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I wake up to the sound of broken glass and too-bright light shining through my window, clutching an empty vodka bottle. I look around slowly, the pain of my hangover making everything slow as molasses. I'm laying down on a rug wearing a man's navy blue button down and my black cheeky panties. There's another crash and lots of mumbled swears coming from the kitchen. I slowly get up from my spot on the rug and make my way to the kitchen, wincing with every step, I take in the mess that once was my pristine kitchen. There's broken glass on the floor, a pan on the oven filled with eggs, a bowl filled with batter, phone turned on to a page detailing how to make homemade pancakes, bacon hissing in the oven, syrup and plates chaotically strewn along the marble countertop. Lincoln, poor, sweet, heartbroken and hungover Lincoln, is trying to make us breakfast. Tears sting my eyes as my chest fills with warmth, I start to make my way to him, but before I can make the first step, I'm scooped up into strong arms and deposited on the couch. Lincoln scowls at me darkly and orders me to stay.
"For fuck's sake Jemma! You're barefoot!"
I look down in surprise and realize he's right, I wiggle my naked toes and wonder if I'm still drunk. I relax into the leather cushions and snuggle with my fuzzy yellow throw blanket while Lincoln cleans up the glass and prepares food for me. It's nice, being taken care of, being noticed for once. Even if Lincoln is the one who should be catered to at the moment. Bloody hell, the poor man just found out his girlfriend was cheating on him! I watch him work for a few minutes before I get up and go search for my phone, I'm sure to have some messages. I find it buried beneath Lincoln's dark wash jeans and my frilly satin blouse, I power it back on and my wallpaper hits me like a sucker punch to the gut.
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How could my best friendsleep with the man who tortured me and cheat on her brilliant doctor boyfriend? It makes no sense to me. I go through my notifications and find 15 missed calls, 37 texts, and 13 voicemails. I delete them all with a few swipes of my fingers. They were all from Daisy and I just, I can't deal with this right now. And honestly, she deserves to suffer, wondering if her best friend is still her best friend. I'm shaken out of my thoughts at the sound of breakfast being laid out. I look up to find two mugs filled with steaming black coffee
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
Lincoln strides over to me and scoops me up into his arms yet again before depositing me in a chair at my breakfast table. He sits across from me before murmuring so softly I almost don't hear him.
"I don't think I'll ever forget. Don't worry, Jemma, I'll get out of your hair just as soon as I can find somewhere to stay."
I shake my head before reaching for a sip of my delightfully hot coffee.
"No. Just stay here. I'm most likely being deported anyway. I know you had this plan, but I... Maybe it would be easier for everyone if I just left."
I sigh as the fear and sadness collide. I just... I don't have it in me to fight when no one I love tried to save me and besides my deportation would leave this house empty so Lincoln could just stay here. He wouldn't need to worry and I... Well, I've always been alone. And I survived sixteen years with that monster, I'm sure I'll survive these next few months to a year. I force myself to think positively as my face loses color and my body starts to shake instinctively as I remember all the things my father did to me.
"No. Absolutely fucking not! I'm not letting you go."
Lincoln stands up abruptly, a fierce rage on his face as he goes around the table and kneels at my feet.
"Whatever is in England, whatever you left behind, I know you're fucking terrified to go back. So no, I'm not letting you just give up. I'll be your husband. I will marry you and you'll stay in this house or we can get you a bigger one closer to the hospital and in a nicer neighborhood. Either way, you're not fucking leaving, you hear me?"
I watch him with wide watery eyes before I launch myself into his arms. He laughs as he catches me scoops me up into his arms with me clinging to his front like a leech.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
Lincoln holds me close for a few minutes before setting me back in my chair and ordering me to eat and drink my coffee.
