Sanctuary

A week-and-a-half later, I had another day off and was planning on going out with a couple people from work when I heard my phone ring. I put my cereal bowl in the sink and looked at my phone to see who it was before I answered it; it was Miranda.

“Hey.” she greeted.

“Hey. What’s up?”

“I have something I need to tell you.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s this new guy I'm seeing that I’d like for you to meet.”

“Who’s this mystery man?”

“His name is Phillip and he’s a bartender.”

“When do I get to meet him?”

“Actually, I was hoping you and Alex would wanna go on a double date tomorrow.”

“That sounds nice. Just let me talk to him and I’ll call you back.”

“Ok. Bye, hun.”

“Bye.”

Alex came out of the bathroom and walked over to me as I hung up the phone.

“Who called?” he asked.

“Miranda. She’s got a new boyfriend she’d like for us to meet.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow. Would you be interested?”

“Absolutely. I’d like to meet this guy.”

“Me too. She’s been single for a year now. She deserves to be happy.”

“I agree.”

I called her back and told her we were all in for dinner tomorrow and she couldn’t have been happier. She told us where to meet them and when before hanging up. That day turned out to be one of driving around and sightseeing, knowing that they were new to the city and I wanted to show them around. They enjoyed themselves as did I, but at the end of the day, I was exhausted. I woke up the following morning eager to get my day started.

“Good morning.” Alex said, waking up.

“Morning.”

“Sleep good?”

“Slept great. You?” I said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Yep.”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back toward him; this is a wonderful habit of his.

“Where you going?" he asked with his head on my shoulder.

"Well, I was planning on heading to the bathroom. I need to pee."

"That makes sense. I'll let you go."

I kissed his cheek and let go. He walked in afterward, then I made my way down the hall and into the kitchen. I turned on music and gathered what I needed to make corned beef hash; Pink came blasting through the kitchen.

Sometimes, I hate every single stupid word you say
Sometimes, I wanna slap you in your whole face (whoa oh oh)
There's no one quite like you, you push all my buttons down
I know life would suck without you (whoa oh oh)
At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
You're an asshole, but I love you
And you make me so mad, I ask myself
Why I'm still here, or where could I go
You're the only love I've ever known)
But I hate you, I really hate you
So much I think it must be
True love, true love
It must be true love
Nothin' else can break my heart like
True love, true love
It must be true love
No one else can break my heart like you

Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Just once tried to wrap your little brain around my feelings
Just once please try not to be so mean (whoa oh oh)
Repeat after me now R-O-M-A-N-C-E-E-E
Come on, I'll say it slowly (Romance!)
You can do it baby

At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
You're an asshole but I love you
And you make me so mad, I ask myself
Why I'm still here, or where could I go
You're the only love I've ever known
But I hate you, I really hate you
So much I think it must be
True love, true love
It must be true love
Nothin' else can break my heart like
True love, true love
It must be true love
No one else can break my heart like you
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Think it must be love (I love you)
I think it must be love (I love you)

Why do you rub me up the wrong way?
Why do you say the things that you say?
Sometimes, I wonder how we ever came to be
But without you, I'm incomplete

I think it must be
True love, it must be true love
It must be true love
Nothin' else can break my heart like
True love, true love
It must be true love
No one else can break my heart like you
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No one else can break my heart like you
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No one else can break my heart like you

When I got out the corned beef and I was moving and singing along to the music, I turned around to see Alex at the other counter; I blushed and paused my phone.

"Please don't stop. That was so sexy."

"I'll play it, but I can't promise you a show."

"Ok."

I pressed play and I began singing again.

"Happy?" I asked three minutes later.

He walked into the kitchen to where I was at the stove stirring food.

"Extremely." he said as I felt his fingers lightly touch the bare skin of my stomach.

He was behind me and flirting with my waistband and my body started to quiver at his touch. Ok. Time to turn off the stove. I backed into him as he traveled downward and into my pants.

"Turn off the music." I said breathlessly.

"What was that?"

He was teasing me.

"You heard me."

Alex unfortunately unraveled from me and walked over to my phone and shut it off. When he came back, I hungrily kissed him and jumped into his arms, hooking my legs around his waist. He responded by setting me on the counter while not taking his lips off mine and he pulled down my pants. When we separated, my heart was beating a million miles a minute and I kept a seductive look on my face. He looked up at me and I almost couldn’t handle it for a couple moments which drove me crazy.

“What are you doing?”

Instead of answering me, he placed his hands on my thighs with two thumbs on the inside of them, dangerously close to my panties. He kissed me again and I wasn’t gonna complain since they felt so good, but he wasn’t in me yet. A thumb brushed across my panties causing me to whimper.

“Fuck.”

He finally took my panties off and moved a hand down there, beginning to rub me.

“Halle-fuckin-lujah.” I moaned.

After a few moments of him rubbing my pussy, I felt his tongue moving in and around, so I grabbed his hair and tried to direct him to go deeper and he definitely did.

“Alex.” I moaned on the verge of orgasm.

The hold of his hair was loosened as I reached it. He came back up and kissed me.

“I fucking love you.” I said with a hand on each side of his head.

“I love you, too.”

“I’m definitely not complaining or anything, but why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I knew how frustrated and turned on you’d be. I was right.”

I blushed again.

“You were. Hope you didn’t mind me grabbing onto your hair like that.”

“I didn’t mind at all. Trust me. ” he said, smirking.

“What do you think when you have a hold of my hair?” I asked, biting my lip.

“What do I think? When you’re giving me head?”

I was at a loss for words.

“I love it because you don’t even care.”

“Do you want that now?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. Please.” he said with an adorable smile.

I nodded and hopped off the counter and onto the floor where I took off his pants along with his briefs. I grasped his cock once I was on my knees; the floor may have been hard and cold, but that was something I could deal with. As soon as my mouth closed in, I could feel his hand taking hold of my hair and I felt myself smiling. Maybe five minutes later, he came and my face was a beautiful mess. What followed was me being bent over the dining room table while Alex pounded into me; I was bound to be sore in the morning.

“You know I’m really curious about this guy, like what kind of person he is because I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting her. She’s my sister.”

We were just minutes from leaving to meet Miranda and her new beau for dinner.

“I’m sure things will be fine. She has great judgement.”

“You’re right.”

We made it to the restaurant in record time and met them in the parking lot. The look on her face was priceless as I had never seen her this happy.

“Hey, Abby.” she said, hugging me.

“Hey, Miranda.”

“I am so glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad to be here.”

After she greeted Alex, she introduced us to Phillip. He had short blond hair, was about Alex’s height and had a flawless smile; I liked him already.

“This is my best friend who’s practically my sister, Abby and her fiancée Alex.”

He seemed to be an overly nice guy which isn’t something you don’t see often anymore.

“Ready to go eat?” she asked.

“Hell yeah. I’m starving.” I said.

We were seated quickly and as I sat next to Alex in a booth, she sat next to Phillip.

“So, I heard you were a bartender. Where do you work?” I asked.

My head began to spin when he told where he worked. It was the same club that I was raped outside of.

“How long have you been uh- working there?”

“Oh, only for the past six months. I love working there. It’s a great place to work at.”

My heart was about to beat outside of my chest.

“That’s cool.”

“Where do you work, Abby?”

I was feeling a little better when he asked me that; I answered and felt proud about it. Alex could still tell something was wrong with me as I felt the oh so familiar squeeze of my hand; he didn’t look at me, though.

“She and Alex went on their first date there, actually.” Miranda said.

“It’s where he swept me off my feet.”

I looked over at him and smiled; he smiled back.

“I was looking to impress her, but it apparently didn’t take much to do so.”

I was biting my lip.

“Where’d you two meet?” he asked.

“At a-”

She was interrupted before she could even get a few words out. I didn’t like that; I really didn’t and neither did Miranda. It actually looked like she wanted to tell him something as she opened her mouth but quickly closed it; something’s not right here.

“At a cafe. Some jerk bumped into her and spilled coffee all over her shirt. I helped her clean up.”

“That’s so sweet of you.” I said genuinely.

You still seem like an ass.

“He bought me a new coffee too.” Miranda said.

“Chivalry is clearly not dead.”

I kissed Alex’s cheek for that comment.

“I used to think that it was dead until I met Alex; he proved me wrong.”

“He even asked me and our friends for his blessing before proposing to Abby.”

“Why not her Mom? That makes more sense.” he rudely asked.

“Her mom-”

“I wanna hear it from Abby, honey.” he tried to say sweetly.

Interrupted again. You’re an ass.

“My mom and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms at the time. He didn’t feel right until he asked them.”

He didn’t say a thing. He just absentmindedly nodded.

Ok...

I moved my right hand off the table and clenched it into a fist. Luckily, our waitress came to ask for our order or else I’d probably go off like a bomb. After handing our menus to her, I needed to take something for my head; it was pounding and was that way probably because of the bastard across from me.

“Is everything okay, sweetie?” Miranda asked.

“Yeah. I just have a headache.” I half-lied.

Alex looked at me and knew it was more than that. Once I took it, I decided I wanted a drink.

“I need a drink.” I said looking at a drink menu.

“Any idea, babe? I might drink something myself.” Philip asked.

“Are you sure about that? I thought you stopped.” Miranda asked.

He just gave her a look.

“Sorry about that. If you want a drink, I’m okay with that.”

Fuck you, douchebag.

A few minutes later, the waitress came back and took our drink orders.

“I’m gonna head to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” I said, excusing myself.

I actually had a legitimate reason to go there, but I also needed a break from him. I spent more than five minutes in here and came back calmer, but who knew how long that would last. I saw my jack ‘n coke and immediately took a sip. I looked over and noticed that Philip had ordered a beer.

“Feeling better?” she asked.

“Much. I appreciate you asking.”

She smiled and I smiled back.

Lie. I don’t like lying to her, but now was not the time for a fight. If there was to be one, it certainly won’t be here. Our food came five minutes later and I couldn’t haven’t been more thankful. While they were serving us, I was about done with my drink.

“Could I get you another drink?” she asked.

“Please and a water. Thank you.”

I never finish a drink that fast and it began to worry me.

“I know you’re not okay.” Alex whispered.

“Can this wait?”

He made a face and nodded.

“Ok.” he said kissing the top of my head.

“This is delicious... almost as much as your paella, Abby.” Miranda asked.

“Almost?” Phillip asked.

“Almost.”

He took a bite of hers.

“I don’t know. It’s really good.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Trust me. Hers is better. She’s been cooking for as long as I can remember.”

He didn’t like that; the look on his face was as clear as day. She looked away as she could feel his eyes. I’m done. I’m fucking done.

“You’re such a dick.”

“Say that again.”

“Do I need to? Really? I thought this was something you already knew.”

I took two more bites of my pasta while I waited for a response. Alex kept a hand on my arm.

“This is not the time, nor place for this, Abby.” Miranda said.

What happened to the Miranda who didn’t let anyone get her down and wasn’t submissive like the woman that was right in front of me? The fact that she was defending him broke my fucking heart. I miss her terribly.

“This conversation is gonna happen whether you two like it or not, especially for the man who thinks he can control the woman he thinks he actually cares about.”

She didn’t say anything which shocked me.

“Alex. Can you get our food to go please and the check? I can’t stand being here any longer.” I asked, getting out of the booth.

“Gladly.” he said giving Phillip a death stare.

He quickly got a hold of our waitress who luckily didn’t hear any of this. I walked away and out of the restaurant because I was on the verge of a panic attack. A few minutes later, my favorite couple came out of the restaurant and walked to where I was. I was prepared for whatever was to come. They sat their food down beside me and Phillip was about to say something when Alex came out. I waved to him, so he could find us. He waited till he walked to where we were.

“He say anything?” he said with his hands on my shoulders.

“Not yet.”

“What’s your problem? I already know your fiancée has one.” Phillip asked.

“What’s my problem? Miranda is practically my sister and I care about her. You clearly don’t.” Alex answered, getting into his face.

I somehow managed to pull him away even if it was only slightly.

“Let me talk to him.” I calmly told him.

He nodded and backed away.

“If you really care about her, you’ll break up with her and stay away. I will not refrain from kicking you where it hurts most.”

“Abby, please stop.” Miranda tried to intervene.

He pushed her away and physically hurt her as she cried out in pain. Alex rushed to her side.

“You son of a bitch!” I said punching him and probably breaking his nose.

“You’re fucking crazy.”

“Yeah? Well, I have people who love my crazy ass. So, you can go fuck yourself.”

I was having trouble breathing and needed to sit down; I was right about the panic attack. I sat down on the curb beside Alex and leaned into him. Miranda walked over to him and bravely broke up with him and defended us. He shook his head and walked away to his car.

“Breathe, Abby. Just breathe.” Alex said, keeping hold of me.

In and out. In and out. In and out.

I heard shoes rushing toward me and I assumed it was my bestie.

“Is she okay? Abby?” she asked concernedly.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

“She’s having a panic attack. She’ll be fine.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Tears ran down my face.

“Just be here for her.”

“I can do that.”

She sat down beside me. After five minutes, I felt better and could breathe.

“Hey.” Alex said, smiling.

“Hey.”

“How you feeling? Good?”

“Yeah. Can we go? Can we go home and eat? I need out of here.”

“Of course.”

I almost neglected Miranda, so I hugged her and she hugged back.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” she said.

“Are you okay?”

“I am. I don’t know what I saw in him.”

“But you got out before things got worse.”

“Thank you, but this brought your panic attack on. Right?”

“Yeah. I’d do that again for you though.” I said, smiling.

“And you do know how that sounds.”

“I do and it’s the truth.”

“Well, you're pretty damn amazing."

"So are you. Um...you wanna come home with us and eat?"

"Would you mind?"

"Miranda, you're family. We don't mind at all."

"I love you, hun."

"I love you, too."

The ride was fairly short which was fantastic because my stomach was starting to sound like a monster.

"I'll heat yours up first." I said, walking into the house.

"Let me do it. You two had a rough night." Alex said.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure. Now, please sit."

I smiled and kissed him.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you, too."

We sat down and turned on the tv while he was in the kitchen. I still had a smile on my face as I got comfortable.

"You happy?"

Part of me felt bad since the double date was a major bust and her boyfriend had turned out to be a major piece of shit.

"Absolutely. It just sucks how dinner turned out and I kinda feel bad for being happy because of how we found out who he really was."

"Don't. You deserve to be happy, no matter what."

We turned to the NFL Network aka something all three of us can agree on. A few minutes later, our handsome waiter came in with our food.

"Thank you." I said.

"Thank you so much."

When we he was out of earshot, she whispered in my ear.

"Make sure you tip him, I think he likes you."

I laughed.

"Don't worry. I will."

I began to eat and became even happier. We moved so he could get his ass on the couch.

"Hey." I said.

"Hey."

"Thank you for heating our food. You're so sweet."

He blushed.

“Don’t mention it.”

“How’s your food, hun?” I asked Miranda.

“Still amazing. I really hated talking him talking about your paella that way. He didn’t seem to want to believe me.”

“I didn’t really take any offense, but when he looked at you that way, I wanted to ring his fucking neck.”

She made a face.

“Well, he and his negativity are gone.”

Ten minutes later, we were done eating and Alex took our plates away.

“I owe you a great meal.” I said.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I do.”

“You’re the best.”

I was emotionally exhausted and he could read it on my face.

“You look like you need sleep.”

“No. I’m good. I have to be. Miranda’s here.”

“I can tell too. You’re clearly tired.”

“Ok.”

“I’ll take her home and I’ll be back.” Alex said, standing in front of me.

I nodded.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Abby.”

“Alright. I’ll talk to you then. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

He kissed me and left with Miranda. I rose off the couch, turned the light out and made my way to our bedroom. A half hour later, I heard Alex walk into the house. I was eager to lie next to him and actually have a conversation. He walked into the room looking like he had something on his mind.

“Is Miranda good?” I asked with my head propped up.

“She is. She’s shook up, obviously, but she’s good.”

I nodded.

“There’s something I wanna talk to you about. It’s not asshole related... well, kinda.”

“Ok.”

He quickly changed and laid down next to me.

“What is it?”

“You know the place he said worked at?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“That’s the club I was at when I was raped.”

He was in shock as he covered his mouth.

“Oh my God. How could I forget? I feel horrible.”

I wasn’t expecting him to have a reaction like that.

“Alex, look at me. It’s okay. I’m not mad at you, by the way.” I said taking his hands in mine.

“Still. I should’ve remembered.”

“You remember now. That’s what matters.”

I pressed my forehead against his and took a breath then let it out.

“That’s when you started to not feel right. Wasn’t it?”

“It was and I thought I was fine after I started talking about it, but the night went downhill from there.”

“Well, it’s all uphill from here.”

I hoped he was right.

Notes