I flinch hard, letting my body shake, tears spilling at a timed pace.
Dad roars, "Look at the blood! She's going to have a scar!!"
I wait for Brax to look horrified. Stricken. Something.
But he steps forward with heat in his chest that has nothing to do with concern. "Valentina didn't touch her. But let me tell you what your daughter's been up to."
No.
No, no, no! This isn't the direction this scene is supposed to go.
"What's that?" Dad hisses.
I try to cut Brax off with a trembling, "I've done nothing, Dad!" but he steamrolls me, laughing sarcastically.
Then everything collapses.
He informs, "Your daughter's been stalking me for months. She's broken into my place several times, and today, she had the nerve to break into Valentina's!"
I gasp, shoulders trembling. "You're lying." I look at Dad, desperate. "He's lying, Dad. He's just covering for that...that Abruzzo wife of his!"
But Brax points at me like I'm something filthy. "You need help, Blue. You're delusional."
The word echoes through me, sharp and humiliating.
The only one who needs help is him.
I'm right here in front of him, and he decided to marry an Abruzzo!
Regardless, I'll help him recover when he comes to his senses. I love him. And I know deep down he loves me, not her.
"Watch your mouth," Dad orders.
"Are you not hearing what I'm telling you? She's stalking us!" Brax roars.
Dad's eyes narrow. He glances at me, then back at Brax.
He continues, "She's followed me to the gym. She lurks outside my place. She breaks into our homes. What more do you need to know to get her some help?"
I interject, "I don't need help, Brax! She's poisoning your mind!"
"More delusional crap," he declares.
Another stab slams into my heart.
"H-how can you be so mean?" I ask, adding more waterworks, but some are real.
He steps toward Dad. "Think about it. How many years have you warned me to stay away from your daughter, and how many times have I told you I've never considered touching her and never will?"
More darts fly at me. My insides shake hard, and I try to figure out how to get this back on track.
Brax accuses, "This sick crush she has on me isn't little anymore. She's got mental problems. You need to help her."
I place my hand on his arm. Tingles fly from my fingers to my spine, then right to my core. "Brax! Don't say stuff like that."
He shrugs out of it. "Don't touch me!"
Dad barks, "Blue, leave. Now."
