“I know about our conversations in the future. You replay the moment when I told you about Brandon’s death. I was a jerk to tell you like that. When I taunted you in the future, it was only because I was trying to help, to make you talk. I wanted you to scream, to tell me to leave you alone. I feel the echoes of you yelling that in your head.”
I said nothing. Spider-like cracks appeared in the brick wall of my mind, threatening to crumble the mortar. He was hard to resist when the force of his personality was directed my way.
“I’m sorry future me didn’t tell you about Brandon. It’s unforgivable that I let you suffer alone or thought you wouldn’t care, especially considering the timing.
It hadn’t been all his fault. I’d been so messed up with Eric and avoiding everything that made him angry. I hadn’t spoken to anyone about anything personal. I’d pushed everyone away and kept them at a distance, and I’d let myself become isolated.
“What am I thinking now?”I let the brick wall fall.
He tilted up my chin. “You’re thinking that when I walk out of here, you’ll be lonelier than ever before.”
I nodded. I expected him to turn on his heel. I was too damaged.
Instead, he pulled me into an embrace. His solid warmth and the sweet chocolatey smell of him brought me back, thawed me. I couldn’t stay behind the brick wall all the time. I wasn’t just in 2017 for myself. I was here to save Brandon, but it didn’t have to be so lonely. Christopher’s arms wrapped around me made me warm, safe. I snuggled in closer.
If I was being honest with myself, I’d always been attracted to Christopher and missed his friendship those years since I’d pushed him away. I worried about getting my heart broken again, but tonight I didn’t care.
“Will you help me tell my family what happened with Eric? Please.”
“So, you accept my apology?”
I nodded. He smiled and took my hand.
We went downstairs and joined my family in the living room. The guests were gone and Meghan and Dad wore matching furrows to their brows, looking more alike than usual. Andrew’s hair stood on end like he’d been pulling on it and he couldn’t sit. Dad wouldn’t meet my eyes. Another stab of guilt. I hoped I hadn’t ruined their party.
“I’m going to speak for Elizabeth,” Christopher said, “so she doesn’t have to text.”
Meghan looked at me, and I nodded.
“We met Eric outside. He figured out Elizabeth couldn’t talk, waited for her to be alone, and followed. He tried to rape her.”
“Are you hurt?” Meghan got to her feet—her arms crossed. “I don’t understand. Have you met him before?”
I hesitated, then shook my head. To him, I’d been an easy victim. It had been opportunistic.
Meghan turned to Christopher. “How did you know she was in trouble? One second you were here, the next you were racing upstairs.”
“Earlier, she said that he gave her the creeps. She’d been gone too long, and I got a bad feeling, so I went looking. When I got upstairs, I heard his voice.”
I looked up at Christopher. When he looked down, it felt like a caress and heat infused my body.
“Do you want to press charges?” Andrew paced back and forth. “I’ve been drinking and am off duty, but I can get someone here. That bastard shouldn’t get away with this.”
I shook my head.“I’m okay. Christopher interrupted and punched him.”
“How do you know Eric?” Christopher asked.
“He used to be my neighbor,” said Andrew. “I invited him, just to be polite, when I ran into him last week. He’d asked how living together with Meghan was working out. I had no idea he was a sick fuck. I’m so sorry. You won’t ever see him near us again. I want to kick him into the middle of next week. Are you sure about not pressing charges?” He frowned.
“I just want to forget about it. Sorry if I ruined the party.”
“You didn’t ruin it,” said Meghan. “We’re glad you came. I thought for sure you’d try to weasel out of it. I’m just sorry it turned rotten at the end. I’m glad you’re all right.”
She shot Dad a look that I didn’t understand. Their reaction was odd and subdued. Shouldn’t they be more upset at Eric? What was I missing?
I rested my hand on Christopher’s arm.
“It’s time for us to go,” he said. “It was nice meeting everyone. Congratulations again, from both of us.”
