JESSIE
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I’m finally admittinghow much I fucking love you.
Lying in Liam’s arms, I listen to the steady drum of his heart, and those words repeat over and over inside my head.
He loves me.
I would go to prison for this woman.
This wasn’t how I dreamed his confession of love would unfold, but, nevertheless, it certainly surprised the heck out of me in one of the most terrible moments of my life.
But.
And this is a bigbut.I can see the revolt in his eyes, and they tell me everything.Liam is a protector; he’s always been that way.Especially about me.He’s wired to look after me and care for me after we’ve grown up together.As Jayden’s little sister.
Nothing can now change the way he’ll see me from now on.The victim strapped to a rapist’s bed while he treated me like I was nothing more than a toy.
How can any man truly love that?
Can I even be the Jessie he once knew?I’m not sure if I am even now.
I feel like a shattered dinner plate, hoping someone will put me back together again.They can’t.That monster stole part of me that trusted this world.I want to lie in this bed and hide from the world forever.Just lie here until everything fades into nothingness.
Liam loves me.
I’ve waited forever to hear those words.
Except now I don’t feel like we belong together or that I’m worthy of him.
Let’s hope he doesn’t work it out.
He will, and I’ll take all I can while he pieces it all together.
“Jay is home in a few days, Jess.You need to tell him.I can’t keep this from him.Not after the guys at BHS were involved in finding you.”
I let out a sigh.
He’s right, plus I can’t complain because they saved my life.Not that I want to complain; it’s just so humiliating.
“He’s going to lose his mind.”I shake my head and look away.
“Ididlose my mind.Not telling him the moment I knew you were in danger was a mistake.The longer we leave it, the angrier Jay will be.”
“Please.Not tonight.I just want to sleep in your arms and forget.”
Liam is quiet, thinking.As he is prone to do.
Finally, he kisses my forehead.“We’ll call him in the morning.I’m not going to work, so we’ll ring Jay and then ring your mom and dad.”
I press my face into his strong chest and nod.
I fucking love you.
They don’t need to know.This is my cross to bear alone, but that’s not how our family works.We deal with things together.Liam is part of the family.
Still, being sexually abused is not something you announce like an engagement or promotion.
