Page 103 of Hard to Handle
I couldn’t wait for the day that she didn’t have to look over her shoulder.For the day the woman could finally settle into her new life and be happy.
I had a feeling that day would be coming very soon.
Amy
As much as I wanted to pretend I was fine, I couldn’t.That was proven by the way my hands were shaking as I ran cold water over my wrists, attempting to calm the anxiety that filled me like an overinflated balloon.
I peered up in the mirror and winced.
The woman who stared back at me looked more like the fragile, damaged woman I used to be than the woman I'd become.And the truth was, I didn’t like it all that much.Every one of these people filling this restaurant where I used to work was looking at me as though I were a delicate flower, ready to blow away in a stiff wind.
I wasn’t delicate.
Not anymore.
In the time I'd been here in Embers Ridge, I had changed.
As I continued to watch myself in the mirror, I shut off the water and dried my hands, straightening my back.No, I wasn’t that girl anymore.
Yes, I was still terrified that Kelly was going to grab me, that he was going to finally finish what he’d started and I would never get to see Wolfe or Rhys again.The man obviously wanted me dead.However, I didn’t want to hide behind Wolfe or Rhys or anyone else in this town.Sure, I appreciated the effort they were going to in order to help, but it was futile.Kelly never failed.
But if one more person weighed me down with a sympathetic look, I was going to scream.And maybe that was selfish, but I couldn’t bring myself to care right now.I wasn’t a fragile doll they could wrap in cotton and set high up on the shelf until the danger was gone.I needed to be a part of this, to feel as though I wasn’t the one putting everyone else in danger.
“But you are,” I told my reflection.
My face crumpled and the cycle started all over again.
ChapterThirty
Lynx
Iwatched from the sidelines as Curtis Walker gave Billy a good talking-to.
It was pretty impressive to watch, if I was being honest.The man didn’t raise his voice; he didn’t talk down to Billy; he merely told him how it was going to be.Apparently, Curtis had a major issue with a man letting his mouth get away from him when there were women present.He was relaying that in lengthy detail to Billy.
“Lynx.”
Turning at the sound of my name, I saw Tammy moving toward me.“Can we talk?”
I instantly peered in through the diner window, seeking Reagan.I wasn’t even sure why I did it, but I had to know where she was, that she was all right.Not that I thought Tammy would do anything.The woman might’ve been a shitty wife, but she wasn’t a bad person at heart.How she’d gotten mixed up with Billy, I didn’t know.Nor did I want to know.
“What?”I asked, keeping my attention divided between Tammy, Curtis, and Reagan.
“I’m…” She sighed.“I’m really sorry for this.I didn’t know you’d be here.”
I shrugged one shoulder.“Why would that matter?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her eyes locked with mine.“I just thought maybe it…” She shook her head.“I thought maybe it’d bother you to see me with Billy.”
“It doesn’t,” I said honestly.“But why would that even matter to you?”I was sincerely confused.I lowered my voice.“You were screwin’ him when we were married, Tammy.You didn’t seem worried about it then.”
She blushed, her eyes not meeting mine.For whatever reason, having Tammy’s confirmation didn’t help matters.Although I hadn’t loved her, it still pissed me off that she would treat me that way.I'd done my best to do right by her from the beginning.
Tammy took a step closer, lifting her head so that she met my eyes.“I really am sorry.”
“Don’t sweat it,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
When I looked up, I saw Reagan watching me through the window.Something that looked a lot like pain flashed in her eyes, and I instantly regretted standing there talking to Tammy.Not that I was doing a damn thing that she should be worried about, but I had to put myself in her shoes.If I saw her talking to Billy, I'd probably be in a jealous rage right about now.
