16. Rory
RORY
“Can you believe this shit? He doesn’t call for years after he banished you, and now that she’s sick…” Brendan runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
“It’s okay. Mom needs you.”
“Yeah, but she didn’t stand up for you. She just let that dick kick you out of ‘his house,’ not our family home.”
My heart breaks a little at the memory of the look on her face when we both left. She was so upset, but there was nothing she could do.
“You know she couldn’t disobey Dad like that. She was raised to believe that the husband is the head of the household.”
“Toxic masculinity more like it.” He scoffs. “And I’m not staying long. Just enough time to get things settled.”
“I know.”
He must notice my nerves. “I could take you with me, and you can stay in a hotel.”
“No, it’s fine. I need to get over my fear of being alone.” I’m such a baby.
“Hey, no.” Brendan kneels in front of me. “Your fear is real, and it’s reasonable. You don’t need to be brave or suck it up. You can be needy and clingy. It’s your right.”
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re a survivor and a fighter, but it’s okay to lean on someone.”
I nod, but I don’t believe his words.
“It’s okay. Really. We have cameras and locks on all the windows and doors, not to mention the alarm system.”
“Don’t forget about your taser or your pepper spray.”
“I’ll keep them on my nightstand.”
Brendan really looks at me now like he’s trying to read my emotions in my eyes. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“You should go. Mom needs you.”
“It’s not just you. I have other… obligations.” His tone says he’s hiding something.
I roll my eyes. “Like being Mr. Hart’s on-call mob doctor?”
I need to remember that no matter how much I want Lex, he’s dangerous and will probably drop me when the next hot chick walks past.
Although, he’s still sending me gifts, and he leaves me a sweet voicemail every night.
At first, I wanted to throw his presents away, but the pixies needed the bluebells to warn them if predators got too close.
And then I couldn’t leave Princess Paisley’s castle in the front yard. It’s not safe outside of the fence.
“Now, my flight leaves in a few hours. Is there anything you need before I go?”
“I’ll be fine.”
I am not fine.
Who am I kidding?
I can’t do this. I’m too scared.
I’ve been huddled in my bed, jumping at shadows and flinching at every noise.
Brendan’s only been gone two days, and I haven’t slept at all.
This is getting ridiculous. I should have taken up Vera on her offer to stay at her place, but she lives right next to campus and I’m still scared of being there.
“God, why am I so pathetic?” The tears start falling, and I can’t stop them.
I just wish that I could go back in time and warn myself to not stay at the library so late.
Then I would’ve never run into those jerk-faces, and I could still be a functioning adult.
I could finish school and help people, and maybe someday find a partner of my own, but how could I trust—
Was that a knock at the door?
Nope, not at this time of—
There it is again!
Who could it be?
Is it Chad coming to get revenge?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I pull myself tighter and rock back and forth.
“Rory?” a voice calls out. It doesn’t sound like Chad. “Rory, please let me in.”
Lex.
Lex is here.
Why is he here?
He can’t be here.
Now I’m hearing things. I’ve really lost it.
“Rory, baby boy, please let me in.”
No, he’s here.
“Daddy?” I sigh.
He’ll make it all better.