’d do anything to be able to take that worry from her but legally there isn't anything we can do but stay vigilant in keeping our eyes open and hope for the best.
“I love you babe.”
“I love you too, but Colin...” She trails off.
“Yes?” I whisper.
“I trust you, Iike,
trust
you, and that’s bigger to me than saying I love you.” She sighs and plants a kiss at my ribs and burrows into me more. I squeeze her tight to my side letting the pile of goo that used to be my heart, expand and ooze into my soul. Her limbs go limp as her chest rises and falls steadily against me giving her a much needed break from reality and I let myself drift off with her.
She’s taken to wearing my tee shirts as nighties saying that during our time apart she missed my smell and wearing my shirts to bed makes her feel safe. Not that I mind really, she pads around in my shirt that just barely covers all the good parts this morning as we get ready to check out and I love watching her move in it.
“So, we should probably grab some lunch and then stop by my house. Ryan should be at work.” Her green eyes narrow in on mine waiting for my reaction.
“It’s only been a day Elle, maybe we should wait and check on the house next week.”
“Well, I’d prefer to do it today.” I run a hand through my hair in frustration. I don't think we should venture into that house today and she doesn’t know for sure if Ryan will be home or not.
“If he’s there...” “Then we won’t stop.” She cuts me off.
“Alright.” I give in. At least she won't be alone. She presses a soft open mouthed kiss to my lips before continuing to the bathroom.
After an amazing lunch at a local sandwich shop that Elle said I
had
to try we pile into the car. She remains quiet the entire drive there outside of directing me where to go. Her hand rests in mine while her knee bounces gently and she continually tucks a piece of hair behind her ear nervously.
“We don't have to do this.”
“I do. Plus, we’re here. Second driveway on the right.” She points to where I should turn in. There are no cars in the driveway of the impressive house as I slow to turn in. The house is straight out of a storybook, only missing a white picket fence. “You grew up here?” I ask checking out the perfectly manicured yard.
“Mmhmm. I loved it here.” She says softly.
I let her lead the way up the porch to the door. She twists the knob but it’s locked.
“Well, we can have Joe get a key. Let’s go.”
“Just wait here.” She says. I watch her disappear around the porch and anxiously wait at the door. I have a bad feeling about being here.

ELLE
I climb through the window in the guest room, careful to shut the window behind me and move to the door. It looks like Ryan left in a hurry, there are no pictures on the walls in the hall anymore and there’s random papers scattered about the floor. I round the corner to the entryway and stop as all the breath leaves me. The living room is barren except for trash littered on the floor. All of my furniture, all of my parents antiques, everything is gone and I start to panic. I stumble to the door and let Colin in.
“What’s the matter?” He asks brow furrowed.
I turn and survey the room, “It’s all gone. He took
everything.”
I rasp. I register Colin’s arm come around my shoulder but I’m still focused on the empty room in front of us.
“Maybe we should go Elle.”
“No.” I move towards the dining room with Colin at my heels. There is no table, no chairs, my grandmother’s hutch is gone and all the linens are strewn about on the floor. I force myself forward to the kitchen. As I step through the threshold my hand snaps to my mouth as I gasp. There on the island sits a cutting board with a meat cleaver stabbed through my face in one of our wedding pictures. The sink is plugged and full of water. In it floats all of my and Ryan’s wedding pictures. They’re all ripped in half and soaking in the full sink. Colin’s sharp intake of breath brings me out of my fog.
“Elle, don’t touch anything.” He instructs. I nod and move carefully around the kitchen. The cabinets are all bare. My great grandmother’s china is gone along with everything else.
My pictures
. I turn on my heel and dart to the stairway. I hear Colin call my name but I forge on up the stairs and into my old bedroom. I tug the closet door open, push onto my tip toes and swipe my hand on the top shelf. Nothing. I swing around searching frantically for the box that contains all the pictures I have of my parents and sister.
The room is void of anything. He even took my dresser. The depressions in the carpet still fresh from where the furniture had been. “Elle.” Colin calls from the door as tears start leaking from my eyes. I push past him and search the guest room, and office but neither have anything to offer. I swing the bathroom door open and gasp as my legs buckle under me and I collapse to the hard tile floor. The bathtub is full of water and the box of pictures sits on the floor in front of me empty as all the pictures I have of my family float ruined in the tub. Sobs wracked my body as I crawled to the tub and fished out the soggy ruined memories and clutched them to my chest. Colin’s breathing is steadfast as he cradles me to his chest and lets me cry. “I’m so sorry Elle.”
“It was all I had left. It was all I had left of them and he took it
all
.” I fist his shirt in my hands trying to climb inside of him and forget everything I’ve just seen.
It takes an hour before I’m able to collect myself enough to leave. Colin called the police and took pictures to send to Joe. We filed a report for all the missing items of worth or importance and then finally were able to leave. I called a realtor on our drive home to talk about listing the house. There was no reason to hold onto it anymore. Every wonderful memory that had lived there had been violated and torn apart. Colin remained silent unless I asked him something. He absentmindedly rubbed my thigh or held my hand but let me have the quiet I needed to process everything.
“Elle, wake up. We’re home.” We’re parked and Colin’s at my door gently stroking my face. I yawn, stretch and take his hand. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I mumble still groggy from my nap.
“You needed it.” His hand comes to the small of my back as he ushers me in the door and to the bathroom. “Why don’t you take a bath and relax. I’ll take care of dinner, yeah?” He brushes his lips across my temple and a sigh falls out of me.
“Alright.” I start the water before wandering into the bedroom to grab one of Colin’s tee shirts to slip into afterward. Lowering myself into the tub I let the sting of the hot water remind me that I’m still alive, safe and loved. I should count my blessings. I lay in the tub letting the warmth from the water soak into my bones. Colin knocks lightly before coming in and handing me a glass of wine and leaving. He really is incredible. How would I have possibly made it through all this without him?

Finishing my wine I set the glass down on the toilet seat and climb out of the tub. Drying myself off I pull Colin’s tee shirt over my head letting it fall to the tops of my thighs, run a brush through my hair and wipe the smudged mascara away.
I find Colin on the couch clicking through channels aimlessly. He looks up and grins at me. His dimple makes him look boyish and mischievous. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He asks.
“Being you. You’re wonderful.” I crawl into his lap, head resting on his chest.
“Love you too babe.” I let myself melt into as his arms come around my back and hold me firmly to him. “You’re not alone Elle. Even if you’re lost you can always be found.”
The buzzer rings before I have a chance to process his words breaking the moment.
“That would be the delivery guy.” I hop off him letting him up and watch him saunter to the door. His jeans hang low on his hips and cling just right to his perfectly formed ass. When he reaches for the door knob his tattoo peeks out from his shirt sleeve making me grin.
“Wings.” He clips setting the box down on the coffee table. “I hope that’s alright.”
“Nicely done.” We dig into dinner before spending a low key night on the couch together with a movie.

JENNA
“I am so excited!” Elle laughs at my enthusiasm but really, this is big stuff. It’s the grand opening of the Friendshop and the place looks and smells incredible. Buckets of flowers line the walls and the tall coolers are filled with beautiful pre-made arrangements.
“I’ll be right back.” Elle calls pushing open the door of the shop carrying the chalk board to the sidewalk and setting it up. The bell above the door chimes as she re-enters.
“You’re totally framing the first dollar you get right?” I ask.
“Oh! That’s a brilliant idea.” She smiles warmly as she rounds the counter meeting me at the register. She takes a seat on the stool and looks around.
“I still can’t believe it. That this is mine.”
“Well believe it. You’re going to be great!”
The bell chimes again and both our heads snap to the door. John waves, smiling and pulls out an arrangement from the cooler before coming to the register.
“John!” Elle laughs. “You don’t have to buy anything.”
“I have a date tonight.” He winks.
“Get out!” She squeals.
“Not without my flowers.” He chuckles.
“Who’s the lucky lady?” I ask.
“Her name is Sarah. She’s been coming to gym for a week now.”
“Oh, Sarah’s super cute.” Elle says knowingly.
“I can't believe you still train.” I tell Elle.
“I like it. Plus, the place is packed with good looking men.” She winks at John.
“Yeah well, my idea of exercising is jumping to conclusions, carrying things too far pushing my luck.” John and Elle both chuckle at my pathetic workout life. I had given up training at the gym pretty quickly but I just don't enjoy sweating that much. Elle hands John his change. “Good luck tonight.”
“Thanks lady. See you Thursday?” He questions.
“You know it.” Elle and I say in unison.