Plus, if I’m honest, my apartment reminds me too much of Chris, and he’s gone now. It’s time to leave the past in the past and move forward. Kent promised he would go to therapy and get clean, and I intend to follow up on that now. I know he pushed it aside to take care of me, but I need to nudge him in the right direction, and moving in should give him that extra incentive to confront his fears and deal with it.
I still don’t have the facts, but I know enough to know this will not be easy for Kent. I want to be there, every step of the way, to support him and help him do this. I can’t do that if I’m nearly an hour away.
“Earth to Presley baby,” Mo says, clicking her fingers in my face. She’s taken to calling me that lately, loving to tease me about my boyfriend.
“You’re right.” I grin at her, pulling my cell out of my purse. “I’m doing it. I’m going to officially move in.
Kent
Nerves fire at me as I stand outside Mrs. Douglas’s brownstone, wondering if I should have found a therapist by myself. I asked Selena to meet me here at a time when her mom, Sandrine, wouldn’t be at home because I need privacy for this conversation. I could’ve asked her to meet me at my apartment, but I didn’t want to risk one of my brothers showing up. I’m nowhere near ready to explain things to my family. Besides, Sel had a meeting in the city today, so this location works better. Before I knock on the door, my cell vibrates with a new message. I open it up, and my smile grows wider as I read Presley’s message.
“Good news?” Selena asks, and I almost drop my cell.
My heart careens around my chest in sudden panic. “Shit, Sel. You’re like a freaking ghost. I never even heard you open the door.”
She smiles, stepping aside to let me enter her family home.
“It’s good to see you so happy,” she says, closing the door behind me. “You deserve it so much.”
“Presley just agreed to move in with me,” I tell her, needing to share the good news with someone.
Little lines pucker her brow. “I thought she was already living with you?”
I follow her into the large living room, sinking onto one of the couches. “Mostly, but she still has stuff at her place, and she still stayed there some nights. Now, it’s official, and she’s agreed to fully move in. She’s just given notice to her landlord.”
Selena sits on the couch across from me, with only the coffee table separating us. A tray with a large glass jug, two glasses, some cookies, and fresh fruit rests atop the table. “That’s great.” Selena’s genuine smile confirms what I already know. Keanu’s wife is naturally sweet and compassionate, and it’s the simple things that make her happy. Like her cranky-ass brother-in-law finding a strong, courageous, gorgeous woman to put up with said cranky ass. “I adore her, and she’s perfect for you.”
“She really likes you too.” I love that Presley gets along with my family but especially Selena and Eva because they are both special to me.
“So, why did you want to meet?” she asks, getting straight to it.
My stomach dips to my feet as nerves flood my system again. Sitting up straighter, I wipe my clammy hands down the front of my pants. I came straight here from work, so I’m still in my suit.
Selena pours homemade lemonade into two glasses while she waits patiently for me to explain why I asked to meet her alone, in her mother’s house, and not to breathe a word to anyone, especially not my brother—her husband. It’s a tall order, because those two tell each other everything, but I think, instinctually, she knows I need this, and she didn’t argue, readily agreeing to meet me.
“I want to speak to a therapist, and I thought you might be able to help me with that.” Selena and Keanu are setting up a massive facility that provides a wide range of support services to victims of sexual abuse, and she has vast contacts in this area. I could’ve Googled it, but I would rather see someone who is personally recommended, and there is no one I trust more than Selena.
She nods, removing a card I hadn’t noticed resting on the arm of the couch until now. She passes it to me. “Denise is my therapist. She’s wonderful, and I think you will like her.” I take the card, looking down at the words. “She doesn’t have a conventional setup, which was important for my recovery, and I get a sense it will be important for yours too.”
Everything locks up inside me, and my hand shakes. I gulp over the lump in my throat as I lift my head, looking at Selena, seeing nothing but compassion and understanding. “You know?” I croak, fighting the panic swirling inside me.
“I’ve suspected.” She gets up, coming over to sit beside me. She peers deep into my eyes as she takes my hand in hers. “I see the signs because of what I’ve lived through. I thought, several times, of asking you outright, but I know better than anyone that you can’t force someone to confront things until they are ready. I will never ask you to tell me anything, Kent, but I want you to know I am here if you ever need me to listen. If I can help in any way, you only have to ask.” Tears cling to her lashes. “I see your pain, and it reminds me of my own.”
“Please tell me it gets easier,” I whisper, clutching her soft hand.
“It does, but it never fully leaves you, Kent, and it takes a lot of hard work to come through to the other side. But you can compartmentalize it, and you have a solid foundation, a family who loves you, and I believe you are strong enough to deal with it and move forward with your life.” She pauses for a second. “Does Presley know?”
“Not the details.”
“To truly, fully confront your fears and move on, you need to tell those you love what happened. When the time is right and you feel strong enough to do it.”
Panic jumps up and bites me on the ass. “My family can’t know!” It’s one thing to consider telling the girl I love, but my family is way more complicated than that. If she has said anything to my brother, I will die. Pressure sits on my chest, constricting my air supply, and I tug at my tie, loosening my collar, struggling to draw enough air into my lungs.
“Kent.” She palms one side of my face. “Breathe deeply.” She breathes in and out with me, nice and slow, until I’ve regained my composure. “I haven’t said one word to Keanu,” she adds, knowing what I need to hear. “You know we don’t keep secrets from one another, but I would never breach your trust with something like this. Anyway, up until now, I only had suspicions.” She chews on the corner of her lip, looking unsure.
“What?”
“I think Keaton and Keanu have begun to suspect.”
