Tackled by Love (25 page)

Val: A little demanding are we? Maybe I have plans. It is super short notice and all.

This fucking woman sure knows how to piss me off. Gripping the phone tightly with my left hand, I use my right index finger to peck out a response.

Me: That’s not a fucking request. Trust me you’ll want 2 be there.

A long pause follows and I can just imagine her tapping her bright red lips with her perfectly manicured index finger, thinking it over.

Val: See you then.

Feeling like a resolution is within my grasp, I relax into my sheets and fall asleep.

***

As usual, Valerie is late. I should’ve told her to meet me at 7 and then she might have made it on time. Right now she’s 25 minutes late and I’m starting to get annoyed. Not a good start.

Finally, she walks through the door with a phony smile. She looks immaculate with her tight skirt, blouse, snug fitted leather jacket, and spiky heels. And, we can’t forget about the huge ass handbag she’s carrying that contributed to my current financial status. I have to fight the urge to grab that fucking thing and burn it.

“Landon, it’s so good to see you. How are you, love?” She takes a seat in front of me, head held high like she has a certain air about her. Did she always look so damn stuck up? It makes me miss Autumn and her laid back way. She never had to put on a show and was always herself.

“Cut the shit, Val. You know I didn’t ask you here to chitchat.” I pin her with a stern look.

The fake smile is gone and in its place is a scowl. Crossing her arms over her chest, she asks, “Okay, then what do you need?”

“You’re going to fix this shit with Autumn. You’re going to go to her house, apologize for being a vicious bitch your whole fucking life, then you’re going to tell her that I had nothing to do with all the bullying that was done to her in high school.”

She throws her head back and laughs. “And why would I do that? I have no reason to do you any favors.”

“I’m getting there.” Repositioning myself in my seat, I lean forward so that my elbows are resting on the table. “In exchange for fixing the damage you’ve done, I’m going to go to my attorney’s office and tell him I’ll agree to alimony.” This gets her attention. She sits up straight and her whole face lights up. You’d think I just told her Santa Claus is fucking real with the reaction I’m getting.

Greedy bitch.

She tries to relax her features to keep from giving herself away. Too late, though, because I know she’s already in. Clearing her throat, she says, “I want it in writing.”

“I thought you might say that. I had Mr. Henderson fax the paperwork over this morning.” I reach down and pull out a document out of the bag that’s resting at my feet. “It’s a signed statement stating that I will grant you alimony under the condition that you tell Autumn the truth.” Turning the document so that it’s facing her, I push it toward her so she can read it. “When I talk to Autumn, I’m going to ask her what you said to her. If any part of the story strays even the slightest bit from the truth, this gets torn up and you get
nothing
. That includes the house, half of the investment accounts, and everything else I was going to give you to begin with. Am I clear?” My eyes bore holes through hers, letting her know I’m not messing around.

She breaks eye contact and shifts in her chair. “All I have to do is tell her the truth?” Glancing back up at me, she waits for confirmation.

“That’s all. I realize that might be hard for you, since you’re a lying snake, but I have faith that you can be honest for a few minutes in your life.”

She scoffs at my comment, but agrees to do it anyway. There’s no guarantee that Autumn will listen to Valerie or that she’ll take me back, but this is my Hail Mary and I’ve got to go for it.

***

I don’t trust Valerie one fucking bit, so to make sure she goes over to Autumn’s and takes care of business, I follow her there. The whole drive to her house I am on pins and needles. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous, even before a big game. It feels like my whole happiness is in the hands of my soon-to-be-ex-wife. How crazy is that? In the time Autumn and I have been apart, I’ve come to realize that she is my happiness. She’s the new thing in my life that I wake up for, am anxious to see, and want to spend the rest of my days with. As Valerie walks up the porch steps and knocks on the door, the only thing I can hope for is that she feels the same.

The sound of the doorbell ringing startles me. I run through the short list of things I was going to do today, trying to recall if I was expecting company. I come up empty, but my heartbeat accelerates at the thought that it might be Landon.

Cautiously walking to the door, I run my sweaty palms over my jeans before opening it. The person on the other side is definitely the last person I ever expected to see.

Glaring at her, I ask, “What do you want, Valerie?”

She looks down the street, but my eyes never leave hers. “I was hoping I could come in and talk to you about something.”

“Say what you’ve got to say and leave. You’re not welcome here.” Walking all the way out onto the porch, I close the door behind me and wait. With my arms crossed over my chest, I stare her down. I’m not that awkward teenager anymore and I’ll be damned if I let this bitch intimidate me on my own property.

She lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes, “Remember what I told you at the gym that day about Landon?”

“About how he helped you and the rest of the school make my life a living hell? Yeah, how could I forget?” My annoyance is starting to elevate, as is the sadness that I’ve been trying to push to the back of my mind. I miss Landon so much and hate myself for it since he did those things to me.

“About that…” she leans her head down and scratches her arched eyebrow, “I might have exaggerated a little about that.”

“What do you mean ‘exaggerated’?”

“Landon didn’t really help do any of that to you.” My heart instantly sinks. She lied about that? As if she hasn’t hurt me enough, she had to take one of the few good people I have in my life, other than my dad and Layla.

“Why?” My voice comes out in a whisper as the disbelief that she would do this settles in. I don’t know why, but I thought since we were adults, this kind of shit was behind me. I’m stunned that as a woman in my twenties, I’m still being targeted.

She shrugs. “I don’t know.”

With mouth parted, I slowly shake my head. “
You don’t know?
You haven’t changed one bit, have you? You’re still the same bitchy, mean girl you always have been. News flash, Valerie: this isn’t high school anymore.” As I keep looking at her unapologetic eyes, my anger rises. Clenching my fists at my sides, I want answers. “Making me miserable before wasn’t enough, right? You just had to torture me some more now. Grow the fuck up, Valerie.”

“If anything, I helped you. I mean, look at you now.” She holds her hand out, waving it up and down my body. “You look great. If you hadn’t been teased, you’d probably still be fat Autumn.”

All rational thought leaves my brain and I just react. The loud smack brings me back to the here and now, but it’s the loud gasp and stunned expression on Valerie’s face as she holds her cheek that confirms what I just did.

“Oh my God!” she shrieks. “You just slapped me!”
Yep, and it felt pretty damn good.
I am not that girl that cowers in the corner and suffers in silence. I am a woman that’s more than capable of standing up for myself, and this was a long time coming.

“Trust me, you deserve way worse. Now, get the hell off my porch. I never want to see your over-botoxed face again.” She gasps at the insult and reaches to touch her forehead, revealing the red handprint on her cheek. With a little huff, she turns on her heel and storms off.

Leaning back against the front door, I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. I’ve never been one to resort to violence, but how dare she?! She had
nothing
to do with my weight loss and the desire to live a healthier life. The fact that she’s trying to justify her awful behavior and take credit for
my
hard work set me off.

The sound of footsteps causes me to snap my eyes open, fully expecting Valerie to be standing there ready to attack.

“You okay?” Landon approaches me slowly. The deep sound of his voice rushes over me and calms my nerves.

Swallowing hard, I answer, “Yeah, I think I am.”

“I saw what you did to Valerie. I must say that I’m a little impressed.” A half grin forms on his lips, causing me to return the gesture.

“I don’t know what got into me. I guess it kind of built up after all these years and I finally had enough.”

He nods and looks down at the ground as we both get quiet. Rubbing the back of his neck, he looks back up at me. “Do you mind if I come in? Maybe we can talk for a little bit.” His nervous energy is radiating off of him as he rocks back and forth on his heels. My only response is to open the door and move to the side to let him in.

Once we’re inside, we both move silently to the living room and sit on the couch. It doesn’t go unnoticed that he leaves a gap between us, giving me some space. At first I’m a little sad that he doesn’t want to sit closer and touch me, when all I want to do is hold on to him. But I’m also thankful for the distance because it’ll allow me to think more clearly.

“How have you been?” I ask, trying to break the ice and alleviate some of the tension.

“Not too good, actually. I’m guessing Valerie told you the truth?” Looks like he’s not going to beat around the bush on this one. Taking in a deep breath to steel my nerves, I nod. Shifting so that he’s facing me, his intense eyes meet mine. “I would never, ever do those things to
anyone
. Especially to someone like you. Did you really think I’d do that and start a relationship with you, pretending like I was innocent?”

His last words reveal a touch of anger, and I feel guilty for thinking so little of him. “How was I supposed to know, Landon?” Throwing my hands up in surrender, I let them fall back down to my lap. “You have no idea how much shit those assholes put me through. I’ve only told you a few stories, but it was endless. Every day it was something new. When she told me you were in on it, I panicked and ran. I’m so sorry for not talking to you about it, but you have to understand that I avoid anything and everything that involves what I went through back then. I lived through that nightmare once, I don’t need to relive it again.”

Sliding over closer to me, he grabs a hold of my hand. “I get it, I really do. I can’t tell you how pissed it makes me knowing that those fuckers made you feel like shit. I’d beat the hell out of all of them if I could. But right now, I want to help you put the past behind you and move forward. With me.”

My heart stutters in my chest.
With him
. I never thought I’d be able to open up to someone and expose my inner wounds. At times I feel so emotionally broken that I was sure no one would want to deal with that. But here he is, willing to take me as I am; emotional baggage and all. There is one question that’s been nagging me though.

“I have a question. How did you get Valerie to confess?” She has a black soul and would never do this just to be nice.

Landon tenses slightly and runs his hands through his light brown hair, making me nervous. “I, uh, gave her something. It’s really no big deal.”

Arching an eyebrow, I ask, “What did you give her?”

“I agreed that if she told the truth about me, I’d give her alimony.” I’m floored by this and I’m sure my expression shows that, as my mouth hangs wide open.

“You did what? But you were so adamant about not giving her any more money.”

“I don’t give a shit about the money. I’d give up every fucking cent I have left if it meant I’d have you back in my arms. Don’t you see? I love you, Autumn. My life has no meaning without you in it.” My breath falters as it registers what he said to me, and I’m at a loss for words.
He loves me?
“Will you please say something?” he asks quietly.

Am I ready to expose myself to him? Can I make that leap and trust that I won’t get crushed in the end? As I stare into his hazel eyes that are filled with worry, I know my answer.

Yes.

“I love you, too.”