20. Like In A Horror Movie #3
I’ve always known that Bex is an intelligent woman. “Fine. Con, I hope you called the cops?”
Connor informs me that there’s no reception just as we hear footsteps running in our direction.
Luke and Jamie catch up with us, and from that moment on, things happen fast.
It’s a long ass night at the sheriff’s station rather than the party we were planning to attend at the Zeta house.
The sun is rising in the morning sky as we finally return to our condo.
Bex yawns, nestled against Jamie’s side. “I’m exhausted. Let’s go to bed. I wanna sleep until noon.”
An ambulance was called to the arena as well as the police, mostly for Priestly, since there was no way he could have walked out of the building on his own legs. Bex was checked by the paramedics, but she refused to go to the hospital.
“You should have gotten checked out.” I bite out, looking at the huge bruise that’s appearing on her throat.
“I’ll go to the hospital if you come with me.” She argues, her eyes pausing on my hands.
The laughter slips out of me before I even realize it. “Well played, Bex. So stubborn.” I then say under breath, but she hears me.
“Takes one to know one.” She retorts without skipping a beat.
Luke gets through the door at that moment, carrying a bag that smells like amazing, greasy food.
My stomach growls in response, and I accept a big breakfast burrito with a grateful nod.
“No, thanks.” Bex yawns again. “If you don’t mind, I’ll eat that when I wake up. I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.”
“That’s ok, Bexie-Boo. We’ll make sure to save you one.” Our team captain says, lowering himself onto the couch. “Before you pass out though, can I borrow a pillow from your bedroom?”
She frowns, confused. “Are you too tired to drive back to the Gamma house?”
“No, it’s not that. Last night, it was a close call. I’m too anxious to go home. I need to know that you’re right next door.”
Bex leaves Jamie’s side to sit next to her twin brother. “Babe, I’m ok. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I’m safe. Kurt is at the hospital, guarded by two cops. Ares said that he’s going to be transferred to the station as soon as the doctors discharge him.”
“I know, I just—” his voice breaks. “What if Keene and Connor hadn’t found you when they did and he got to finish the job? I almost lost you, Bex.”
Her voice softens as she wraps her arms around her brother’s waist, resting her head on his shoulder.
“But you didn’t lose me. I’m here, and I’m going to be ok.
Kurt is going to be charged with assault, and once the DNA test comes back, he’ll get charged for breaking in and for attacking me at the art center.
There’s no way he’s going to be able to come near me again for a long time. ”
“I know all that.” He sighs, cuddling Bex to his side. “But will you humor me? I’m going to sleep right here for now, and then I swear I’ll go home tonight.”
“Ok.” She sighs. “But in that case, just take my bed. I can sleep in Jamie’s or Connor’s bed.”
Connor offers her his hand to help her up. “Come on, beautiful. We’re just as exhausted as you. Jamie and I will be right by your side, so you can rest easy.”
Something passes in her eyes, and the question tumbles out of my mouth before I can think better of it. “You look worried. What’s the matter?”
She shakes her head, as if she were trying to clear her mind. “Nothing. I just… I wish I could have convinced Aisha to come back here with us.”
By the time the police and the ambulance had arrived at the arena, Bex’s former friend was nowhere to be seen.
“I can’t believe she went home to him .”
We all know that by him she means her father.
“Yeah, that’s a very stupid choice if you ask me.” Luke agrees. “But he brainwashed all his top clients. You know it firsthand, Bexie. It took you two years and the realization that Kurt was a monster to snap out of it and leave.”
She nods. “I know. But the sheriff was adamant that without her testimony about what’s happening in the Pure Shinehouse, Dad will be free to continue with his breeding program.
As long as he controls all his clients’ money, they will have no choice but to stay.
Unless they want to lose everything. And like Aisha said, not everyone is as lucky as I was.
Most of those people have nowhere to go.
I’m so grateful that I had you, Luke. Even if I didn’t deserve your help. ”
Luke pulls her into his arms again. “I thought we had been over this. I’m not mad about the past few years.
You deserve every happiness, Bexie-Boo. And unless Dad does something stupid or Priestly can be persuaded to talk about what’s happening in his house, there’s nothing we can do to stop him.
I know it sounds selfish, but we need to get on with our lives and forget that horrible man was ever a part of them. ”
It doesn’t sit well with me that someone who caused Bex so much suffering is getting to walk away scot free. But Luke is right. Unless Priestly talks or her father does something to attract the attention of the police, our hands are tied.
Seeing all the trouble Priestly is in, I would bet that Byron Harper will lie low and cut his losses. I doubt he’ll keep going after her and risk his social media empire and the star clients who still make him millions.
I watch as Bex follows Connor to his room with Jamie in tow.
Luke retires to his old bedroom, and after I wash out the eventful night with a hot shower, I stretch out in my bed.
Poonani appears within seconds and curls up by my side, purring loudly when I scratch her favorite spot between her ears.
“You can never resist a good snuggle, huh, little girl?”
She opens only one of her green eyes, meowing in protest because I stopped scratching her.
As sleep descends on us like a blanket, I wish I weren’t so jaded. I wish Bex would look at me the same way she looks at Jamie and Connor.
Last night we could have lost her, and that made me realize something.
Whether I want to or not, I care about our team captain’s sister.
The problem is that I’m not like Connor or Jamie. My heart has been broken to the point that I doubt anyone can ever put it back together.
That hating Bex is much easier than wanting her. I wish I could go back to that.