Unexpected Love

Chapter 18 - Greyson

I was sporting the town's largest fucking headache. I was pressing against the sides of my head like I was about to die. Five seconds away from banging it on a fucking tree.

The town was in chaos, yesterday we started the preparations for the first bridge fundraiser. There were two fundraisers we held for the old white bridge. One in October, the other during Christmas time. The first fundraiser we held was for the volleyball game we had at the beach because the weather was still warm. We couldn't host a full-fledged shirtless volleyball game at the beach while it was snowing.

Nobody would show up, or spend their money. So we held two, which gave us another shot at getting people to donate.

My head was a fucking mess watching the chaos unfold in front of me. People were rushing to set up the volleyball net sticking the pins in the sand with hard pushes.

Anthony and Graham were helping put the net up and secure it into the sand. They were both idiots, when one side would seal into the ground the other side would pop right out. Then, we were graced with another one of Anthony's tantrums.

Ashton was back with Mrs. Witherspoon both setting up meals to sell at their stands they rented out to support the donations.

Gavin was patrolling the beach, per my urgent request. His eyes alert signaling where he wants the rest of the guys patrolled. After last week he's been extra cautious. Maybe because I threatened him that if something else were to happen to Bailey on his watch I would kill him. He also felt responsible that this happened while he was on duty.

I was a fucking mess, Constantly spinning and thinking about Bailey. I could barely let her out of my sight. My mind hasn't been in the right headspace.

Standing here watching everyone set up, I was still seeking out Bailey. Not because her ass looked fucking incredible in those jeans, but because I was afraid if I let her out of my sight something bad might fucking happen. I couldn't bare the thought of somebody scaring her fucking shitless again.

Or the thought of somebody laying their hands on her. Again.

The way my chest was on the verge of exploding at the sight of her curled in the corner of her store, tears falling down her face.

It was my turn to break something but I couldn't do that especially when she just went through it. I needed to hold it fucking together and hold her. I need to take care of her. I needed to feel her in my arms and feel the breath as she talks so I know she's here. So she knows I'm here.

Even now watching as she laughs at something Riley says her head tipping back and her smile wide like she wasn't fucking traumatized.

She thinks I don't notice the way her breathing gets heavier every time the doorbell rings. Every time she flinches when something drops. I do, I fucking do because I hate the man who fucking embedded the horrible feeling of fear inside of her. The urge to find that fucking bitch and wrap my hands around his neck the same way he did her, and watch as the life leaves his eyes put a satisfied smile on my face.

We were on the fence now, after she had kicked me out for being fucking concerned, I waited in the bakery helping her sweep up the glass, with glassy eyes. When I moved to console her she backed away, distancing herself from me. I wanted nothing more than to comfort her at that time, but I also knew she needed space. She didn't need me berating her on why she never fucking told me about those letters, why she held onto them and never even attempted to tell me about them.

I asked her.

I asked about them all the time.

Whether something was bothering her or if she had gotten any of those disturbing letters. I still couldn't get the image of her lying on her floor having a panic attack the first time out of my head. The way she shook, her tears falling. The way she was shaken with fear, the image seared into my brain, and again in the store.