Instead of answering, I returned to my spot on the couch, pulling my legs back up.
“I’m going to assume you weren’t told about me stopping by.” She took a seat on the chair closest to the door. I watched warily as she pulled out a notebook and pen, setting in on her lap. “I’m here for you to talk to. I can give advice and help in a number of ways. I’m here foryou. Whatever you say will not be repeated. But I will be making notes of anything that might help with the case.”
I shrugged.
I had nothing to say that hadn’t already been said.
“I’ll tell you why I’m here today, will that work?” When I still didn’t say a word, she went on. “I was called this morning by Detective Luke.” I peeked up at her, knowing that name. “The therapist who was scheduled to show up decided it wasn’t worth his time. But that’s probably a good thing. I was called in, since I live nearby. I took a look at what the good ole’ docs said, and I knew I could deal with whatever you want to talk about.”
She leaned forward, as if she were about to tell me a secret. “Nothing you can say will surprise me. You’re on antidepressants and antianxiety meds. I saw the Cliffs Notes of your injuries and medical care. I can make assumptions about how you turned up at a hospital. A lover turned abusive. I’ve seen it before.”
“He wasn’t my lover.” He’d never earned that right.
“Tell me how you met your abuser, then,” Gale hedged.
It didn’t seem like I had much choice, so I did. Once the words started, I couldn’t stop them. “At a party. I shouldn’t have been there. I was grounded.”
“What were you grounded for?” She leaned back in the chair, keeping the notebook in her lap, pen at the ready.
“Failing.” I had just moved to a new town a few months before. New school. I was a stupid teenager, letting my emotions control my actions. I had been so mad at Dad’s job requiring us to move, again, for the third time that year. His job never allowed us to stay in one place very long, and by that age, I was over it. I just wanted to stay in one school and make some lasting friends. “I was trying to becool.”
I fell into the wrong crowd. It seemed I was just the type to draw in the wrong kind of people, no matter where I went. “I just wanted to belong.”
“Understandable. That’s what everyone wants.” Gale went on, not an ounce of nagging in her voice. So unlike what Mom always had. “So, what happened at this party?”
“There was drinking. And some drugs. I…I didn’t do either of them.” Even though I remembered being asked so many times. “It was…like any sort of high school party with the parents out of town. I played the part of being cool, I guess. But…” I trailed off.
“But what?” Gale prompted.
I closed my eyes, willing the memories to stay in the past. I guess in the reality, it was nothing compared to what else had happened. Yet, it was the start of it all.
“Steven…one of my friend’s uncles, showed up. He had a group of older guys with him.” My voice cracked. “He…”
“We’ll go back to that later,” Gale said, understanding without words needing to be spoken. “Did you ever love him?”
I shook my head. “Maybe, but not really. He…” I stopped, not able to keep going on.
“That’s okay,” Gale soothed. She jotted something down before giving me her attention again. “You were seventeen when you met him.” I nodded. “When did he change from being nice?”
I shrugged. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment. He’d yell, then apologize afterwards. Then the yelling would move to hitting. Then more hitting. Then more pain. I couldn’t even remember the first time. They all blended together.
“He was sweet between it all.”
Well, until Enzo came in, anyway.
I sniffed, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.
“How about we talk about something else?” Gale said, setting the notebook down. “What’s one thing you want?”
I lifted my eyes to hers. There was nothing I wanted more than one simple thing. One thing that I’d never be able to have again.
One single tear fell as I refused to answer. No one would be able to change what I had done.
Ryker
By the time I finished shopping, picking up a few things I hoped Emery would enjoy, it was later than I expected. It didn’t help that I was stopped a few times while I was out by the townspeople. They didn’t know who was in the house next to mine, only that there was someone. Why else would I be buying so much food?
I gave nothing away. The people would make up their own stories that would be way off base. They always were.
