4. Rory
RORY
We’ve been here for three days now, and it’s been amazing. I got to meet all of the characters, eat all of the best food, and we barely have to wait in any lines cause we have some sort of VIP pass.
I think that Lex had something to do with this whole trip.
I need to find some way to thank him, but how?
Before I might have wanted to get on my knees for him or beg him to just let me suckle, but now I’m not sure.
The idea of sex is still frightening, and my dick is definitely not interested in any kind of activity.
It’s been almost six months since “the ordeal.”
I spent two weeks in the hospital, and then I needed rehab, more surgery, and therapy. Lots and lots of therapy, and just when I was starting to feel better, the trial started, and then I had to relive all of “the event.” And now… more therapy.
Besides, a powerful man like that, with his sexy graying hair and a strong body like his, I’m sure he’s got all of the ladies after him.
I mean, he’s got to be straight, right?
I need to get any notions of that out of my head.
But still, a boy can dream about a strong man to protect and take care of me and give me snuggles, and maybe let me suck—
Brendan nudges me gently, and I jump to attention. “Which one do you want?”
My eyes roam over the gigantic cluster of balloons. “I’d like the pink and blue one with the light.”
Brendan scans his wrist band as the employee hands me my balloon.
I asked him about the cost of everything, and he just told me not to worry about it.
How could I not, though?
I know he spent way too much on my lawyer and my medical bills, and I haven’t been any help since I’m a college student without a job.
Maybe I should get one and start pulling my weight, but he’s always been so stern about me focusing on school.
He knows that being a nurse has always been my dream, and he’s been working to make that dream come true.
I decide that I can focus on that later and just enjoy this amazing vacation.
“You alright over there?”
I sigh happily and wrap my arm around my brother’s as we walk toward the fireworks viewing area as the sun sets gently around us. “This has been great. Thank you.”
“It’s not over yet, and you deserved this trip.” He doesn’t say “after everything you’ve been through,” but we both know that’s what he means.
“I-I’m worried about— Everything is so expensive.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Don’t worry about it. This trip was a gift from some very wealthy people who told me to get you everything and do everything the park has to offer. So I am.”
“Are you sure? I feel so guilty—”
“No, stop right there,” he says sternly. “This is a gift, trying to give you some happiness after what you lost and get you back to yourself.”
“Okay.” I pause and look into the window of the store we’re walking past. “Then I want that giant sucker.”
He laughs now and leads me into the store. “Everything you want.”
I wake with a start when my head touches Brendan’s shoulder as we ride the boat back to the resort.
“It’s okay, pixie. I’m right here. You should really try to get some sleep since I know you weren’t sleeping last night.”
“I was too. I just fell asleep with the TV on,” I try, and he knows I’m lying.
“You can always sleep in my room,” he offers.
“I’m a grown man. I can’t always sleep in your bed.” Although having him in the room with me keeps most of my nightmares away.
“Have I ever told you that you couldn’t?”
“No,” I grump. “But—” I try.
“No buts. I’m here for you, so if you need me to hold you while you sleep then I will.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Rory,” he says sternly. “You know what the therapist said.”
I roll my eyes but say, “It’s okay to ask for what I need.”
“And?”
“And be patient with myself,” I mumble.
“That’s right. Now try to get some rest. It’s not good for you to skip sleep.”
“Yes, Doc.”
“Smartass,” he teases and uses his hand to gently force my head to his shoulder. I’m almost asleep again when my phone rings. Which is good because sleep is where the monsters live.
“Did you hear what happened last night?” Vera screams into my ear, and I’m awake now.
“No, what?” I ask.
“Tanner posted a story about getting attacked last night.”
“What the hell?” I gasp.
“Turns out that someone broke into his place and left him half dead.”
“Seriously?” I gasp.
“Yeah!” She sounds way too excited. “I guess he posted something that was absolutely crazy, and it had to be taken down because it was so fucked up.”
“What?” I ask.
“Not sure, but I’m going to find out. Oh, gotta run. Nate’s here, and we have plans.” The way she says plans makes me think that it’s code for lots of sex.
“Eww.” I gag, but she’s already hung up.
“What did Vera say?”
“That she and Nate are going to have sex.” I wrinkle my nose.
“Not that.” He rolls his eyes playfully. “The thing you said seriously about.”
“Oh. She said that someone attacked Tanner last night.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, someone went into his house and left him half dead. Vera said she didn’t have any more details, but she’ll keep looking.”
“That’s messed up,” Brendan says. “But less than what he deserved.”
My mind drifts back to the attack. The feeling of his soft pampered hands on me as he held my shoulders down and—
“Are you okay?” Brendan’s voice is hesitant.
“Yeah. I never want anyone to be in pain, but part of me is glad that he’s hurting right now. Does that make me a bad person?”
“No, that makes you the sweetest person. Someone who brutally attacked you is suffering and you feel sorry for him.”
“Not that sorry,” I rush out. “Just I know what he’s feeling.”
“You don’t need to feel sorry about him. You can wish him to Hell and you’d still be sweet. It’s normal to feel hate too.”
“Thank you for making me feel better.” I kiss his cheek.
“I’d do anything for you.”
“Nothing too drastic,” I warn.
“Not to worry, pixie.” He kisses the top of my head, and I rest back on his shoulder.
“Love you.”
“You too.”
I finish the boat ride with a smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest.
“Wait a minute.” The next morning, I pull Brendan to a stop and run into a store. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.
I rummage through the postcards on a display near the door.
“Who are you planning to send that to?” Brendan chuckles.
“A friend.” I pick one that’s covered in fireworks.
“Okay. Hey, since we’re here, how about we get you one of the hoodies you’ve been looking at? It’s going to be a little chilly tonight.”
It’s never chilly here. Other than the theme parks, I never want to be in Florida again. It’s too hot and muggy, there are swarms of mosquitos and alligators hiding in every puddle.
Brendan drags me over to the hoodies.
“But they’re so—” I stop talking when he gives me the glare. “Fine. I want the baby-blue one in large.” I like my hoodies to be oversized so I can hide in them. Just for fun, I grab one and hold it against Brendan’s chest. “You have to get one too and we can be twins!” I gasp, and he laughs.
“No one will ever mistake us for twins, pixie.”
“But it will be fun.” I give him my best puppy-dog eyes.
“Fine.” He caves way too quickly, and I give him a big squeeze before we head to the register.
When he moves to grab the postcard from me, I hold it back.
“I want to buy this myself.” He looks like he might argue, but I don’t want to buy Lex’s card with his own money.
“Okay, pixie.”
I smile and hand the nice lady my money.
“Alright, we have reservations for lunch at a new restaurant.”
“Is it really fancy again?” I love getting fancy and dressed up, but the food we had last night was so fussy and weird. Like we sniffed a smokey glass before eating deconstructed caviar.
No, thank you.
“Nope, it’s more casual, and I hear they have some fantastic fried rice.”
“Say no more.” I hold up my hand. “Lead the way.”
“Let’s take a picture with the lanterns.” Brendan points when we head through the park to the next ride.
“What lanterns? Oh!” I run over. “That looks so pretty!”
We take one together, and then the photographer hands me the lantern. It glows a warm yellow and has a lavender star on it. Then he tells me to look down at it with a big smile and then hold it in the air like I’m releasing it.
It feels so magical, I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
“What’s next?” I ask.
“To the haunted castle,” he says in a ghostly voice. “Unless you’re too scared.”
I shove him. “Hologram ghosts don’t scare me.” I know what real monsters look like.
“Then you don’t need to hold my hand.”
I grab it quick. “But only because it might be dark.”
He chuckles and squeezes my hand.
Once we get off the ride, Brendan keeps checking his phone, and I’m getting tired of his pussyfooting around.
“Just tell me.”
“Tell you what?” He sounds surprised, so I raise an eyebrow. “Fine.” He heaves a put-upon sigh and runs his fingers through his thick wavy locks. “Tanner’s story’s gone viral.”
Part of me is happy that more people can see his suffering, but what if they look into it more?
Will we be suspects?
Will we go to jail?!
“Relax, everything will be fine. Remember, we’re here.”
“Yeah, but it won’t be long before people figure out there was a trial and who was involved, and then I’ll be all over the news and internet too.”
I pull out my phone and try to look it up.
“Rory, don’t read that.” He grabs my phone.
“Hey!” I gasp and reach for it, but he holds it higher and looks at the screen.
My lock screen is a picture of me and Brendan on a ride. I chose it because I’m smiling like a loon, but Brendan looks terrified.
“Really? You had to use that picture,” he grumbles.
“Yes. I looked good,” I say and pretend to flip my hair.
“Fine. You do.”
“Plus, you looked so scared,” I tease and duck out of his reach.
“Come here, you little…” He growls and chases me in a circle before his watch chimes. “It’s time for the show.”
“Another sing-along!”
“Thankfully no, not another sing-along.” I swat his arm and begin to protest. “But there will be fireworks, music, and fire.”
“That sounds fun.”
He takes my hand, and we start a very long walk. While we’re walking forever, my brain starts thinking about what’s really happening.
I don’t know what Tanner’s injuries were, but did they finally fuck with the wrong person?
Was that person me?
I pull my phone out again and search quick while Brendan’s still distracted talking about our plans for tomorrow.
Tanner suffered from four broken ribs, a broken jaw, and he was raped with a baseball bat.
“Someone’s getting revenge for me!” I shout, and Brendan jerks back.
“What?”
“The attack on Tanner. Someone’s getting revenge for me!”
“Rory—” He gives me that “you and your imagination” look, but I know I’m right.
“No! Someone is doing this for me.”
Brendan sighs and runs his hand through his stupid perfect dark hair.
“Maybe you’re right,” he said. “But maybe you’re wrong. It’s been six months, and I’m sure they haven’t been behaving. Sounds like these guys have gotten in trouble before, and maybe this time they finally got caught.”
“Maybe,” I concede, and I want to ask Brendan if he had anything to do with this. He’s my big brother, and it would make sense that since he couldn’t get justice for me, he’d find another way to make them pay. I shake my head at the thought.
He’s here with me, and you can’t be in two places at once.