“That’s how I feel about Oren,” Danika says, her voice a rasp, like she’s fighting back tears.
“Except Jonathan would never hurt me.”It comes out before I consider how it may sound to her.
Danika sits up.“Oren doesn’t hurt me.”
I raise my brows, challenging her with a pointed look at the evidence.
“This wasn’t him hurting me.This was me being stubborn.”Denial casts a shield around her, shutting me out.Danika’s not vulnerable anymore.She’s arming herself.
I meet her self-blame with righteous frustration.
“And what about the bruise on your wrist from when he showed up at Livvy’s?And was that bruise on your shoulder last week from him not hurting you?”
“I instigate it.”Her defense is weak, but her conviction isn’t.She really believes what she’s saying.She might as well be saying she asked for it.The more she denies it, the angrier I get.“Jonathan’s different.He’s violent.Always looking for a fight—a bomb ready to go off.How do you know you won’t be collateral damage someday?”
“He’s not some raged lunatic, looking for someone to beat on.You know that.And last night, he was there because he was defending us from your boyfriend.”I’m standing.The fire in my gut’s fully enflamed now.“Why would he ever put his hands on me?”
“You’re too blind to see who he really is.Just because you’re in love with him doesn’t mean you can change him.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“You’re going to stay with him, aren’t you?”Her words are an accusation.
“Why wouldn’t I?”My voice is louder.I’m defending him.Even though what he did was horrible.He punched Oren so hard, so many times—he knocked him out.“You’re going back to Oren again, aren’t you?”
“He loves me.”She says the words like they fix everything.
My mouth drops open.“He controls you.Just like—”
A loud knock interrupts the bitter words about to erupt from my mouth.“We can hear you,” Jaz calls from the other side.
My brother pushes the door open, not bothering to knock or wait for me to answer.
“Both of your boyfriends are assholes,” he announces.“I should know.I am one.So, dump them already and move on with your lives.”
We all gawk at him.I notice he’s freshly showered and fully dressed, his jacket in his hand.“I’m heading back to the city.”
“I thought you said…”
“I had to say something.Figured it would make you happy.”He shrugs dismissively.
I blink.“Are you kidding me?”
“Not sure I’m coming back for Thanksgiving, so see you in December.”He turns to go and calls over his shoulder, “Dump ’em.They’re not worth either of you.”
Jaz and Darcy part on either side of the doorway to let him pass.
“Your brother’s an asshole,” Darcy says.
“Said I was!”he shouts from down the hall.
Danika is gathering her things.“I have to go.”
“Don’t leave like this.”We’ve had disagreements before.Nothing like this.We’ve always found our way back to the middle.I’m not sure there is a middle this time.
“I need you to support me, no matter what I decide.Can you do that?”She plants a fist on her hip, waiting for my answer.
“You want me to be okay with him abusing you?”Not the answer that will make her stay.
