Until Tia by K.L. Humphreys
Tia
Three years later
“Any luck?” Gabby asks as she kicks off her heels and lowers herself onto the sofa.
This has been our ritual for the past three weeks, since I lost my job due to the company going under. A place I had worked for the past five years. Whenever Gabby comes home, she’ll ask me if I’ve found a job. It’s been hell, I hate not being able to work. Working as Mr. Eccles’ personal assistant was hard but also very rewarding. He was so generous when all the crap happened with Jamie, he checked in with me daily and made sure that if Jamie was seen in the building he was to be escorted to the security room and held until the cops came. Being able to return to work when I was able to, after the ordeal, helped me recover quicker. I was able to focus on work and that pulled my head from my ass and not think about what I did wrong to have a man treat me the way Jamie treated me.
I said it once to Gabby and she lost her damn mind. She yelled and cried and told me that I did nothing wrong, that to even think that hurts her. I could only just stare at her as my strong sister broke in front of me. That night we both cried ourselves to sleep.
"Not yet, I'm not giving up, somethings going to turn up." It's what I keep telling myself.
She nods, "Of course it will. Until then, you have some savings and as I told you before, there's no need to pay rent. I was capable of doing so before you moved in with me, I can cover it until you find a job."
I reach for her hand and squeeze it. Grateful that I have her in my life. "I know, Gabs, but it's not right."
She scoffs, "Not right my ass. You'd do the same for me. I won't take money from you until you've found a job." Her tone brokers no arguments. "What do you want for dinner?" she asks, changing the subject. "I'm not in the mood to cook."
I laugh, Gabby isn't the best cook, her food is barely edible. "I've already made dinner, it just needs to be reheated. Why don't you go and have a shower, get into your sweats, and I'll get dinner ready?"
She sighs dramatically, "What would I do without you?"
God, I think the same thing on a daily basis. Without Gabby in my life, I'm not sure where I'd be right now. Would I be this strong? Would I have been able to pick up the pieces to my shattered world and put them back together piece by piece?
"You'll never have to find out," I tell her as I push to my feet. "November, called today," I toss over my shoulder as I pad toward the kitchen.
"Don't tell me she's pregnant again?" November had her daughter July, not long after I got out of the hospital.
"She is," I reply with a smile on her face. So incredibly happy for my best friend. I know that she's never been this truly happy. She's had so much crap to deal with in her life and then she found Asher. I couldn't have picked a better man for her. He loves her in a way I never thought anyone could, but I see now that it's what happens when you find your one. I'm holding out hope that someone, someday will love me like that.
"What do you think it'll be this time? August? September?”
I laugh, it's what everyone will be saying. "I'm going to say either June or August." I open the fridge door and reach for the lasagna I had cooked earlier in the day. I've made enough food to last both Gabs and I a few months in the past week. I get bored easily and I hate sitting around doing nothing.
"I'm happy for her, when is the baby shower?" I roll my eyes at Gabby's words. Any excuse for a party around the Maysons and my sister’s all over it. Those Mayson men are gorgeous. Not one of them even in the slightest bit ugly. The genes they have are ridiculous.
"I'm not sure, but no doubt November will tell us." She knows I’ll kill her if she even thinks about having a shower without me. Again. Although it really wasn’t her fault while she was pregnant with July, I was still in hospital when hers was organized.
I hear her moving, "Are all Asher's brothers taken now?"
I bite my lip, she never changes. If she could, she'd have shacked up with any of them. "I think so."
"Damn," she grouses. "Why are all the good ones gone?"
That's a statement I fully agree with. I've not dated anyone since Jamie and I'm not sure if I would be able to trust a man again, but I'm hoping that I'll find love someday. Right now, I'm focusing on me and regaining the confidence I once had.
"When you find them, send one my way?" I ask as I put the lasagna into the oven. I had it already turned on before Gabs got home, knowing that when she comes home from work she's hungry like a bear. "Go shower, you've got thirty minutes and then dinner will be ready."
The shower turns on and I start to make a salad to go with the lasagna and garlic toast that I'll be making. Gabby's the type of person that forgets to eat most of the time, if she's busy, she has no concept of time and will skip her lunch. So when dinner time rolls around she's hungry and will eat anything and everything in sight.
Thirty minutes later, we're sitting down in front of the TV watching reruns of Criminal Minds.
"If I end up dead, we'll know that it was that bitch, Fiona," Gabby tells me. "She'll go on a rampage because there's no toner left."
I giggle, "Well we all know who'll kill me."
Gabby's face loses its color, and I realize that even though it's been three years, we're still not over it. I'm not sure if we ever will be. But one thing is for sure, we've both learned from it.
"Is he still calling?" she asks, the anger in her voice is nothing new. She hates Jamie as do I.
"Yep," I reply, defeated.
I've changed my cell number three times in the past three years and each time I do, he somehow manages to get a hold of the new number and call me. Every time I block the number he calls from, he'll call back with a new one. It's come to the point where I don't even bother to block anymore, I just try to ignore it. But it's getting harder lately, as I'm searching for a job and have to give them my cell number. Meaning whenever I answer the phone to a number I don't know, I'm unsure if it's for a job or if it's Jamie.
"What's the fucking ass saying now?" She knows the struggles I've had trying to stop the calls and how pointless it truly is.
"Same as always. He wants me back, he's sorry for hurting me. He loves me." It's the same shit, none of which I believe anymore. It took a while for me to realize that an abuser will do whatever it takes to get back their victim. He may believe that he loves me just as I believed that I loved him, but the truth of the matter is, neither of us loved the other. You wouldn't hurt the person you love. I'm strong now that I'm away from him, I'm able to see clearly and he isn't the good man he claims to be.
"God," she cries, putting her plate onto the coffee table. "Why can't he leave you alone? It's been three years."
I hold my plate tighter and reach for her with my right hand and grasp her thigh. "He can't hurt me anymore, Gabs. He doesn't have the power to do it anymore."
She nods, the tears glistening in her eyes. "I hate that he's still doing this. That he's hoping he can control you again. I can't believe the police can't do anything about it."
We're both frustrated with the situation, it seems that no matter what we do, we're stuck in limbo. Jamie is always at the back of my mind, wondering what he plans to do next. So far, he's kept his distance and focuses on tormenting me via phone calls.
"Enough about Jamie. Tell me about Zeke." I smile as the tears start to fade and her lips curl at the ends. "Ooh, no holding out on me."
"He's sweet, he's asked me out on a date." Her cheeks heat as she reaches for her dinner plate.
"And?" Jesus. It's like pulling teeth with her.
She shrugs, "And nothing."
I stare at her in shock. "Why?" I don't understand, she really likes this guy. Since I've lived with her she's not been on a single date. It's more than time for her to go out and have fun.
She starts eating and I just glare at her, not willing to let this slide. "Gabby!" I hiss, "What's going on?"
She sighs, "I don't want to go out when you're still dealing with the shit from Jamie." Her voice is soft and filled with concern. "I don't want my actions to jeopardize how well you're doing."
My heart drops at her admission. "Gab," I whisper, unable to bare that my sister is putting her life on hold for me. "Please don't do this," I beg of her. "Don't stop living just because of my fucked up relationship. What happened with Jamie isn't going to happen again. How do you know if Zeke's the one for you, if you don't at least go on a date with him?"
Her tears begin to fall and I feel myself welling up. "I can't help it. I just see you lying in that hospital bed, all battered and bruised. It's a sight I never want to see again."
"Never," I vow. I'll never allow a man to hurt me again.
"We only have each other, T," she says softly as though that's an explanation as to why she's not going on a date.
She's right, but she's also wrong. She's the only biological family I have, our parents aren't great, they always vocalized just how disappointed they were in Gabby and I. As soon as us girls were old enough, we moved out and never looked back. Hell, as soon as I left home, Mom and Dad packed up and moved to Australia, I haven't spoken to them in years.
"We have November and the Maysons," I remind her.
She nods, "I know, but it's not the same." No it's not, but I love November like a sister and I know she feels the same about me. "I'll do whatever I can to protect you, T, and if that means no dating, then so be it."
I shake my head, "No, it's not happening. Listen to me, Gabs. I am not broken, I am not fragile. He didn't destroy me and I won't live like he has. So you text Zeke and get your gorgeous self an amazing date."
A beautiful smile breaks out and I sigh in relief. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice filled with emotion.
I nod, unable to speak through the lump in my throat.
It's time for us to finally live our lives properly. Maybe, that means I should go on a date? The thought has shivers running down my spine.