Page 86 of The Beat of My Heart

“Well, where I come from, honey, when a man has his hands on a woman like that asshole just did, you step in, whether you like it or not,” Preston screams back.

“Don’t you dare call me honey, you condescending prick.”

It’s like watching a tennis match.

“Alright, sweet tits, is that better?” Preston asks just as Julia comes barreling out of her room.

“What the fuck is going on?” she yells. Her hair is disheveled. She has what looks like drool dried to the side of her face, her shirt has risen over her hip bone, and her tiny sleep shorts look like they are on backward. She’s never looked better.

“I woke up to your friend here being manhandled like a zoo animal, so I stepped in to help and she freaked the fuck out,” Preston informs us.

I’m taken aback. I’ve never seen Preston react like this before, but I know if I had been out there first, I would probably be in jail, so I let it go.

“No one asked you to step in, you dick,” Lexi screeches.

“Woah, woah, everyone, take it down a notch or ten,” Julia says.

I watch as she tries to assess the situation. Even with everything going on, she’s trying to fix this. She’s trying to fix everyone, take care of everyone.

Who’s been taking care of her?

“Lexi, you know I love you, but if those bruises on your arms are from the asshole that was just outside, I’m on Preston’s side,” Julia finally says.

“What bruises?” Preston asks, and I watch in shock as he crosses the room and lifts the arms of Lexi’s t-shirt to reveal a bruise in the shape of a hand. “What the fuck is this?” he asks, barely containing his rage.

This is something I’ve never seen from Preston before. He is always the happy-go-lucky, no care in the world guy. To see him lose his shit over a girl like this is bewildering.

“Get off of me, you twat, no one asked you to save me,” Lexi says as she slaps at his hands.

Julia and I stand there, staring at each other. I’m about to jump on board with her; this is too much. I go to say something when Lexi speaks again.

“Miles Black is my ex, I left him. I don’t need some pompous asshole coming in on his white horse, telling me what to do. I know he’s a fuckwad. That’s why he is my ex,” she tells the room.

Loki’s words come back to me,“Black's youngest son is free too. We couldn’t connect him to anything, but everyone else is in custody. There’s a problem I haven’t worked out yet, and it involves the girls.”I’m willing to bet Loki’s problem is Lexi, and it brings me to my knees. How is it possible to be this intertwined? How can our lives overlap like this and still be real life?

Julia must think the same thing because she has grabbed a duffle bag and thrown it at Lexi. “Pack your shit, you’re coming with us,” she tells a perplexed Lexi.

“Wait,” I say. “Just… everyone, wait,” but Julia is already grabbing her phone.

“Hey, mom,” I overhear. “Listen, I’m home with Charlie’s dad. It’s a long story, but it’s Dexter’s friend, Trevor. I can’t explain right now, but can you bring him over here?”

Facing the room with her hands on her hips, she tells me, “We are ending this shit, now, together.”

Dumbfounded, I nod and say, “Okay,” and watch as she smiles the first genuine smile I’ve seen since Boston.

* * *

An hour later,I’m pacing Julia’s small kitchen. Her parents are due here any minute with Charlie. I’ve never been more nervous about anything in my life.

“Hey,” Julia’s voice drifts through the air. “Are you okay?” she asks.

“No,” I say honestly. “I’m about to meet my son and your parents for the first time. I’m freaking out, and I might be sick.”

“Don’t worry about my parents. Dex and I will talk to them while you get to know Charlie. I should warn you though, he’s kind of like me. He doesn’t take to new people easily, so I don’t want you to take it personally. Dex has met him a few times, and Charlie still screams every time he comes into the room,” she tells me.

“Fuck.”

“Julia?” I hear a woman call from the front of the house.