Saving Us (Mitchell Family #6)(34)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I couldn’t wait to hear what she found out.

“Once I got there, it wasn’t exactly easy to approach them. The family ran this bed and breakfast, so I acted like I was just looking for a place to stay. I knew I couldn’t use my credit card, so I had to find a way to pay for a room. When they didn’t ask me to pay until my stay was over, I figured that I could just sneak out and not have to pay.”

“There was this guy there, who worked around the grounds. Right away I knew it was Rick’s son. He looked just like him. After sleeping for a while, I walked outside to get some air and he was there. He had snuck a bottle out of the kitchen and was drinking it by himself. We made quick friends and after finishing off a bottle, you can imagine where we ended up.”

I put my hand over my mouth and I was sure my eyes were huge. Conner made a chuckle sound, but said nothing else. “You slept with Rick’s son?”

“Don’t even try to judge me right now. It happened. I regretted it the next morning, but after he learned I was on the run, he took care of me. He got me something to eat and talked his aunt into letting me work there. I was so scared and he was just there, offering me a safe place to stay. For the first time in over a month, I felt like I was able to sleep without looking behind my back.”

I tried to think about what it was like for Heather. She didn’t have someone like Conner to make her feel safe and take her somewhere else to live. No, Heather gave up her whole life and was on the run from my psycho ex. “So, what is his son like?”

She smiled. “He’s great. He goes to college and still works for his parents. He calls his aunt and uncle his parents and from what I gather, he doesn’t know that they aren’t his real parents. If he does, then he is proud to have been adopted by them. They have a beautiful place that they live in and are the kindest people I have ever met.”

“Heather, have you been living there this whole time?”

She shrugged. “Yeah. Please don’t say anything. I can tell you think I’m a whore. Jessie is different than other guys. I know he is younger than me, but look at the two of you. You make it work.”

“So you’re a couple? You are in a relationship with Rick’s biological son?”

Heather pulled out her phone and brought up a picture. “This is Jessie. He saved my life and I fell in love with him.”

I grabbed her phone and looked at the resemblance for myself. It was uncanny. He had his arms wrapped around Heather and was looking into her eyes. “Does he know who you really are? Have you told him why you ended up at his parent’s place?”

She stuck the phone back into her purse. “No. I tried to tell him so many times. He does know that I was running for an abusive ex. I told him everything except who the guy was. You can judge me for that, but I just want to be happy. I left my family and my friends and there he was, protecting me and taking me into his life like I belonged there.”

I reached over and stuck my hand over Conner’s leg. “I know how easy it is to fall in love with someone. My whole life changed the day I met Conner.”

Heather leaned back against the backseat. A smile formed in the corner of her cheek. “How far along are you now?”

“Six and a half months. We are due in May.”

“I used to never want children. For the longest time, I was so in love with Ty that he was all I could think about. I was obsessed with him. I know now how it wasn’t healthy, but at the time, it was all I lived for. I was willing to do anything for him to want me too. I made a lot of mistakes and then that thing with Rick happened. It was like I had to prove that I could have anyone I wanted. Conner is the person who made me wake up and see what I’d become. I really was starting to like him and had even told Rick that I wanted to stop seeing him. I thought that if I had a chance with Conner, it would finally end my addiction to Tyler Mitchell.”

I think Conner shocked both of us when he chimed into the conversation he had been so quiet, just driving and listening. “I ain’t sorry for what I did, either. You deserved exactly what your little ass got.”

I almost felt bad for how rude Conner was being. I understood why, but it was just uncomfortable.

“Maybe we should just get back on task. You obviously found something out. We’ve been driving for a long time, so why don’t you tell us what we came to hear.”

“I found Rick’s second wife. You are not going to believe this unless you see it for yourself.”

Suddenly, I started to realize that whatever Heather found out had to be big. I never would have thought it was possible, but she may have a way for us to not have to hide anymore. “Tell us.”

“I want to tell you everything, but it would be better if I let her explain it. When I told her about what was going on, she insisted that I get you here as soon as possible. I wouldn’t have called you otherwise.” Heather crossed her arms over her chest. She looked so different now. Being on the run had taken a toll on her appearance.

“Where do we need to drive to? I ain’t driving around all damn night. Amy needs to get some sleep.” Conner was so cold when he spoke to Heather.

“There is a hotel a few miles from the woman’s house. Why don’t we get some rooms and rest up for tomorrow, Heather suggested.

‘Sounds like a plan to me,” Conner finally agreed.

We pulled up at the hotel and Conner got out to book our room. Since he didn’t trust her, he thought it would be best to share a room. I don’t think he realized how uncomfortable it was going to be for all of us. As we made our way into the room, we all three looked at each other. “We’re all here to get some sleep. It’s for one damn night. I don’t feel like hearin’ either of you complain. Just get into bed and go to sleep.” Conner kissed me on top of the head and walked back outside. I ran to the door and followed him. “Where are you going?”

“I was goin’ to sleep in my truck.”

“Why? Do you really think it’s best to leave me alone with Heather?” I couldn’t believe what he was saying.

He started laughing. “Calm down, Blaze. I forgot my bag. I was comin’ right back.”

Yeah, I felt like an idiot for thinking he would leave me. “Oh, okay.”

He pointed in the direction of the room. “Get your ass back in that room before you catch a cold. I’ll be right there.”

I walked back to the room and took a deep breath before going in. I didn’t think I was going to be able to sleep, not with Heather being in the room with us, even though I was exhausted.