Chapter 25
Josephine
“Who’s we?” Locke asks, shifting his gaze between Kylian and me.
“Jo. You. Me.” Kylian lifts his chin and regards Kendrick. “K?”
“Yes,” the big guy replies instantly, coming around my side and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Let’s go on a walk, Tem.” Greedy stretches an arm out, offering his hand to Hunter.
She nods and stands, but she turns back to me before she goes. Bending at the waist, she wraps her arms around me without hesitation. The gesture alone speaks volumes about our friendship. She doesn’t see me differently or view me as weak because of what happened.
“You’re so fucking strong, Joey. I hate that you have to be, but I’m so proud of you.” She kisses my cheek and gives me one more squeeze, then pulls back and trails after Greedy down the stairs toward the beach.
Once they hit the grass, Greedy rests his hand low on Hunter’s back. It remains there for all of three seconds before she swats it away and takes a longer stride away from him.
When I turn back to my guys, Decker and Kylian are glaring at each other from opposite ends of the table, engaging in a feverish but silent debate.
“You don’t need to be here for this,” Kylian declares, eyeing Decker up and down.
Anger flares behind Decker’s eyes. “Interesting. You seem to be making a lot of solo decisions along those lines lately. What the actual fuck, Kyl?”
Kylian shrugs, keeping his head high. “I learned from the best.”
Next to me, Locke hisses at the jab. Kylian doesn’t do sarcasm. Amendment—Kylian rarely does sarcasm.
“Please don’t fight.” I’m exhausted enough without having to navigate the rest of the night around their big dick energy. “I think I know what you want to talk about, Kyl. And I want Decker here for it,” I declare.
“But he’s not—”
“Is it my choice?” I ask.
“Always yours,” he vows, the double meaning clear.
“Then Decker stays.”
I don’t dare look over at him, because I couldn’t justify any of this if pressed. I know what I want. They all need to be here so we can get everything out in the open and I can finally move forward.
Dropping my head against the back of the chair, I close my eyes and steel myself for the myriad of reactions bound to hit me once we start this conversation.
It’s got to be a blow to discover a person so close was victim to a heinous, senseless crime.
Then there’s the lying. Technically, I’ve lied to them all from the very beginning…
I lift my head and open my eyes, finding four sets of eyes watching me with so much intensity it hits me like a violent gust of wind.
Looking around the table, I offer the only thing I have to give them in this moment: the truth.
“I didn’t change my name to pull one over on anyone, and I didn’t come to Lake Chapel with the intention of deceit.
” Turning to Locke and Kendrick, I add, “Seeing you at the medical spa that day really was a coincidence.”
“Josephine.”
My gaze snaps over to Decker’s.
“Not one of us is judging you or upset with you about anything you shared just now.”
Murmurs of agreement rise up around the table.
My heart warms a little, though I can’t help the sad quality of the smile I give him.
My narrative was out of my control for so long, and thus, I still struggle to grasp that my truth is just that: my truth.
Locke clears his throat and stands tall. “Fuck, Joey…” He regards me, regret tainting the warmth in his hazel irises. “If I would’ve known, I never would have—”
“I’m gonna stop you right there. Don’t for one fucking second think that anything you and I have done wasn’t okay. I wanted it. I was into it. It was toe-curling and mind-blowing and incredible.”
“That goes for all of you,” I declare, even though Decker and I haven’t even kissed. They need to know. I need all of them to understand.
“Everything we’ve done has been hot, consensual bliss. Sex isn’t an issue for me. I sat in therapy for months wondering and worrying if it would be, but it just… isn’t. What they did… that wasn’t sex. So far, not a single sexual act has triggered my panic.”
Kylian nods, taking my words at face value like I knew he would, though Kendrick and Locke watch me with furrowed brows and concerned frowns.
“Don’t get me wrong. I have weird as fuck triggers.
You’ve witnessed most of them already. I’m anxious at parties.
I hate to have my picture taken or to be recorded without consent.
I’m terrified of storms, which you’ve seen more than once now.
But sex isn’t traumatic for me. Honestly, it gives me the freedom not to overthink.
I love sex. The adults involved in my case tried to use it as a weapon against me, but in the end, they didn’t win. I did.”
Kendrick cracks a smile and tips his chin in approval.
“So now you know. I’m the girl from Ohio who got roofied and gang banged, but not the one who made the national news. My name wasn’t always Josephine Meyer, but it’s who I am now. I’m not broken, and I’m no delicate flower. I’m a survivor, and I came to Lake Chapel so I could finally start living.”