Until I Get You (Fairview Hockey, #1)

by Claire Contreras

“Did you get anything on the mic?” “Everything,” he says. His hard expression doesn’t change, but I see the sadness in his eyes.

For a long time, I blamed myself for not speaking up sooner, but I refuse to carry that burden any longer. I was a child. I didn’t even know what was happening to me, and when I finally confirmed it, my mother and best friend were murdered. I couldn’t have done anything to stop this back then.

I had Marissa and Prescott, but they’ve also been scared shitless. We were kids. We did what we had to do to survive — Mar partied, Pres buried himself in hockey and school, and I detached. Survival looks different on everyone. We can’t be judged for what we did or didn’t do, but enough is enough.

Ronnie gives a small smile and sets a hand on my shoulder.

“I just want you to know that we all think that you’re a fucking badass,” he says.

None of what I’ve done has felt heroic or very badass, but the fact that I've survived this long proves my resilience.

This one got me personally...

“I’m right behind you,” Ronnie says as he follows.

the paramedic trying to usher him to a separate ambulance. He shrugs him off and strides over to me. “I go where she goes.” It’s all he says, but his tone doesn’t leave room for argument.

We share a seat inside the truck as they check us out. I know I’m fine but I let them do it because, in the state he’s in, I’m not sure Lach will let them if I don’t.

He jogs over and is stopped by Ronnie immediately. They’re both tall and wide, but Ronnie wins the stare down and my father takes a step back,

I <3 ronnie

“Ronnie,” I say and wait for him to turn around. “Tell the officer I’m ready to speak now. A woman. I’ll only speak to a woman.”

steps toward me and I pull back, because it’s a sudden movement and I’m on edge as it is. Lach shoots up and gets in my dad’s face. “Don’t fucking touch her,” he seethes.

wrap my arms around his middle. “It’s okay. Let them finish cleaning you up.” He does what I ask but keeps his glare on my father,

It's the way he holds me, the way I had wanted him to so many times in the past. It’s another reminder of what he didn’t do and the realization of something I didn’t know I was missing.

The moment her ass is on the mattress, I pull her into me, burying my face in her neck and breathing her in for a couple of seconds. Minutes. Hours. Days. I’m not sure. I don’t really care.

she looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes of hers I want to live inside of.

“How are you feeling?” she asks quietly, as she sets her hand on her lap. “Fine.” She shoots me a look. “Try again and tell me the truth this time.”

Oh to have someone say this to me...

“He didn’t. He wouldn’t have.” She reaches up and holds my face tight when I try to look away. “I knew you’d come for me. You always do.”

This fucking girl. I pull her to me again, holding her tighter this time.

“I love you so much,” she whispers against my ear. “I would die without you.”

She wouldn’t. We both know she wouldn’t. I probably would, but she’s too strong to die of a broken heart. Still, it feels good to hear her say the words, even if they make my chest ache.

I shut my eyes and focus so I don’t hurt her by tightening my grip on her, but it’s what I want to do. I want to mold her to me. I want to make her entire being a part of m...

I’ve thanked her in the past. . .right? Damn, maybe I haven’t. I should probably start doing that every day she’s with me.

At this, she smiles — my smile — and meets my eyes. Fuck. How the hell did I get this lucky?

“What else is in this job description? Definitely laundry.”

I laugh. “Laundry, sometimes cooking even though I’ll need recipes, taking out the trash, pumping gas in your car. . .”

“I can pump my own gas.” She laughs, shaking her head. “I know you can, but fro...

How the hell does she expect me to sit in bed with her and not fuck her?

Idk maybe bc she almost was raped tonight????

I exhale heavily and look toward the bathroom. “What’s wrong?” Her hands stop moving. “I’m trying to distract myself so I don’t fuck you in the middle of this.” She laughs loudly, throwing her head back, and I feel myself grin and laugh along a little.

“Are you sure you’re ready to go back now?” “I am.” She gives a decisive nod. “Because he’s no longer a threat?” I ask. “Because you’d be with me,” she says quietly.

When I pull away, I set my forehead against hers. “I love you so fucking much,” I breathe.

“I know,” she says, and I pull away fully, only because I hear the smile in her voice and I need to see it, need to experience it for myself. I’m glad I do, because that smile is everything.

I reach for Lachlan’s hand and link the lower part of our fingers so I don’t hurt him.

“Just so we’re clear,” Lachlan says before we walk in. “I don’t think you deserve a second of her time.” “I agree, which is why I’m so grateful she’s here at all.” Dad steps back to give us space.

He leans in and kisses me softly. “Are you okay?” “I am.” I swallow and whisper, “He changed the couch.” Lach’s expression darkens as he looks away. I take his face in my hands and bring it back to mine. “I’m fine,” I say. “I’m fine because you’re here with me.”

He stretches his long arms and pulls me into his hard chest, burying his face in my neck. I feel like I disappear every time he holds me. It’s my favorite place to be.

Dad sets the drinks in front of us and takes a seat with his own. Lachlan reaches for mine and takes a sip first. Dad watches with a frown on his face.

“Your best friend used to drug her before he raped her,” Lach explains, voice hard.

“He involved me the very first time he touched you,” he says, eyes narrowed. “He involved me again the night he attacked us. He involved me when you left me, when he fucked me out of my contracts, and when he tried to rape you earlier today. Trust me, I’m fucking involved.”

“Jesus,” Dad whispers across from us. “What the fuck.”

yeah...

“That’s fucking bullshit, Lyla,” Dad shouts, pounding the table with his fist.

“Careful,” Lach says, his voice low and menacing. I grip the bottom of his shirt so he doesn’t stand. His knees start to bounce. “Don’t fucking talk to her like that,” he seethes.

Im team lach on this one

says and looks at Lachlan. “Will you move there?” “I go wherever she goes,” he says, setting a bandaged hand over mine.

I’m not sure how I feel about him being at the wedding, though. Or how he’ll feel about being there and not walking me down the aisle. I think it’ll hurt both of us if he doesn’t, but I don’t know that I want to give him the privilege of doing that.

I think it’ll hurt to watch someone else walk you.” He pauses, tears filling his eyes. “But it’ll hurt more if I’m not there the day my little girl gets married.”

I already know I won’t be able to stop my tears, so I turn my face to Lachlan, in an attempt to hide it.

He pulls me into him, his large body shielding me from everything. It’s not like my father doesn’t know I’m crying, but I’m just not used to crying in front of anyone. Maybe one day, I’ll get there. Not today.

his hands move soothingly up and down my back. “I got you, baby.” He kisses the top o...

Lach tilts my face and presses a kiss on my lips. It’s chaste, no tongue or anything, but it still feels weird doing it in front of my father.

Lach continues to hold my face. He has the same look on his face that he had the first time I cried in front of him. Compassion, understanding, love. I smile up at him and even though he doesn’t return my smile, his eyes light up.