*Flashback*
I hear the door slam as he walks in, I see him looking around barely being able to stand up I can tell he's drunk and that just means one thing for me and it is not good. I try to walk as quiet as I can to hide in the bathroom as I was nearly there he spotted me. "Stop" I heard him yell. He came storming over and my heart sank.
*End of flashback*
I've been through the same routine multiple times. It didn't start off like this, I met Ryan 4 years ago in a coffee shop, he was so handsome and sweet. We went on a date and he was lovely, used to buy me presents, show affection like cute little things like running a bath after I've had a long shift, we moved in together and it was great. After he few months he started wanting to look at my phone, then it was checking where I was going and who I was speaking to. Then it got even worse, he starting commenting on how I look, what I wear and who I could spend my time with. Even though the degrading comments were horrible I could deal with it. I've never been so scared as I was on the 24th December, Ryan starting getting annoyed about the plans my family made for Christmas they wanted me home to spend it as a family, he was not happy with this and his anger spiralled that was the first day he hit me.
I tried to leave multiple times as the beatings got worse, he always left marks where people could not see them and this went on for far too long until the night it didn't and I ended up fighting for my life.
I woke up cold with the shower still running, I have no idea what time it is, I turn the shower off and go lay on the bed. I'm scared of going back to sleep in case the nightmares come as I hear a heated conversation coming from the direction of the living room. I look at my phone from messages from Riley and Ben checking I'm okay some of them sent over an hour ago. I send a message back saying I'm fine and turn my phone off.
I spend the rest of the night staring at the wall dreading what is to come the next morning.
Morning comes faster than I'm prepared for and I take my shower, my heart is beating so fast but I hear Claire here and that means Coopers back. Time to do the job.
I walk out and greet Claire in the kitchen, Coopers in the highchair and as soon as he sees me lifts his arms for me to pick him up. I look at his bright smiling face and it makes me smile instantly. "I missed you little man, did you have fun at Auntie Claire's?" I said. He smiled further and babbles happily I put him back in the highchair as Claire comes to give me a hug saying "Did you enjoy your night out?", I just smiling and busied myself preparing a coffee I was not going to bring this up with her because I don't want him being anymore angry.
"Morning Claire, was Cooper okay for you?" I heard Theo ask. As I pour the hot water I stiffen up and my mind goes back to last night. I hear a gasp as Theo shouts "Watch what you're doing, your so incompetent clean it up now". I didn't realise what he was talking about until I feel intense burning on my hand, I pull my hand away and realise I didn't stop pouring the water as I sat on the kitchen top dripping on the floor. I turn around to look at him with wide eyes "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry I didn't mean to, Ill clean it right away. Sorry" the words stumble out of my mouth. I turn and grabbed a cloth and start wiping. Claire starts saying something about my hand but I just concentrate on cleaning the mess, she pulls me away from it saying I need to take care of my hand.
Theo comes over and stand between me and Claire stating that I will clean the mess up before doing anything and I go back to cleaning. Claire tries talking to Theo but he brushes her off telling her not to get involved in the way he speaks to his staff.
I carry on cleaning silently I believe it's probably just best for me to keep as quiet as possible around him and be invisible like he says. He leaves the apartment after having a long conversation with Claire and I pick up Cooper and go to the play area. Coopers holding a teddy as I say "Little man shall we go out today and have an adventure". He looks at me with his beaming smile and I think everything's going to be okay. I love working with Coop and looking after him makes me so happy we have bonded, I don't want to have to leave because of Theos issues with me.
I pack up the stuff I need for the outing with Cooper, I hear my phone buzz, it's a message from Ben asking how I am and what I'm doing today. I send a quick message back whilst walking out the door with Coop sending a quick message back saying we were going to Round Park, Ben said he will meet us there I'm guessing he wants to talk about what unfolded last night. Unfortunately for me I would rather not relive it, but I know Ben is wanting to talk about it.
It takes 10 mins to get to the park, Cooper starts to walk straight towards the baby swings, I hear Ben shout from behind "Cooper my man" whilst coming behind him and pushing him once he's in the swing. Cooper starts staring off into the trees where there were dog walkers and their dogs chasing squirrels he was fascinated by them. Whilst Cooper was occupied Ben pulls me slight away from swing to talk to me.
He looks at me with such sympathy "How are you after yesterday?".
I put a smile on my face and reply as if nothing happened "I'm fine thanks for asking, what have you got planned for the rest of the day?"
He slyly smiles at me replying "I was thinking I could hang out with you and Coop". I smile at him and nod.
"We'll all we were going to do is grab some ice cream and go home for his nap" I replied. "That is great whilst he's napping we can have a movie day and "I'll help you out with Coop" he said whilst smiling.
We grab Coop and walk to the ice cream shop, I order Cooper a scoop of chocolate his favourite, order myself strawberry and Ben order 4 scoops of mint chocolate chip. I look over to him shocked and he smiles saying "I love ice cream", he looks like a big kid.
I don't know much about Ben to be honest other than Theo and Riley are his best friends they have known each other since they were kids and they trust each other with their lives. Ben is Coopers godfather and he adores him you can tell the way he looks at him. I thought this was the best opportunity to ask him some questions to get to know him better.
I look at him saying "So apart from the fact that you love ice cream, tell me more about yourself" He smiles at me like he can't wait to share.
"I am an only child, my parents died when I was a teenager so Theo, Riley, Claire and Coop are my family. I am single, like I told you before I like small brunettes" He tells me whilst smiling and winking at me.
"I had one serious girlfriend when I was a teenager but since then I've just been having fun, I do want to settle down at some point I guess. My favourite food is burgers, my favourite drink is iced coffee". He continued.
"Do you work?" I asked.
"Yeah I work with Theo on one of the businesses, he's my business partner, we run a law firm". He said whilst I looked at him shocked.
"So, are the businesses that Theo runs all law firms?" I asked whilst he looked at me confused.
"Have you never spoken to him about his work?" he replied and I shook my head.
"When you got the job did you not search Theo up on the internet?" I shook my head again.
"I don't believe everything you read online and I wanted to have my own opinion on someone instead of looking at things online" I say whilst finishing off my ice cream.
"You are something else princess, are you ready to go?" he says as he stands up.
I put my coat on and pick up Cooper carrying him, Ben falls into step with me and we stroll back to the apartment and Cooper falls asleep in my arms.
We walk into the apartment and Claire greets us all with a hug, we say we are going to put Cooper down and have a movie day. Claire grabs Cooper off me walking to his room saying she will put him down for us and for us to enjoy the movie.
Ben walks over to my snack cushion and grabs popcorn, chips and chocolate and slams down on the couch next to me. Claire says she going to hang out in the spare room, after about an hour Cooper wakes up and I go pick him up and feed him, it's turning dark when he starts to drift off again and I put him back into his cot. Me and Ben grab some dinner and settle back on the couch half way through the movie I get uncomfortable and start to shuffle around Ben looks over and moves closer to the end of the couch and grabs a pillow putting it on his lap telling to come put my head down.
I smile and lay down happily, I feel a little awkward at first but we settle in a comfortable position. Ben bends his head down "Relax princess" as starts running his fingers through my hair. I smile and relax into his touch.
"So, as you know more about me, what brings you to New York?", my body tenses at that question and I no longer feel relaxed. I stay quiet as I don't know how to respond, I do feel comfortable around Ben but I know I can't mention the real reason about the move. "I just wanted a change" I mumbled out.
"Well there's more to that story" he laughed out, "How about your type in men, any boyfriend?" questioning me. My body is so tense I've got to the point where I'm struggling to let any of the tension go, I don't want to answer these questions I don't even want to think about my past relationship.
"I like tall, funny, kind. I just want someone who can make me happy" I sigh out feeling dejected. "So, you haven't found that yet?" I can feel him looking down on me as I shook my head.
"Don't worry babe, your beautiful anybody would be lucky to have you. I sure would if you weren't like a little sister to me" he whispered smiling.
I smile and relax with my eyes drifting shut as he starting running his fingers through my hair again, I drift off.