“I don’t know,” I finally say. “I guess I’d have to think about it.”
“I could take care of it,” Rowan says. “I’ve already done hard time. I could do it again.”
“That’s not even funny,” I reply, a prickle of irritation clouding my veins. “You shouldn’t have been there to begin with.”
“Yeah, well, it’s in the past.” Rowan waves a hand. “What’s happening right now is more important. And I really think you should consider filing a report at the police station.”
“No way. I lied to them years ago; they wouldn’t believe me now. And it’s not like Grant’s hurting anyone else. He’s fixated on me.” The words feel dirty as they leave my mouth. He’s obsessed with me. I think a part of him really believes that we had some kind of relationship. Like we were in love.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dom says. “If you don’t take steps to stop this, it never will. And then Row or I will end up in a cell for killing the guy.”
“It’s not your responsibility.”
“Stop it.” His voice turns hard. “We’re brothers; we don’t want you to get hurt. What Grant’s doing to you is wrong. What he did to you in the past is wrong. Do you really think we can just let it happen to you when we know now what’s going on?”
I swallow and stare down at my hands. I try to imagine if they were in my position, like if Dad had come back and was terrorizing them. I couldn’t stand by and let it happen either. I’d have to intervene some way. “I fucking hate you guys sometimes.”
“We know,” Rowan says. “After the ceremony tomorrow, you’re going to the station. I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I said I’ll go with you.” His tone lets me know there’s no room for arguments. I want to fight him, tell him it’s better if I just skip town again. But I’m not sure that’d stop my brothers from going after Grant. And I can’t let them mess up their lives again.
Twenty-six
Max
When I get to the garden on Saturday, the sun is high in the sky, and the flowers somewhat cover the scent of the city. Not much though.
One of Dom’s friends from the school where he works with Brigid is showing people to their seats, and they put me in one near the front. I can’t stop myself from looking around for Jude. I texted him a couple times last night, but he didn’t respond. It only makes me feel worse about what happened.
I should’ve been more aware of what was happening. I knew something was off when Jude showed up, and I ignored it because I believed if we were together, it would help. Like how it did with Patrick. But Jude isn’t Patrick. And I may have hurt him more than he’s willing to admit.
Jude doesn’t show up until the ceremony starts. As he walks down the aisle with one of Brigid’s bridesmaids, he gives me a nod and a tight smile. I have no idea what it means.
I try not to think about it as Dominic and Brigid exchange their vows, but it’s hard not to watch Jude the whole time. His eyes are so soft as he watches his brother slide the ring on Brigid’s finger. A sense of peace radiates from him, and even though I know it wasn’t technically my fault, it still sends guilt shooting through me. I should’ve gotten him to look like that last night.
I wish he had trusted me enough to talk about it.
When the ceremony’s over, we move to the reception hall. It’s better here for my focus because Jude isn’t at the front any longer. Now, I can get lost in the crowd of people. I like it that way. Mostly because I’m not sure what I’d say to Jude if he came over to talk. It seemed easier when I was texting him.
But when Jude finally appears, back in his dark jeans and black T-shirt, I know I’m not going anywhere until I’ve had a chance to apologize about last night.
“Hey,” he says, resting his hands on the back of the empty chair across from me.
“I’m sorry.” The words are out of me instantly.
He gives me a gentle smile. “You don’t need to apologize. Can we go somewhere quieter to talk?”
“Yeah.” I stand and follow him down the hall and to an empty room. Once he closes the door behind us, the sounds from the reception fade, and it’s just the two of us. I want to apologize again, but I’m not sure he’ll take it well. So instead, I stay silent and wait for him to speak.
After a few minutes, he clears his throat and says, “I met Grant when I was a freshman in high school. He’d just moved back to town and gotten a job teaching science. He and my dad knew each other when they were in college, but he moved away before I was even born. He came onto me the first day of school.”
He pauses, and I swallow hard. I don’t want to hear this. I don’t want to know about what this creep did to Jude when he was all alone. But he has the courage to talk about it, and I need to listen.
“It went on for a few weeks, then the next thing I know, he’s at the house. He told my dad that I was acting out in class and distracting the other kids…” He trails off before saying softly, “My dad was going to hurt my brothers because of what Grant said. So I let him fuck me, and in return, he got my dad to calm down. He’d take him out of the house and give us a few hours of peace. Well, as much peace as you could have in that place.”
My stomach sinks at his story. At the fact that Grant was hurting him, and Jude felt he had no choice but to take it.
