Temptation

46 - Madden

Speaking with the therapist Hero forced on me was really helpful. Since the incident with Allen, I've closed myself off; staying home and going back to bad habits. She asked many questions about my family and the events that led to their death, she questioned me about Noah and even asked a few questions about Hero. "Does Hero remind you of Noah in anyway?" I have a quick, internal flashback of the past few months with Hero and nothing that he has ever said or done is anywhere near similar to Noah. Noah and Hero also look nothing alike. "Not at all," and that is the only answer I've said the past 45 minutes that I felt confidence in. The therapist made me realize that I have even put up a wall with Hero; we haven't had sex all week, "How have things been between you and Hero?" I explain to her the Allen situation, how I haven't been on set and how Hero and I have been slightly distant. She tells me that I need to open my heart up to him because it will help me a lot.

* * *

After entertaining Mara all day, I finally get a text from Hero, hoping that he's telling me he's on his way home.

We finished filming early today so Tommy is taking us out to dinner. Be home after. How was the therapist?

Disappointed that he isn't coming home right away, I text him back and then tell Mara she can go home but she is annoying and begs me to let her stay. After her begging, I finally tell her she can, "Hot tub?" She asks and I 100% agree with her. I change into my bikini, run to the wine cellar and pull out a bottle of white then meet Mara who already has the wine glasses in hand; pool side. I pour each of us a glass and we step into the hot tub. The warm water feels so relaxing and after my session, it feels as if a layer of dirty skin has been lifted off my body. While we sip on wine and talk girl things, I can feel the hunger coming back and my stomach craving food. The first thing I crave is sushi and Mara is on board to have some for dinner.

Mara is very nosy, but she is also one of my only friends, plus she likes to spill some information about Hero. "I'm glad he isn't partying anymore." She says with much relief, "I used to find him completely out of it...looking for a pulse one too many times." I sigh not because I didn't know that this was a part of Hero's past but because it pains me to know that he was only hurting himself to hide his inner pain.

Mara and I sit in the kitchen, eating our sushi when I receive a text from Hero:

Turn on the TV. Check the news.

So, I do as I'm told and there is a photo of Noah beside the news woman's head. "Breaking News. The famous Hero Tomlin's new girlfriend's ex-boyfriend has escaped from prison. Sources say he had inside help from a guard. Investigations pending." I drop the sushi in my hand to the floor and that fear I had felt for months has returned. Mara immediately calls DJ making sure we have full security on the house and calls Hero. I can hear Hero swearing on the other end, Mara's words make no sense to me right now and I can't even move. In the background I hear Mara say, "She's not doing anything; she hasn't moved." Minutes ago, I was happy; sipping wine with a friend and within seconds my whole new world has come crashing down.

It doesn't take long for Hero to get home. Mara has all the food packed and in the fridge. When Hero returns with DJ, Mara and DJ are chatting by the front door and Hero comes bursting into the living room. I'm standing still until Hero wraps his arms around me and I collapse into him. He brings the both of us to the floor, and I sob. As safe as his hold makes me feel, it does not get rid of the burden that is Noah. Noah will waste no time finding me; he will literally hunt me down and kill everyone around me. He wants me to suffer.

Mara and DJ stand in the hallway, watching Hero comfort me in my time of need before Mara speaks up. "Maybe money can lure him in, and the police can take him again?" I don't move my head from Hero's chest. Words are exchanged between Mara and Hero, as soon as they mention that we won't be going to the MET, that is when I chime in. I lift my head from his chest and wipe my tears, "No. I'm not a damsel in distress and I refuse to let him ruin everything." Hero squeezes my cheeks in his hand, "You aren't a damsel in distress, but you are my whole world, and I will do anything to protect you. I want you to be safe." "Safe or hidden? I can't hide anymore Hero and I refuse to let you stop everything in your life to keep me safe. You have two options here: either you live life to the fullest with me or you let me go and I hide again?" The room is quiet now. I just said what we all were thinking; if I was still in Vancouver minding my own business, hiding from the world then we wouldn't be here, but I also don't believe that to be true. One day Noah would have found me, I know it and it just so happens that now that he has, all of my life's drama is in the public's eye. I refuse to let him ruin my life any longer and I refuse to let him hurt Hero, Mara or DJ. These people are my family now. The reminder of the heartache I felt for months after my entire family dying at my expense weighed heavy on me until I found love, until I found laughter and a man who has made me feel nothing but special. "No fucking way I'm leaving you. No fucking way." Mara and DJ smile at each other, proud of the man they've watch grow for years; a boy who hated commitment and now refuses to let me go.

The four of us stay up all night planning with the LA police and decide on the only rationale option. Hiding me is on the table but I shoot that down quickly; waiting around until he showed up but that felt a little risky or the both of us moving to Hero's London home but again, shot down because it felt like hiding. The only sensible option was to lure Noah into our hone, using me as bait while the police stand by waiting to arrest him. Hero tries very hard to scratch this option but between me, Mara, DJ and the police, he has no chance at winning this battle.