Page 31 of Saving Ren

“She left on foot at three in the morning, and you’ve not heard from her since? I’m worried too. Have you tried Jemma and Lou?”

“Yeah, I’ve tried both of them.”

“Jay, I think you need to call the police.”

“I’ll keep ringing around. She might’ve called her mum or sister to pick her up. I’ll give them a try. If you hear from her, will you call me please?”

“I think that’s highly unlikely. Why would she wake them up in the middle of the night when she could just come here? That doesn’t make sense. I’m worried, Jay, I really think you should consider reporting this to the police.” Jo rolls her eyes as she talks, knowing full well that’snotwhat he’s going to do.

“Yeah, I’ll try her mum and sister first, then I’ll do that. Call me if you hear from her. I just need to know she’s safe.”

“Of course, but can you do the same? I’m really worried about her.”

“Yeah, me too, and I will do.”

Jay ends the call. I watch Jo stare down at her phone for a moment before looking up at me.

“I can’t believe the man I just spoke to is the man who did this to you.” She gestures with her head towards me as she speaks, “Do you think it’s a mental health thing?”

Shaking my head, I feel my lips start to tremble as my nose tingles. I really don’t want to cry anymore. I’m getting on my own last nerve with all the crying.

“I honestly don’t know. It’s been going on for almost a year but has really escalated the last few months. I’ve tried talking to him, I booked weekends away for just me and him, and for his birthday, I surprised him with a golfing weekend away for him and four mates.” I shrug. “I don’t know Jo; I just don’t know. It’s not just the violence, it’s the things he says, the names he calls me. It’s like he hates me, despises me. But I have absolutely no idea why.”

Jo’s phone rattles from where she set it down on the counter and I almost fall backwards off the stool. Holding the palm of my hand against my chest, I attempt to calm my erratically beating heart.

“Hey,” Jo aims a raised brow smile my way as she answers. “Yep, she’s right here.”

I attempt to screw up my face in confusion as she hands me the phone, but it hurts so I take it from her. My battered heart that I’d managed to settle does the opposite when I see the name displayed on the screen.

“Shit,” I whisper-hiss before answering.

“Hey,” I narrow my gaze on Jo, and shake my head as I speak.

The bitch winks at me.

“Hey. You okay?” Gabe’s voice sounds down the phone with a worried edge to it.

Again—and not because the sound of his voice does things to me—I forget about my injuries and frown, which hurts my puffy eye, making me wince instead.

“Yeah. . . Why wouldn’t I be okay?” I question. Panicking for a moment that Jo might have called him and told him what happened when I got home last night.

“What’s he want?” Jo whispers from beside me. “Put him on speaker, I want to hear.” I give her my middle finger and turn my back.

“You at Jo’s already?” Gabe asks, ignoring my question.

“Yeah,” is my short reply. I’m probably sounding like an absolute bitch, but I just don’t have a conversation in me right now. Nor am I ready to admit that I was wrong and everyone else was right and I shouldn’t have gone home last night.

“So, you got it all done and moved out okay?” There’s a short pause as he waits for my answer, but I’m unsure of what to say, and he continues before I can get my brain into gear.

“Look, I know it’s none of my business, and I don’t know what it is exactly that you’ve got going on, and I get we don’t know each other, but I meant what I said, if there’s anything you need help with, just shout, and I’m there.”

“I’m good, but thanks.” I let out a long slow breath and give my head a shake as I inwardly cringe at my response. “Sorry, didn’t mean to sound snappy, I’m just tired.”

Jo moves into my line of sight, clicks her finger, raises her brows, holds her palms up, and shrugs, waiting on my response to her earlier demands.

‘Fuck off,’ I mouth.

“Ohhhh. Interesting. You don’t want me listening?” This time she doesn’t bother to whisper.