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That motherfucker hurt her I wonder if Gwen kno much Emma worries about her A kid shouldn’t have to worry about so her mother, especially when that soGwen feel like shit round I know she doesn’t want to talk about her past, especially to h to have me come here and keep an eye on her, this asshole could still be a threat I uy to settle doith a wife and kid, but that doesn’t hter

Chapter 10

Gwen

I glance nervously at my watch as I sit in the booth of the restaurant Not because Ellie is a fewbeing alone with hter I lied when I told him that Karen was out of town for the weekend After that da incident and what happened in the park, I wasn’t about to leave E absolutely certain she would be safe Karen is sweet and she adores Ement and messes with my mind, I know that there isn’t a better person out there to keep hter safe

That damn letter – a crayon drawn picture of aand, at first glance, I assumed a child had done it – until I saw the words scribbled at the bottoether

It was stupid ofafter I left, but to stoop to such childish behavior is pathetic Michelle called ht and she informed me that William has been in New York for the past couple of weeks and his only travel plan coo That news didn’t sit ithcould be chalked up to ination, and the person at the park could have just been a stranger, but that letter sure as hell was real I’m not about to let him do this to me or to Emma Ason He dropped everything to look after us as a favor tointo It’s only fair to him that I explain the situation There’s no way he can truly protect us if he doesn’t knohat he’s protecting us fro on sohter’s safety Willia and he’s not a ainst all on my own It would be a different story if it were onlyI had to worry about I would have no probles on my own, but I have Eet in the way of protecting her

The front door to the shts of Williah the door and scan the room I slowly slide out of the booth and stare at her wide-eyed She looks so different The woe s like the woman I left behind in New York The last ti, brown hair and a few extra pounds around herfor years She was never one to wear clothing that accentuated any part of her body, choosing instead to be conize the wo at She’s easily lost at least twenty pounds and her thin figure and gorgeous curves are accentuated with a for little black dress Her nors down past her shoulders in a shiny, sleek long-layered cut She looks wonderful

She looks exactly like ood to see you!" Ellie exclai her ar

After a few moments, she steps back and I shake my head at her in awe "Ellie Larson, are you sure it’s really you in there? Holy shit, I barely recognized you"

She blushes, glancing down at herself "I know, it’s a big change, huh? And speaking of changes, is your hair blue and purple?"

I run ured if I was going to leave o all out"

Ellie laughs and pulls"I’ve missed you so much, Gwenny"

Her softly whispered words and the nickna back tears and I squeeze her tightly for a few o We take our seats across frorab both of her hands

"You have no idea how happy I was to hear frootten in touch with you sooner, but things have been hectic," I explain

"It’s fine, there’s no need to apologize I’ood, Gwen So much better than the last time I saw you You look happy Are you happy?" she asks me softly

Ellie’s adoptive parents were my parent’s best friends When Ellie came to live with them when she was four-years-old, we immediately became best friends She was the only person who kne hter of Beth and Karl Marshall She was the only one who knew that I wanted irl who had everything handed to her on a silver platter She was also the only one who knew the kind of monster William turned into after ere married She held me when I cried the first time he broke one of my bones and she slept in a chair next to my bed the first time he putto a sister I’d ever had Aside froht now feels just like old times – like we haven’t been apart from each other for three ood to knoe can always pick up right where we left off like no ti there Hopefully the divorce will be final soon and I can put all of this behind me I just don’t knohat to do about visitation with E to do is when you have a child caught in the o ofher napkin closer to her and tearing off little pieces She’s quiet and before I can ask her what’s wrong, the waitress interrupts us and takes our order After she walks away, Ellie is still nervously shredding her napkin I reach over and place ht, talk What’s going on with you?"

She sighs and looks up at me with a sad expression on her face "I didn’t just call you because I le day But, there’s so I need to tell you and I’ to take it"

"If you’re referring to the fact that he’s seeing someone now, don’t worry My h

When she doesn’t laugh within her eyes,to scareon?"

She picks up what’s left of her napkin and dabs at her eyes "You have to proet upset Just… hear , okay?"

I nod in confusion, not saying anything Ellie has always been a sensitive person, alorrying about hurting other people’s feelings She has a heart of gold and it pains

"It’sto look atup the napkin and tossing it on the table in front of her

"I’"