“Can I come inside?”
He nods, stepping aside, and I follow him to the couch. Storm stands from her bed, body wiggling with excitement. She hops on the couch beside me, and we both curl up together.
“You’re scaring me, baby.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but I need to tell you everything about LA.”
With his hand in mine, I feel his strength coming through, encouraging me to talk.
“I didn’t leave him because I fell out of love,” I say quietly, staring ahead at nothing.
He flinches at my admission, and I realize how it sounded to him.
“I fell out of love with him a long time ago, but I couldn’t leave.” I shift my gaze to him as I let out a deep exhale. “I left because I was scared of him.”
Jett’s forearms flex, fists tightening slightly. “Wren–”
“No, let me.” I hold up a hand as I use the other to pet Storm. “He wasn’t like that at first. He was charming and successful. Everyone loved him and was envious of me. But he turned controlling and possessive, and not in the possessive way you got. His temper was bad. I thought I knew bad tempers, but his was on another level.”
I can feel anger radiating off Jett, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I hope he hears me out and realizes how hard this is to admit.
“I didn’t tell anyone. Not only was I embarrassed, but I didn’t think anyone would believe me, not when he was loved by so many. It started with small things with production and escalated until he was picking out what I was wearing, how my hair was being styled, and what I was eating. Then that led to always knowing my location, limiting who I had contact with, and any time I pushed back, things just got so much worse.” My voice cracks. “So I left. I packed a couple of suitcases and left while he was on a work trip. My security guard helped me plan my escape, and he mailed me the rest of my things.”
“Did he get physical?” The question sounds more like a growl.
“Jett…”
“Wren, don’t bullshit me.”
I sigh, and that’s the only answer he needs.
“Fuck, Wren.” His body stiffens, and his jaw tightens against the top of my head.
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly.
“For what?” he snaps. I know his tone isn’t directed toward me, but the situation.
“Where do I start? For being naive enough to fall for his bullshit, for being the girl who stayed with an abuser, for bringing this all to your doorstep?”
“Bring it all to my doorstep, baby. I’ll burn the entire world down to end anyone who dares to hurt you. Not only are you the most compassionate, hardworking, loyal person I know, but no one deserves to be a captor in their own life, and it sounds like that’s exactly what you were. You’re brave. A fighter. A fucking survivor.”
“I don’t feel like I am.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m here to tell you otherwise.”
I start crying, even though I told myself not to. I’m tired of crying over my situation and especially over Elias. But this time, it’s not because I’m scared, it’s because for the first time in a long time, I feel safe.
We shift on the couch until Jett’s arm is wrapped around me as he nuzzles me into his side. “Have you talked about it?”
I shake my head. No, I haven’t talked about it. Saying the words out loud make it real, even though I’ve carried the bruises and broken bones.
“I think you should. I had to do some therapy through the military, and I still talk to a group now.”
“I’ll think about it.” My mind goes back to the flyer at Shoreline Sips and Davis’s words urging me to go.
Jett nods. “That’s all I can ask, but I think you’ll find the weight you’re carrying lift, pound by pound, with each word you share.
“There’s more,” I admit.
