Page 114 of Unapologetic Love Story

A few people made noises of surprise and Tom looked proud for a split second, before casting a truly violent look towards Seb and Ottie.

‘Raina. Let’s go. Let’s get you home—’

‘Save it!’ Pepper hissed at Tom as she bundled her friend up and headed towards the glass doors leading out to the enormous grounds. She turned to issue one order at the staff before they were gone from view. ‘I want him and his two lackeys off my property by the time I’m back or I’ll call the police.’

Raina’s body felt a little relief as the cool evening air hit her. She felt the heavy pressure of other people’s gazes and their assumptions lessen as she and Pepper dashed down the stone steps towards the small rose garden Pepper’s mother had cultivated. The scent of the flowers made Raina feel a little more grounded, as she fell to her knees on the grass and tried to focus on breathing deeply.

Clattering heels could be heard on the steps, followed by Solana’s voice. ‘Here, some water.’

Raina gulped it down gratefully. She could start to make out people’s faces again. Pepper looked ready to go to war and Solana was trying not to cry. The sight of it made Raina immediately want to console her little sister.

‘It’s okay,’ she croaked. ‘Don’t, it’s all right.’

‘No, it’s not,’ Solana wept, tears starting to fall down her young face. ‘That’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. But Raina, it’s them. Not Tom. He’s so worried about you. And I should tell you—’

‘They’ll pay,’ Pepper breathed, helping Raina get down the last of the water. ‘I’ll see to it.’

‘No, enough,’ Raina gasped, pushing away from the two of them and all talk of revenge. ‘I can’t do this any more, any of this. I need to leave.’

‘I’ll get the car,’ Solana said, jumping into action.

Raina sat on the grass and gently caressed a yellow rose that was close to her face. The petal so soft against her overstimulated fingers which desperately wished to flex and grab hold of something. She moved slowly down to the stem, carefully pressing her thumb to the thorn until it punctured her skin.

Rose-tinted lens. A romantic view on life.

She’d been wrong. It was so much worse to feel the thorns, despite the beauty of the flower. So much worse to fall from the edge of the cliff by surprise.

He might make a cynic of her yet.

‘Raina?’

His voice broke her of her reverie, and she hated the hope and love that welled up inside of her, before remembering what he’d done. What he was doing.

‘If you come near her,’ Pepper said vigilantly, brandishing the empty water tumbler. ‘I’ll glass you. No one would convict me.’

‘Pepper, I know you love her. I do, too. Please let me talk to her.’

‘You don’t love her. You have your story, you can go. Get to stepping. Got a deadline to meet?’

Raina got to her feet while they argued. She walked away from the scene. Her fingers brushed across the many roses as she moved away from the person who’d turned into her sun.

She needed to be her own light. As she’d been before.

Her body felt broken. Not just her heart.

As an autistic woman, it was hard to let people into her house. It was hard to watch them touching her things and existing in her private space.

It was even harder to let them into her heart.

But he’d made it all so easy. For the first time.

‘Raina?’

She heard Pepper swear and then some hurried footsteps on the grass. Tom caught up to her and grabbed her hand, which she instinctively snatched away. Not only on principle, but because his touch was too much.

‘I’m so sorry,’ he said once again. ‘She’s awful. That was awful. But I never should have made the ammunition. Or let her get near it. I’m so sorry, Raina.’

Raina stared blankly at her lightly bleeding finger. ‘Thing is,’ she finally whispered, ‘it won’t hurt so much when you publish. Nothing can feel worse than what just happened in there.’