Vanessa looked at him, so sincere, so caring, then at Wren, whose eyes had a faraway look to them, glazed over. Vanessa was worried about him. Maybe Billy was just what he needed tonight. ‘OK.’ She began to get some stuff together for Ty, enough for a day or two, just in case. As she turned, she saw Billy holding Wren off the ground in a bear hug.

‘You OK, buddy?’

Wren studied his face for a few moments before mumbling, ‘Yes.’

Thank God for Billy.

Billy put Wren down and hustled them all into his car, pulling into his driveway a few minutes later. Once the boys were settled in the spare room, he made Vanessa a tea and slid it across the table. ‘Do you want to call the police?’ he asked quietly.

‘What’s the point? There’s no evidence that he was ever there. Just like last time. They’ll think I’m making it up.’ She held her head in her hands and sighed deeply.

‘What did he do to you?’ he asked, but still, the question hit home.

‘Nothing I’m not used to.’

‘Fuck!’ Billy hissed. ‘Let me go over there and sort him out. I’ll make it so he never comes near you again.’ His face had darkened, and his eyes shadowed with rage. She knew that he meant it.

‘Don’t do anything. Please, Billy. I just want to get on with my life, not make it about Mark and what he does or doesn’t do to me anymore. I have to focus on Wren and Ty. They need me and I need them. But I appreciate the offer,’ Vanessa said, steepling her fingers underneath her chin.

They shared a hug and then Billy bent his head, his lips touching her nose lightly as he kissed her. When she didn’t pull away, he pressed his lips against hers, tentatively at first, then with more pressure. Vanessa parted her lips and his tongue slid inside her mouth slowly. Vanessa had never been kissed like this before and she felt a feeling come over her, one that she thought she’d never feel again, desire. As he wrapped his strong arms around her, his hands exploring every inch of her back, she felt like this was fate. Ever since she’d met Billy on the street, they had just clicked. Breathless, she pulled back.

‘Um—' she stuttered, not knowing what to do now. Billy smiled at her, kissed her on the cheek, then took her by the hand and walked her to the bedroom. He grabbed a blanket and pillow from the wardrobe; he was taking the couch, giving Vanessa his bed for the night.

Vanessa appreciated his tolerance of the situation. She knew that he wanted to do something, anything, to help her out, make her difficult life easier, but talking to Mark wouldn’t help. She knew that better than anyone. She had been expecting something like this to happen, so it hadn’t come as a major surprise. Vanessa drifted off to sleep, her arms wrapped around Billy’s pillow, wishing it were him, the taste of his kiss on her lips.