Chapter 114: Stay
*My best dreams and worst nightmares have the same people in them. – Philippos*
After class, Jolene and Shelby stopped for a burger at a fast-food place.
“I can’t believe that little girl…” Jolene said softly.
“Oh my God, yeah. When her mom called, she asked what the age cut off was and I’ve never been asked that before.” Shelby admitted. “I went and talked to Neo and she’s doing the class and Andre is also meeting with her and her mom and sisters. Did you see the story about the little girl that was raped by her neighbor on a dare?”
“Oh God.” Jolene whispered as she covered her mouth. “She’s a baby.”
“I know. I won’t even tell you what Neo said. Mainly because I don’t use language like that.”
“I’ve never heard him really use bad language.”
“He did that day. A lot of it.” Shelby shook her head. “After he made the arrangements, he disappeared down into the gun range for about an hour.”
“He said something about teaching me how to shoot.” Jolene said nervously.
“You’ll love it.” Shelby smiled. “Zack’s been teaching me.”
“Zack?” Jolene asked with a grin.
“Yeah….” She tried to brush it off, but she continued to smile. “He’s one of the guards and God love him, he’s a sweetheart and Nate adores him. That asshole bought my son a pure-bred German shepherd. From a damned K9 breeder.”
“I didn’t realize that just anyone could buy them.”
“You got the money; you can have one. Joker is trained in home protection and not any K9 whatevers. Zack has Ghost who is a white shepherd, did not even know that was a thing, but she’s gorgeous. Ghost is trained in personal protection and search and rescue. Nate thinks we need to train Joker for SNR.”
Shelby gave a little laugh. “He hides in the house and then yells for Joker to find him.”
Jolene chuckled. “You got to start somewhere.”
“Yeah, I guess. You ready?” Shelby asked as she was gathering up their trash.
“Yeah.” She answered and took their cups over to get refills.
The ten-minute drive back out to Neo’s place was filled with easy conversation and laughter. Jolene had not realized how much she had missed this simple interaction with another woman. Sure, she had hung out with other wives from the department. But she always felt like she had to be guarded and careful of what she said. But with Shelby, she could be herself.
“Maybe I should forgive Hank and go back to him.” Jolene said as they passed the gate with a wave.
“Really?” Shelby asked in disbelief.
“Yeah. You got a recipe for that peach pit smoothie?”
Shelby busted out laughing and they were both laughing as she pulled up to a stop in front of the big house.
“You had me for a moment. Damn it, girl.” She admitted as she turned off the pickup.
“I had fun tonight.”
“Me too. We should do it again. Maybe even after the classes.”
They both got out and walked through the door that Neo was holding open. Shelby watched the two of them do an awkward dance around each other. Neo’s fingers fidgeted and she knew he wanted to touch Jolene. Just a little touch.
But she wasn’t ready.
No matter how much she thought she wanted it, she wasn’t quite there. When he moved too close, she instinctively moved away.
The only thing that Shelby could think of was that they were adorable. And he was an idiot. She planned on telling him.
After the obligatory conversation about how the night went, Jolene went into her apartment and Shelby followed Neo into his.
“You’re an idiot.” She told him once the door was closed.
“I love you, too.” He replied as he went into his simple kitchen with white cabinets and black marble countertops.
“She’s interested in you.”
The deep sigh cut through the silence as he stopped in the mid action of getting her a glass.
“Nate’s asleep in my bed. Why don’t you sleep there tonight, and I’ll take the couch.”
“Really? You’re answer to being told that the woman that you are obviously crushing on is interested in you, is to ask another woman to stay at your place?”
“Yeah, it is.” He poured her some water from the filtered pitcher and then went and sat in the living room. “Stay up for a little bit and you’ll understand.”
Shelby went and sat in the recliner and waited for him to explain. The silence drug on. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t relax. She knew him well enough to know that he was waiting on something. They crossed the half hour mark and then the hour before he moved.
As he walked to the door, she heard it. A woman’s scream. It was filled with fear and terror.
Neo grabbed the keys in the bowl on the table next to the door and motioned for her to follow him. He quietly let himself into Jolene’s apartment and walked towards the open door of the bedroom. Shelby watched as he sat on the edge of the bed where Jolene lay frozen with fear.
“Hank, please don’t” Jolene whispered. “I promise, I’ll do better.”
Shelby covered her mouth as she realized that her friend was still asleep. She couldn’t stop the tears that slipped out of her eyes and down her cheeks.
“Shhhhhh….” Neo said gently. “Jolene, baby, wake up.”
Quietly, Shelby stepped back where she could still watch but not be seen.
“NO!” Jolene screamed as she fought against her personal demons.
“I’m right here, baby. Open your eyes.” Neo encouraged.
A sob was torn from her throat as she woke up and looked around.
“I’m here. He’s not.” Neo told her as she sat up and wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. “I’m here. You’re safe. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
They stayed like that for several minutes while she cried and then slowly settled back down. Finally, she moved away from him, and Neo encouraged her to lay back down.
“Do you want me to stay until your asleep?”
“Please?” she asked in a small voice.
“Always, baby.” He brushed some of her hair out of her face and then rubbed her back until her breathing evened out.
He stayed there for a few minutes after it was obvious that Jolene was asleep. Then he got up and walked over to Shelby and wrapped a comforting arm around her as they walked out and back to his apartment.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered as Neo hugged her once they were behind his closed door. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay.” He soothed. “She never mentions my middle of the night visits. So I never do.”
“Are they frequent?”
He nodded. “Every night. Sometimes multiple times. The nights after therapy are really bad. But she’s getting better.”
“Maybe you’re not an idiot.”
“I’m probably still an idiot.” He chuckled. ‘There’s a t-shirt on the foot of my bed for you.”
“Thanks, Neo.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
