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Just then, I heard the front door to the aparthts since I’d moved back in with her The only reason she did was to check up on rateful and I enjoyed being here with her again I missed our friendship It was nice to be able to spend ti, uh

“Maddie! I’m home!”

As I slung my feet sideways off the bed, the pads of my heels pressed into the hardness of the wood floor underneath My bare feet squeaked as I exited the roo ers from it and then I stopped, frozen in place

Grey stood there Weary rage gathered under his eyes as he glared at me

“Grey,” Katy warned “You promised”

Only half-listening to Katy, I kept aze took my breath away A nervous s lurched down my throat as the instinct to flee took over and sent a jolt of adrenaline through an to co roo towards the bedroo room chairs out from under the table

I heard it groan against the floor as Grey banged into it He threw it to the ground and it rattled along the floor, a horrifying indication my efforts had done little to slow his threatening to give way and betray me

“Maddie!” Katy screamed from the kitchen

Oh shit, oh no!

Frantic, I ran inside the bedroo the door behind me I heard Grey’s footsteps as he closed on rabbed hold of the lock on the door Moistened by panic, they slipped as I tried to lock it Just then, Grey twisted the handle and I screaainst the door, leaning into it with all ainst the lock and at last, it clicked in reassurance

“Maddie!” Grey yelled as he pounded on the door

He hit it so hard, I thought itaway from it, I covered my ears with my hands and retreated towards my bed

“No, no, no…” I whispered “Please no”

“Open the goddamn door, Maddie!”

“Grey!” I heard Katy shout “Stop it! You’re going to break the door!”

“Stay out of this, Katy!” Grey roared

“That’s it!” she exclai the police”

“Call the goddamn Marines for all I care, Katy! Fuck off!”

I heard her ain

“Maddie,” he said with a firot to let me in We have to talk”

I scooted across the top of the mattress until htwo handfuls of my bed sheet, I swept the only h the door

The only question was how

“Maddie,” he said as the intensity in his voice drained away “Please, I only want to see you”

As I hesitated, I noticed the knob twist the other direction as he released it

“Katy,” he called out down the hall “Put the goddamn phone down Don’t be ridiculous I’d never hurt her Jesus Christ”

Just then, his knuckles rapped with a ginger cadence against the door

“Come on, Maddie Please”

I pursed rip on the sheet and moved it away from my body I slid off the bed, and a few cautious steps later I arrived at the door

“Maddie,” he said with a hint of tenderness

Reaching down, I cupped my hand around the knob and as I twisted it, the lock popped open Still uncertain, I cracked it amy shirt down in an effort to hide my secret

Just then, Grey swept the door open With his palainst it, he walked inside I’d never seen him look like he did Exhaustion defined his expression as he walked towards me, wordless

My nerves got the better of me and I attempted to turn away from him but as I did, he closed on me and sed me with his ee to cry for fear he’d de my head into his chest, I wrapped my arms around him

We stood in coether at last

The seconds ticked by as he cradled me Soon, I heard Katy come down the hallway and stop just outside the door After ato do me any harm, her footsteps squeaked in the other direction

Grey never acknowledged her presence orme to a point of near discomfort With a deep exhale, he eased his embrace and lifted one hand to the top ofit fro it as he did

“Grey,” I whispered into his chest

“Shh…” he replied as he pressed his lips to the top of my head “Shh”

After another moment or so, he repositioned his hands on both sides ofmy face up to meet his Overwhelmed by my shame and terrified of the confession to come, salty tears at last betrayed me