“I couldn’t understand why my memories weren’t coming back when I was doing better,” said August. “I knew I was missing something, but thenheshowed up, and by the time I realized Niko had picked me up and brought me home, it all came rushing back.”
Quinn’s arms were burning from hugging August so tightly, but he couldn’t bear to loosen his grip.
“My dad and his church buddies were a bunch of sick fucks, and that coach was one of them. I don’t know how much I comprehended as a child, but by the time I realized what he was doing was wrong and told my father, I was scolded for asking for help. My father let that motherfucker groom me. They both took turns making me feel worthless to keep me compliant, and eventually I gave up trying to stop it.”
Quinn only let go of August so he could reach for the bucket because he knew he was going to need it.
“My dad’s friends thought it was funny,” August continued. “That pedophile had a camera in his office to record what he did, and he would take pictures, too. He never…touched me, but it didn’t stop him from making me do things to myself. Then the pictures and videos would get passed around their friend group like some sick joke, and my father would make sure I could hear them all laughing at me when they talked about it.”
“And your mother,” Quinn gasped, pausing to gag before shaking it off. “Did sheknow?”
August nuzzled his face into Quinn’s hair, which only made the urge to cry worse.
“She knew, but how could she stop it?” said August. “She was subservient to my father, who was the head of the household. She would have let those men do worse to me and never lift a finger to stop them.”
Quinn was going to kill her. He didn’t know how he would do it and get away with it, but he would find a way.
“They stopped when I hit my growth spurt, and I grew tall enough to tower over them,” said August. “I was no longer cute and small, so they found someone new to abuse since I was beginning to fight back, and my father moved on to different methods to keep me compliant.”
The scars that Quinn’s hands were touching suddenly felt like livewires under his skin.
“I’m sorry for being such a massive asshole in high school,” August said, as if any of that fucking mattered. “I was beaten every night, and the fear of being caught with bruises consumed my every waking moment because if my coaches said anything, the beatings would get worse. I had to keep people at a distance and only care about myself, but that’s why you and Esme were so different. I thought you were crazy for defying your parents and then coming to school to brag about it, but in the end, knowing you gave me the strength to confront my father.”
Quinn leaned away because he wanted to see August’s face. His tone wasn’t matching the heaviness of the conversation, and it was throwing him off.
August was still pale and in obvious pain, but he smiled when Quinn looked at him, taking his hand to press a kiss to Quinn’s knuckles.
“I was going to come back to you that day,” said August. “I went home to pack a bag and grab my hockey gear, but I was comingback.”
Tears finally broke free, running in hot streams down Quinn’s face, blurring his vision.
“And then Iforgotabout you. You were the only thing that made me happy, but I didn’t remember that until ten fucking years later. No wonder I’m such a loser.”
Quinn wiped the tears away and cupped August’s face in his hands. “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that. I know you’ve been doing all the talking, but have you been hearing anything you’ve said? Normal people don’t walk away from abuse like that unscathed, August. There isalways trauma, and some carry it better than others, but you’re the furthest thing from a loser. You’re a survivor.”
August opened his mouth to argue, but Quinn gently covered it with his hand.
“Do you trust me?”
He pulled his hand away and waited for August’s answer.
“Unquestionably,” said August.
Quinn studied him, searching his face for a hint of doubt, but there was nothing. August was an adult capable of making his own choices, but Quinn couldn’t help but feel like he was talking to the child inside his heart whose cries had gone unanswered for too long.
But not anymore.
“Do you want me to take control?” Quinn asked because he had to besure.
“Please,” said August. “Please help me, Quinn.”
Smiling softly, Quinn leaned in and pressed their lips together. He felt August give in to him—felt the tension ease from his muscles, the trembling in his body fading into nothing.
“Okay,” Quinn began. “I’m going to run the bath, and you’re going to get in while I make a few calls.”
He had to tell Bea so word could get out before the morning. He also had to message Eren once his game was finished, so he knew why Quinn was pulling the girls out of hockey for now.
He was going to make sure that monster never touched another child again, but Augusthadto come first. He was his priority from this point on.
