I Want Him
Chapter 79
Addison’s POV
I was glad that Phillip came for me. I was scared. No, I had been terrified, if I was being honest. I knew in my gut that he had been working with Tammy. But I also knew it had been a coincidence he was there. He arrived before we got there, as he was already eating. He
seemed surprised to see us when our eyes met. I’d never seen him before, but he knew who I
was. He also knew my name, which caused a shudder to run through me.
He was a vile human being. I could tell he thought he could talk me into leaving the restaurant
with him. Why would I do that? He must honestly believe I was either stupid or his offer had
worked for him before. I knew he intended to kidnap me. I would have fought him even harder
if Colton hadn’t been there. I wasn’t going to just let him take me away. I would fight to the
death to escape a situation like that. I knew that Tammy’s mind was warped. She no longer
went by society’s rules anymore.
Part of what you learn in a self–defense class is to immobilize the attacker and then run away
to get help. I hadn’t immobilized him, but I had caught him off guard. I didn’t miss the surprise
in his eyes when I managed to break free from him. I was close to him, and I could identify
him. I was going to draw his face tonight for the police and Phillips‘ investigators to use to
find him. I am an artist who can draw much more than dresses or suits. I knew that he wasn’t
aware of that fact.
I hadn’t told anyone I had gotten such a good look at him. His face was now branded into my memory. I had him right down to his eye color. Since he didn’t have a hat on in the restaurant, I knew how to generate an excellent likeness of him. I had known that Colton was there for me. So, I didn’t have to fight quite as hard as I would have if I had been alone. I am positive that he would have r***d me before he took me to Tammy. I don’t know how I knew that, but I felt it in my gut. I could still feel his eyes running over me again.
I remembered him from the diner. He knew where to sit. He was in a dark area and near the door of the restaurant. He had been sitting in plain sight but in a blind spot. I knew this wasn’t his first time going into the restaurant. As I soaked, I came to that conclusion. I would text that information to Colton, along with the guy’s picture.
I heard what Phillip said, and I would work with the investigator, too, It was in my best interest to help them find all three of them, I didn’t want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. That would be no life at all. I was fighting the urge to go back home and stay there, but
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I Want Him
that wasn’t realistic. I had to work with the police and Phillips team to find them and get them into prison where they belonged. That was the only way that I would be able to be free.
My fingers had pruned up by the time I left the bathroom. Phillip had heard me and called me to come downstairs. I was going to refuse him at first, but then I smelled pizza. I quickly changed my mind. I had coffee for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch. I had been hungry for dinner until the rude waitress made a snide comment about what I should be eating.
I may not be a size four like she was. I was taller and a size ten. Phillip always liked to joke that I was a ten because I was perfect in his eyes. He would have said something to the waitress about her comment and then taken me out of there. He would have taken me
somewhere else to eat. He would not have sat there with his mouth closed like he was in silent agreement with her about my size. It was still a touchy subject for me. The insults I received in high school were still there in my head. Making me feel like I was too fat to be loved properly. When my weight had nothing to do with whether I was loved or not.
I got pregnant with Corbin when I was larger than I am now. So, clearly, my size had nothing to do with whether someone found me desirable. I knew both Phillip and Garrett found me attractive. But after tonight, I found Garrett less desirable than I did before. I felt hurt. He didn’t even try to stop them; worse, he wasn’t there when I needed him.
Phillip already had two slices of pizza on a plate for me, and Big Bang Theory played on the TV, with the volume lowered. He would let me decide if I wanted the laughs or to relax. He would let me decide if I wanted to discuss what happened. I didn’t miss that he was in his lounge pants and missing his shirt again. I had heard him soothing me on the ride home. I knew that he was planning on sleeping in my room tonight. We both knew that I would probably have nightmares. I wanted him there with me.
Something changed inside me today. The fact that Garrett didn’t have the decency to stop the host or the server from making fools of themselves. I knew Garrett. He didn’t care about either of them. I could see that all over his handsome face. His wistful look told me he wanted to return to how it used to be between us, back to when we were fifteen again. Before his sister and Tammy had lied and tore us apart, but he still didn’t get it. He was the one who had destroyed our relationship. His ego was so large that he couldn’t see his fault.
That was the hurtful part. He was willing to throw anyone but himself under the bus. I would have preferred that he admitted he messed up and spoke from the heart. Instead, he hemmed and hawed and repeatedly said nothing but the same thing. That he had been tricked, and none of it was on him. I have finally accepted the truth. Our relationship died today. Time of
death: 5:36 p.m.
Phillip sat beside me, silently waiting for me to tell him what I needed. He wanted to be there
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I Want Him
for me in any capacity I needed. He didn’t push. He patiently waited for me to tell him what he
needed to do. I managed to eat a piece of pizza before I had to put my plate down. My tears
came fast. I didn’t cry because I was scared or sad. I cried because I was moved. This man
always stood beside or in front of me, protecting me and silently loving me. He patiently
waited for me to return his love and affection. I had been so hung up on Garrett, even until
today. I hadn’t truly given him a chance by opening my heart to him.
I’d been wrong all this time. Phillip was the one I needed. Even now, he was grabbing a tissue
as my nose started running. He gently wiped the tears off my face with his thumb. I didn’t
deserve him. I was so thankful that he was such a good man. Tonight, his wait will be over. He
thought I was upset because of the guy in the parking lot, but I cried because he had waited
for me to come around.
Most men wouldn’t have done that. Garrett sure hadn’t. They would have gotten pissed off
because of the wait before going off to find someone who could be a better girlfriend or partner. Phillip pulled me into his lap, stroked my hair, and comforted me like I needed him to
- do.
“Baby, please don’t cry. I am so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you today. I am going to take you
back home tomorrow. I will make sure that you stay safe. He won’t get his, dirty hands on you
again. I can’t bear to lose you. I swear that we will catch them. I won’t allow Tammy or those
men to get near you. I love you too much to allow it. I’m sorry for not warning you. I thought we could catch them quickly, but it didn’t work out like I planned. Today’s incident terrified me.
I don’t think I’ve ever driven as fast as I drove today,” Phillip told me. I couldn’t believe he felt
guilty. This was on Garrett, not him.
I could hear the fear in his voice. He had been worried when Colton called him. I knew beyond
a shadow of a doubt that he would make sure I stayed safe. I could see his care and concern for me all over his face. He blamed himself for what happened to me today. But it wasn’t his fault. I think that today had been a fluke for that guy. It was an accident he found me there. I caught him watching us several times in between Garrett’s fan club getting in the way.
The guy had even been bold enough to wink at me. I am sure his looks worked for him before, as he was attractive. But I wasn’t interested in him at all. I knew that I should mention what I
had been thinking to Phillip. I wanted the three of them caught as soon as possible.
“Phillip, that guy who grabbed me. He was already there in the restaurant when we arrived. He didn’t follow us. He already had his food when I noticed him as we were seated. He seemed to be honestly surprised at seeing us there. He knew who we were. I think he is one of the two men who work with Tammy. He might live around here, so someone might recognize him. I will sketch him for your investigator and the police to look for him. I got a good look at him. I
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I Want Him
am going to work on it tomorrow. Right now, I want to relax,” I told him.
“That would help us find him. We will know what two–thirds of their team looks like. Knowing who they are should help us find the group’s third member. I have Colton working with one of
the officers in Dallas. They now have the technology to use markers to determine the heights
of the two who attacked Garrett. That will be even more evidence against them once we find
them. With Paul and Colton working on it, we should be able to move forward quickly. I want
them dealt with before we get married. I know you are stressed, but I want to give you your
dream wedding. No pressure, Addison, but I would love to set a date so we can make plans. I
want to give you the wedding of your dreams. That guy was trying to take you today. I am not
lying when I say I have never been more afraid than I was today. I want to make you mine,
Addison. I can’t live without you,” Phillip replied.
His voice wavered at the end. The fear he’d felt of my being attacked was evident as his
strong arms wrapped me tighter against his chest. He held me securely, and I felt completely
safe in his arms. I melted against his chest, feeling his heartbeat under my palm. I needed
him. I wanted him. I leaned down and surprised him with a kiss.
