Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (best sales books of all time .TXT) 📗

know. If Marilyn confronted Hawke today, the blowback could be bad. At the very least unpredictable.

“I don’t trust him at all. He’s gotten more and more agitated and unpredictable over the past few years. He flies off the handle at the smallest provocation. I’ve been a fool. But I’m a stay-at-home mom with no income and no way to support my kids, so I’ve mostly steered clear of him, holding my breath, trying not to antagonize him when he’s home.”

“Understandable,” Jake expressed as gently as he could. He hated what this woman had been living through. He knew all too well how hard it was to get out from under an abuser. His sister had gone through the same thing and she hadn’t even been married or had kids. He couldn’t imagine how tough it would be to leave someone with two small kids and no job.

Marilyn drew her shoulders back. “My parents will help me. They know nothing about this. I’ve never said a word. I didn’t want them to know my marriage was such a disaster. It’s embarrassing, but I know they will help. I just need to tell them what’s going on and then tell Hawke we’re leaving.”

“I’m glad you contacted us first. I don’t trust him. He might decide to up his harassment of Shayla if he’s driven to.”

Marilyn nodded. “I’m so sorry. I hate that he’s done this to you. Please tell me you have a safe place to stay? I’d hate for him to come to your home.”

Shayla nodded. “I’ve been staying with Jake. I don’t think Hawke has any idea where I’ve been. I have a roommate, but she’s on an overnight flight today, so no one is at my condo.”

“Good. Good.” Marilyn was nodding, but her mind was obviously moving toward what would happen next. She drew in a long breath. “I have no choice. I have to leave him. Today. I can’t take a chance he might blow up and hurt me or the kids. It’s not safe.”

Jake nodded. “You’re right, and I know it’s a huge step, but you can do this. You’re obviously strong or we wouldn’t be sitting here making a plan.”

She gathered her purse and stood. “I’ll go tell my parents first and then…”

“Don’t go to the house to tell him. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Unless you have a few people with you,” Jake suggested.

“Right. I’ll call him. What a weird way to dump your husband.” She chuckled as if they were discussing something far less earth shattering.

“Please keep us informed if there’s anything we should know,” Shayla said.

“I will. And thank you again for meeting with me and listening to me. I’m…sorry for what’s happened to you and the other women.”

“Thank you. Don’t worry about us. Take care of yourself.”

With a last nod, Marilyn left.

Jake turned toward Shayla. “That went as good as could be expected.”

“Yeah. I feel bad for her. What a mess.”

“I know.” He lifted Shayla’s hand and kissed her knuckles. The worst part about this day was that they were in no state of mind to do what he’d intended to spend the day doing. Wild monkey sex was going to have to wait. He didn’t want to make love to her for the first time on a day when he couldn’t give her every ounce of his full attention. A day when she too was preoccupied.

Chapter 18

Shayla spent most of the afternoon pacing. She couldn’t sit still. It felt like she was waiting for something to happen, even though there was a good chance she wouldn’t even know about it.

Marilyn was under no obligation to keep her apprised of her situation. The woman was facing a demon Shayla couldn’t begin to imagine. She might not even think to keep Shayla up-to-date. It was a wonder the woman had even wanted to meet with Shayla. Even though Shayla hadn’t known Hawke was married, that didn’t mean Marilyn wouldn’t feel some animosity toward Shayla for sleeping with her husband.

It took over an hour to call Renee, Heather, and Katy and update them on the situation. All of them needed to be on alert just in case. It was hard to know what Hawke might do after his wife dumped his lying, cheating ass.

Jake mostly let Shayla pace, though he did guide her to sit at the table and eat a sandwich midafternoon. She was beyond grateful for his support. He didn’t have to do any of this. He didn’t have to take her in last weekend or let her stay with him.

When she took a moment to stare at his profile at the kitchen counter while he cleaned up from their late lunch, she smiled. He was a good man. The best. She was lucky. She hoped to God they could build something real together when this fucking disaster was over.

She wasn’t unaware that they were starting a relationship in the middle of a life crisis. It was intense. It was also possible it couldn’t be sustained in the real world.

He glanced at her and returned the smile before tossing the kitchen towel on the counter and coming to her. He pulled her out of the chair and held her against his chest. “Come on,” he murmured as he guided her to the sectional.

He stretched out on his side along the back of the longest section of the couch and pulled her down to lie next to him. She immediately relaxed against his warm body, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Any time.”

She took deep breaths, forcing herself to relax while he stroked his fingers up and down her arm and occasionally kissed the top of her head. Eventually, she fell asleep.

Jolting awake when her phone buzzed, she opened her eyes to find the room bathed in the last rays of sunlight and Jake looking at her phone. “Sorry, sweetheart.”

“It’s okay. Anything new?”

“Text from Marilyn. She says she has spoken to Hawke. Her dad went to the