CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JESSIE
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Tugging on my jacket, I smile at the female officer who walks me to the door and hands me the brochures. They explain how to get support, which is nice, but right now I just want a hug from my mom.
A real hug from someone I feel safe with and can trust.
Coming here by myself to go re-live the entire assault was a stupid idea, but clearly my dumb brother is a selfish dick, so I wasn’t going to ask him after his reaction this morning.
I couldn’t ask Jayden.
I hate that I’m now the girl who was raped, and that is how he will see me.
“Call them. Trust me, it will help,” the officer says, pushing the door open.
“Thanks.” I slip on my sunglasses and step outside into the late afternoon sun. Parked right outside is a black Jeep with two familiar idiots leaning up against it.
Great.
They’re also wearing sunglasses and dressed in jeans and T-shirts with their arms folded like I did something wrong
I wish they had left me alone. I don’t have anything left in my energy tank to deal with them tonight.
“Should have known you’d find me.” I start walking along the sidewalk, shaking my head.
“Jess!” Jayden calls, and I hear their boots on the ground as they catch up. “Wait.”
“Did Mom kick your ass for being a selfish dick?” I ask, not slowing.
Jayden leaps in front of me, forcing me to stop.
“No, I kicked my own ass.” He gives me one of his stupid, droopy smiles. Some woman is going to fall in love with him one day, and I will have to warn her that it’s one of his superpowers.
We girls must stick together.
Right now, I am picking my battles and just want to get home. Clearly Liam drove him here and is waiting for us to make up. Then, I guess the plan is, we all go back to status quo.
As predicted.
I shouldn’t have told him I love him. Then again, he knows. He’s always known.
I cross my arms. “Say sorry. Get it over with. I have a party to go to.”
His brow lifts, and he glances at Liam, who’s standing to the side.
“I told you to leave me alone,” I say to him.
“Not happening,” Liam grumbles.
“I’m sorry.” Jayden rubs the back of his head. “I am sorry, Jess. I freaked out when I saw you in his bed and then when he said what happened—”
“Rape. You can say it.”
“Jesus, Jess.”
“Oh, fuck off.” I push past my brother, and he grabs me, pulling me into his arms.
“Jess, please.”
I’m barely able to breathe, my eyes bulging as I give Liam a help glare. He lifts a dumb shoulder, telling me I’m on my own. His lip quirks.
Ugh.
He’s so handsome and lovely...and not mine.
I told you I fucking loved you.
“Can you let me go? Please.” I grunt.
“Will you forgive me?” Jayden releases me and holds my shoulders, staring at me. “Let us take care of you.”
I glance between my brother and Liam, working out what’s going on. They’ve made up. And if that’s the case, there’s only one possibility. Liam has promised him he won’t pursue anything further with me.
To just be a friend. To never touch me again.
To not love me the way I want him to.
“You are forgiven. Whatever. I have to go.” I try to move again, but he stops me.
“Come home with us.”
And sleep where? On the sofa? To see Liam every day and pretend the past ten days didn’t happen?
“I have a new home. Jay, please just move.”
“Jessie,” Liam says behind me, and I lower my eyes. “Come home.”
“I have a home; I just told you. You don’t have to look after me anymore.” My eyes stay on the sidewalk even when I feel his large, warm body press against my back.
His arm wraps around me, and he turns me, lifting my chin.
“Jay knows everything. He knows I love you and that I’m choosing you,” Liam rasps.
He’s choosing me?
Tears pool in my eyes, and I forget to breathe. My brain and heart begin having an internal battle, unable to believe what they’re hearing.
“I’ll give you two a moment.” My brother walks back to the Jeep and digs out his phone.
My eyes return to Liam.
He smiles.
“If you’d have stayed, instead of running away, we could have worked this out. You know how he is when he gets hot headed.”
I do.
My brother has a tendency to shout off his mouth before thinking. He’s always been that way. Still, today was about me, and the fact he couldn’t put aside his selfish claim on Liam while I could gather myself is something I won’t forget.
I can forgive, but I won’t forget.
And it was a stark reminder that I shouldn’t have been in Liam’s bed. He’s always belonged to Jay.
“Listen, it's fine. I should’ve gotten over you a long time ago. You’re Jay’s friend. I’m the sister.” I wipe my eyes with my arm. “Let’s just move on.”
He blinks.
“Jess. You said you loved me.” His voice is rough, angry.
“I do.” I glance at people walking past us, wishing we had privacy. “I will always love you. But I can’t do this anymore. I need...I need to deal with what happened. Here and in Texas. I need...”
“Tell me!” Liam squeezes my arm, and there’s pain in those gray eyes of his. “Tell me what you need and I will do it.”
He would, too.
Out of obligation. Because that’s who Liam is.
“I need time. I need you to let me walk away and give me time.”
His jaw clenches, nostrils flare, and fingers tighten further as he cups my face. “Don’t ask me to do that.”
Swallowing, my gaze drifts over his beautiful face, knowing that I could lose him.
But I have to know.
This man is my greatest protector—hell, he found me and saved me from an even greater horror when Frank took me—but I need to know if this is his protective instincts.
Or true love.
Because if it's not, and I give him all my heart, and he leaves me, it will kill me.
“Goodbye, Liam.”
I step out of his space, still watching him as his face falls, and then walk.
I walk and walk and walk.
Tears fall down my face, and it takes almost an hour for me to stop and work out when I am. I book an Uber to take me home and spend the next eight hours putting my acting skills to the test at our house party.
When, really, all I want to do is curl up in a ball and keep crying.