Chapter Fifty #3
Breathe in, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four. “The Law he was trying to save me. I think Eric figured out that he’d told me what had happened, and that’s why they did it.”
“What did they do, Quinny?” Lulu’s soft voice blankets me in comfort.
“They beat me until I could barely move, and then they threw me in front of the car.”
Bones’ mouth drops in shock. He looks behind me, and I can only imagine her look either reflects his or she’s absolutely fucking raging.
“What do you mean they threw you in front of the car?”
“Exactly that. Millie was pulling me to the road, Dane and Eric were arguing, and then I confronted them about raping me. He said my parents knew and that they didn’t care.
That I was a burden to their lives. Keelan tried to get them off of me, but they pushed me into the road when the car came speeding over the roundabout. ”
“They’re going to die. A horrible, horrible death. Whether that be at the hands of you or me, I promise you, Quinny, they will die.”
I cry quietly as Bones comforts me. At some point, I hear Lulu get up to leave. “I’m sorry,” I whisper to him.
“Sorry for what?” he asks.
“I’m sorry that in that moment you weren’t enough to comfort me. I was just so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to hide. I felt like I was back on that road in the dark, waiting for my life to end.”
“You never have to apologise for needing something more than me in those moments. I’d give my life for you to be okay.”
“I don’t want you to do that. I want you to live until we’re old and grey and have had a lifetime of memories.” I squeeze him tighter.
“I hate to break it to you, Little Magpie, but I’ve already got you beat in the going grey department.”
I pull back, and he wipes away my tears. “It’s okay; it makes you look distinguished. And if you don’t like it, there’s always Just For Men.”
He laughs. “Look at you. Always looking out for me even in your lowest moments.”
“Isn’t that what love is?” My brain catches up with my mouth, and I try to take it back.
“Don’t you even think about taking back the words that just came out of your mouth,” he warns. “Little Magpie, do you love me?”
“I hate you right now.” I roll my eyes as I’m cringing internally.
“You don’t hate me.” He starts singing, “You love me, you want to kiss me, you want to marry me…” He grabs hold of me and pulls me to my feet, lifting me up and swinging me round in a circle.
“SHE LOVES ME! EVERYONE, MY LITTLE MAGPIE LOVES ME!”
“You’re so fucking cheesy.” I giggle as he punches the air in excitement. He pushes me down on my back and lands on top of me.
“I fucking love you, too, my little magpie.” Giddiness seeps in through my pores at the sound of those words in my ears. “Say it again,” I whisper.
“I fucking love you, too, my little magpie. To the ends of the earth, from the bottom of every valley to the top of every mountain. With every wave in the sea and every star that burns brightly at nighttime. You, my little magpie, are it for me. The epitome of love at first sight. The one being in this entire fucking universe, whose soul was meant for mine. And I’m never letting you go. ”