Forbidden Love - Segment 43

[itztigress3]

Segment 43 – Will you be my Valentine?
POV:  Emily
Word Count: 2442
Warnings: None

Zac had left at 8 and I first stood by the door for a bit, unsure of what to do really. I noticed that the entire apartment had been cleaned, there were no dirty clothes or towels, no dishes, nothing out of place. It said that Craig had came in and cleaned when the police were done. I had noticed earlier the bed had brand new sheets and I didn’t see any of the older ones.

However, it did not feel safe not that Zac was gone. I tried watching TV, but that reminded me of the times I came too lying in front of it, handcuffed and unable to stop them. I finally turned the TV off and tried to go to bed, but I couldn’t even lie down in the bed without remembering them. I finally moved to the sofa, tried to sleep.

February 14, 2008; Valentine’s Day

I woke up screaming around 1:30 or 2 in the morning and I sat on the sofa for a few moments calming myself down. I just couldn’t go back to sleep, so I sat in the dark and tried to calm my nerves again. I fixed cereal about 7:40 and was contemplating going to the studio when Craig knocked. I let him in and he handed me a different phone, not my own phone but a brand new one.

“What is this? Where is my phone?”

He frowned. “I backed up your phone before doing anything, he put a ghost program on there and when I removed it the entire system fried. It ruined the processors, internal memory, everything. Basically, your phone was dead and worthless. So, I went and bought you a new one, updated version of your old one actually.”

“And my contacts? Messages?”

“All saved and re-loaded already. Your brothers, Zac, and I all feel safer knowing this phone is new and that it can’t be ghosted because I put a program on there that will prevent that. You will need to set up your ringtones again and fix your screens and all, but otherwise everything is ready to go.”

“What would I do without you?”

“You and technology would never get alone. Speaking of, the police have cleared me to clear the videos and I did. You don’t need to go back to them anymore. The detective said with the video they did not foresee going to trial. So, you shouldn’t be needed. Camera’s have been reset, for a little bit I am keeping them on 24/7, incase Kate tries anything else. I heard she was pretty pissed off that Gary got caught.”

“Well, she shouldn’t have sent him. Thank you for the phone, how much do I owe you?”

“Nothing. You will need to set up the passwords again too. Are you feeling ok?”

“Yeah, just sore.”

“It’s to be expected honey. George said you knew about your dad, I want you to know that I did research myself and I did not find any proof that it was true. I searched all the way back to when he was born. He was only arrested once at 18 for stealing from a gas station. Nothing major.”

“George told me, after some prying. I’m ok, I mean really it’s not like he’s around a lot.”

“Exactly. Zac and I will be around and I am sure we can both keep you safe.”

“You better.”

He smiled. He stayed with me until ten and then left to go to work, about 10:30 the doorbell rang. I got up and answered, finding Zac standing there with two dozen white and blue roses and a huge box of candy. I had completely forgotten it was Valentine’s Day.

“I see your surprised, mission accomplished.” He said.

He kissed me and came in; put the roses in a vase. “I completely forgot.”

He smiled, sat the vase of roses on the shelf between the kitchen and living room. “It’s fine. I would have too had Taylor not said something when I got home last night.”

“I thought you would be working today actually.”

“We agreed that we would spend the day with the women we love.  So, I am here and they are at home. So, Emily will you be my valentine?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

He gave me a light hug and we sat down with the candy, he had also remembered that there was not much valentine candy that I liked, so the whole box was something I would eat. I started to turn the TV on but he stopped me, after a few pieces of Candy he asked me to change cloths. Something warm and appropriate to be outside, it took me several moments but I found a pair of black jeans that weren’t too tight and a clean grey turtleneck, because my neck was still bruised. When I came out of the bedroom he was waiting with a box in his hand.

He handed me the box. “I hope you like it.”

“You didn’t have to get anything.”

“I know.”

I opened the box to reveal a necklace, there were three heart pendants linked together and they had three shades of blue diamonds, they were set interlocking with the center heart being the largest. The chain was gold in color.

“I love it.”

He took it from the box and put it on me, it fit perfectly.

“So, I assume you have made plans for today that doesn’t include staying here?”

“Maybe, but I would like to surprise you again so would you be ok with a blindfold or would you prefer to just keep your eyes closed?”

“Either is ok, but I would look strange riding around blindfolded.”

“True. It’s not far.”

I got my license and phone and we left. I closed my eyes when he asked me too and kept my eyes closed. It was nice but I didn’t fall asleep. It was not until we were parked and out of the car that he let me open my eyes. I only smiled when I did and looked at him.

“It was a tossup between the zoo and the aquarium, I choose the aquarium because it’s mostly inside and it’s not really warm out here.”

“You are flaunting.”

“It’s Valentines, I’m allowed.”

We walked inside, got our tickets, and the first thing was a quick lunch break at their restaurant which was nice to eat and have fish swimming beside you. We then took our time looking around each exhibit, from the strange fishes to the large sharks. They were not doing shows because of the weather, but we were able to get access to some special areas of the aquarium not normally available, which made me wonder how long he planned today. We still had to be careful about overt displays of affections, but it was very pleasant and nice to do something that was outside of my apartment or a hotel.

After the aquarium came dinner overlooking the river in a private section, because it was private it was very nice and very sweet. There was wine, very nice dinner, and dessert was great. We talked about everything but what had happened and the divorce itself. It was about 8pm when we arrived back at my apartment and he came in for a bit and sat with me. It gave me the time to consider something that Christina had said. Because, he really was not taking any time between divorce and relationship and the last thing I wanted was for him to be pressured or under the impression that he could not have that if he wanted it.

“Christina made me think about something. You have been pretty much tied to someone since you were 15. You said you were ok with it, are you really ok with getting a divorce and then being tied to me immediately?”

He slide over and put his arms around me, gently pulled me close to him. “Emily, if I had a problem with it, then I wouldn’t be doing it. Christina does not know me personally; she doesn’t know what I feel like or how Kate was. As I told her, I don’t need to be single to be able to explore and have fun. I’ve tried that alone, it doesn’t work very well.”

“So, you are ok with it? You won’t regret it?”

“I am and no, I will never regret being with you.”

“She said it and it kind of made me realize that you really haven’t had much freedom to explore and not have to worry about a girlfriend or a wife.”

“I understand and even my mom asked about it. But, like today, going to the aquarium alone is not near as fun or as enjoyable as it was being with you. I’ve been by myself, it’s rather boring not having someone there to talk too and point out things too. New cities are always fun but seeing them alone is not. I’ve done that the last several years, because she never wanted too. She went to Africa with us last year but she really seemed miserable. She was paranoid and all she wanted was to come home.”


He paused to catch his breath and then kissed my forehead.

“I understand the concern but I’ve already explored on my own enough. I want to share my experiences with someone who wants to be there. I want to go to Paris and explore the city with someone who wants to do that too. I want to go places and explore these places with someone. Christina didn’t understand that while I was tied to her, she and I rarely did anything together.”

I smiled. “Besides, it’s hard to explore something’s alone. You’d have never discovered your drumstick affliction had it not been for me.”

“Exactly. There is something’s I cannot explore alone. I really can’t do like one night stands either, it’s way too dangerous to risk having nude photos everywhere.”

“I have nude photos of you. I could always tweet one.”

He just looked at me, knowing full well I would never do that.

“There is something else, you know that you will be portrayed as a heartless bastard for getting a divorce and then having a girlfriend so quickly afterwards.”

“I am pretty sure that I will be.”

“We could wait a few months before telling the world about us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, everyone that knows us would know we’re together but you guys aren’t doing anything outside Tulsa right now and we really do not have to advertise to the world that we’re together, let people get use to the divorce and then post it later. It’s not like we have to advertise the day after its final.”

“People will see us together; they’ll eventually figure it out.”

“I’m your employee; it’s not weird to be seen together here in Tulsa.”

“I really don’t care what people think of me Emily, she cheated on me the whole marriage.”

“Yes, but you both elected not to disclose the details of the divorce. She doesn’t want to be seen that way and neither do you. I’m not saying we keep it secret forever, just a little while. Neither of us wants dozens of questions right off the bat about this either. A few months and then we can announce it.”

He kissed my forehead. “I will think about it.”

“That’s all I ask.”

He smiled. “I don’t want to go.”

“I know, but you have too.  You’re not supposed to flaunt and you did today. Maybe with Gary and all she will stop trying to drag it out.”

“Maybe. Did you sleep ok?”

“As good as I could.”

“Want me to change the bandage before I leave?”

“Please.”

He kissed my forehead and got the bandages and antibiotic cream. I went ahead and changed into my sweater shirt letting him clean and bandage the one mark.

“It looks a lot better, which is good. The marks are not as red either.”

“That’s good. I see the OB and primary next week, so I’ll ask about it.”

“How do you feel over all?”

“Sore mostly, doesn’t hurt as bad now but sometimes when I move the wrong way it hurts like hell. Sitting is still kind of hard from the…”

I couldn’t really say it, so I just stopped. He understood where it was going anyway.

“You’ll get better and then you’ll be you again. I know it won’t be easy and I know that it could have some affects on both you and us, but Emily I’ll be here. If you need me just call me.”

I smiled and he kissed my forehead. He insisted on tucking me in before leaving, saying I needed rest and I let him, but just laying in the bed was causing me to shake. He laid my phone beside the bed and kissed me again before he left for the night. I laid there in the dark for a few minutes, but I heard something and jumped. Could almost feel their hands on me, could smell them so clearly and I finally had to get up. I sat in the living room, but even there it was different. I could hear the clicking of the handcuffs in the living room, and while I tried to sleep I just couldn’t. I dozed about midnight but woke up feeling like Adam was there with me.

“Your fine Emily. Adam and Gary are in jail, you’re just remembering what happen.” I told myself.

I tried to sleep again, but couldn’t and it did not improve as the days passed. It seemed to get worse actually.

I did not report back to work until after I had seen my primary to obtain a release to return to work. I was limited to light duties for a few more weeks so the deep bruising could heal. The OB re-ran tests and made sure everything was fine. He also obtained the results of the testing the hospital did and I was glad to know there was no concern for STD’s; apparently they had both been tested when they were arrested as well, all negative across the board.

After four days I stopped sleeping at the apartment all together, the fourth night I had woken up so scared and terrified that Craig called Zac at 2 in the morning to come calm me down. After that I just started crashing in his spare room. It wasn’t ideal by any means but walking into the apartment was causing panic attacks and that wasn’t good.