His Always: Book 1 Rhodes Character Series

Chapter 19: Natalie

*Trigger Warning: Details of domestic violence*

"Okay – I don't know what I've told you. Or what everyone knows? These last thirty-six hours are a daze for me. Well, a daze for me at some parts and crystal clear for others. But that is besides the point. The point is I need a game plan. You're the lawyer. What's my game plan?" Madison sits her overly-large purse/briefcase down as I ramble. "Well, the game-plan is whatever you want it to be." She states as she sits on the end of my hospital bed. I start to roll my eyes but catch myself before I make my headache worse.

"I'm out of my realm here. I don't want to make this a bigger deal that it is. I got roughed around a little. Okay? No biggie. I mean who hasn't..right?" I chuckle. Madison doesn't. Well someone can't take a joke.

"Natalie. This is serious. What happened to you should have never happened." Ugh. I don't really want to feel things. I called her because she is the cold, calculated friend. If I wanted to cry it out I would have phoned Penelope or Tate.

"Right, right, super serious. What happens next thought?"

"Well – they put a warrant out for his arrest last night." This makes my stomach drop. "For who?" I didn't think I had told anyone that it was Thomas.

"For Thomas, Natalie. He is the one who did this to you, right? His apartment was trashed. Your blood was all over the living room and kitchen. His coffee table is shattered all over the floor." I don't speak. Thinking about his apartment makes me want to vomit the one sip of this smoothie that I have swallowed. His apartment. The apartment I had spent half of the last couple of years in. Did I ever think my blood would be splattered over those stupid oak floors he never shut up about? Madison tucks a loose strand of hair that had fallen on her face behind her ear. I feel my shell starting to crack. She shuffles closer to me and grabs my hand with both of hers. Her hands feel warm and soft. Mine feel cold and broken. My hands used to feel warm and soft.

Madison is the one to break the silence. "Let's start from the top, okay? We can pause and take a break at any point. I think someone should know the full story. And the details will only start to get grainier as time moves on." I suddenly wish Tate was back. I wish he was laying down right next to me, telling me everything was going to be fine. And I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to. But, I called Madison for a reason. I need tough love. My mind races and I try to figure out where to start. The memories come back quickly as I finally allow myself to think back.

"You got this. I'm right here. Take a deep breath. You walked in his apartment. What happened next?" She lets go of my hand to get a pen and legal pad out of her purse. Alright Nat – buck up butter cup.

"I was coming home after my shift. I got out on time actually. Which never happens as you know. I drove to his place. Parked my car in his garage. Dave, his doorman, said hi to me on the way up." I pause. I can feel the knot forming in my throat. Because I know what happens next in this story. "You're doing perfect. Did you ride the elevator up? Or take the stairs?" The simple question throws me off guard.

"Elevator. I usually always take the elevator after my shift. My legs are exhausted. I unlocked his door and kicked my shoes off. I was already scrolling through DoorDash to see what I was going to order for dinner when I sat down on the couch. That's why I missed it initially." I laugh out loud now. That wasn't even a cute dress.

"What did you miss?" She asks. This would be so much easier if she could just read my mind. Why is saying everything out loud so much more exhausting?

"There was a blue dress laying on the chair or couch. I can't remember. All I know is it wasn't my dress." Madison stands. "Wait, hold on, there was someone else there? Did someone else witness all of this?" Memories are such a fickle thing. I had completely forgotten that there would have been someone else there the entire time I was fighting to get away. Where was she when he threw me across the room?