Like a Good Neighbor 24
Date: 7/30/2024,
Categories:
Fiction
Author: Rhiannon57
... pounds. Ryleigh’s target weight was one hundred fifty to one hundred fifty-five pounds.
Things were going well but I had not heard from Alexis in months. As hard as it was to accept, I was sure she had moved on from me. Several times I had started to dial her phone then changed my mind and hung up. Somehow, I just did not understand how someone would say that they were so in love with you then simply move on.
I was preparing to work out on a Monday morning when Ryleigh came in as always. I had to stop and take notice of her legs and firm ass in the ultra-tight leggings she had on. She had achieved that look that you knew she spent time in a gym. She came over to the bench press when I noticed a bruise showing around the collar of the black t-shirt she was wearing. I questioned her about it, but she just shrugged and said it was no big deal.
Later during the work out, I noticed that the bruise was on the left side by her neck and shoulder. When the sleeve of her t-shirt rose up a little, I noticed she had a larger bruise on her left upper bicep as well.
“Ryleigh, you can talk to me about what’s happening.”, I offered.
“Jace, I can handle it……... it’s almost over now.”, she said, softly.
“Is this guy your daughter’s father?”, I asked.
“Yes, he is…...”, she said, her voice trailing off.
“Then it will never be over until someone, or something makes him stop.”, I offered.
“Jace, I don’t want to get anyone involved in my problems. It’s something I must ...
... deal with.”, she stated, moving to another station.
“How do your parents feel about all of this?”, I asked.
“They can’t stand him but it’s complicated. His father owns the biggest law firm in town. He can keep me in court for the rest of my life. He knows everyone in this town, and I have learned it’s a no-win situation for me.”, she admitted.
“Look, I’m taking you for dinner tonight so we can talk this over……. no excuses.”, I demanded.
“Sure, I guess……... no problem.”, she replied.
That night I took Ryleigh out to a steakhouse that was nearby, and she bared her soul. Dustin Dillion, her former husband or soon to be, was simply a spoiled little boy. Dustin’s father cleaned up all his messes so basically there were no consequences. Dustin’s leverage in this whole situation was their three-year-old daughter. He was still fighting for full custody, claiming Ryleigh did not have the resources to raise her. Ryleigh was deathly afraid that he would take Maci away from her.
Ryleigh described their teenage years as wonderful, and she was madly in love with Dustin. They were married at twenty and before their first anniversary she caught him cheating on her. When she confronted him, he pushed her down to the floor. After that, whenever he would lose his temper, or she would confront him he would toss her around like a rag doll. He never hit her, but he would push her or grab her quite forcefully.
Over the next few years, he would jump from one affair to the next ...