28. Kendra
Kendra
Islipped the photo strip into my clutch when I got back to the table.
Bennett was at the open bar talking to Sutton with lots of hand gestures, probably telling her how important he is, so thankfully he didn’t see it.
I watched as Keller moved in, interrupting the uncomfortable interaction and guiding Sutton away with a relieved look toward the crowded dance floor.
Eli walked off and found a group of the fire guys. He’s laughing and acting like he didn’t just toss my heart into a blender with that kiss.
That kiss.
And I have photographic evidence to prove that it truly happened. It wasn’t just some wild dream or wistful fantasy I let play out with a vibrator between my legs alone in the darkness of my bedroom.
The late hour and exhaustion from the day are catching up to me, so when Bennett finally makes his way back over to the table and asks if I’m ready to leave, I gladly agree to let him drive me home.
As we walk out of Gino’s, hand-in-unfortunate-hand, I can feel the penetrating heat of Eli’s gaze on my back.
Bennett looks around my chaotic kitchen, shaking his head. “You ladies really did a number on this place today, didn’t you, darlin’?”
“Yeah, we did,” I laugh, tossing some of the trash in the garbage. “But I didn’t want anybody focused on the mess, just the fun. I don’t mind being on clean-up duty.”
I maintain distance between us, trying to keep things light and friendly. Bennett insisted on coming inside with me, and I was too tired to argue.
“Well, it’s a good thing you have me here then, isn’t it? I can help you clear this up in no time. Then we can have a little more fun before the night is over.” His innuendo makes me stiffen. The last thing I want is any kind of fun with him.
Before I can answer, my phone starts to vibrate in my clutch, which I tossed on the table when we came in, close to where Bennett is standing now. I start to walk that way, but he goes for my bag and pops it open.
The audacity.
He pulls out my phone, which is lighting up with text alerts, but I cannot see who they’re from. As Bennett lifts up my phone, the photo strip of me and Eli flutters to the worn tabletop, and my heart starts to race.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Vibrating phone still in one hand, Bennett picks up the pictures in the other. Every muscle in his body tenses as his eyes drag down the line of images, locking in on the last one—the kiss.
Bennett slams my phone face down on the table, surely cracking the screen, and says in a voice laced with malice, “What the fuck is this, Kendra?”
My defensive sarcasm snaps into place, and I say, “How many years did you go to med school? And you don’t know what a picture is?”
Bennett literally snarls at me, baring his teeth as he moves across the kitchen, quick and angry.
“You have been dating me for weeks, stringing me along. Have not let me touch you. I have been sooo fucking patient, waiting for tonight. You even said you hate this asshole. Then you make a fucking fool of me like this?”
“I’m sorry, I know I wasn’t fair to you. I should have told you I just wanted to be friends.” I back up as he comes closer, my eyes looking to the window above the sink, wondering if I will see a light on at Eli’s house.
A sweaty hand grips my chin and yanks my focus back to Bennett. “DON’T fucking look over there! He’s gotten enough of your attention tonight. Now you’re gonna give it all to me, darlin’.”
He forces a stiff, painful kiss on my lips, and I push away from him. “No! NO!”
“You don’t get to tell me no, not after all this,” he seethes, shaking the photos in my face. Spinning us around, he slams me into the refrigerator, and my head bounces off it painfully, making my eyes water and my head swim.
“Please don’t do this, let go.” I struggle against the bruising grip he has on both of my arms.
“You are supposed to be with me, only me,” he yells in my face.
“We aren’t exclusive, we’ve only gone on a few dates,” I say. But trying to reason with him was obviously the wrong move because he backhands me so hard my bottom lip splits open, filling my mouth with the taste of coppery blood that makes me want to gag.
While I gasp for air, desperately trying to pull some oxygen into my panicked lungs, Bennett reaches for his belt, the sound of the clanking metal echoing through the kitchen more terrifying than anything he’s said or done so far.
He’s not going to stop.
He is still close, not expecting me to move, so I twist out from under his arm and run.
Down the hall to the living room. My goal is the front door, but I don’t make it that far.
Bennett tackles me to the ground and we crash, our combined weight crushing down onto my left arm where I hear a distinct crack, making me scream out in agony.
Bennett flips me over as tears of pain and panic roll down my face. My dress is ripped and pushed up to my thighs. He is breathing hard and wipes a string of drool from the side of his mouth. I use every ounce of strength I have and knee him right in the balls.
A yell of fury and hurt comes from the man hovering above me. “You nasty little bitch. Your cunt is not worth this.” His vulgar words slam into my ears, and then his angry fist meets my face . . . over and over.
My ribs.
My chest.
His foot connects and cracks something, but I am too lost to even know if it is me screaming or someone else.
The pain overwhelms me as I lay in the place that is supposed to be my safe haven, my home, my nana’s cabin. Mine.
I look over to the floral and fruit wallpaper above the worn plaid couch, the small pile of books I didn’t get to finish yet on the end table, wishing I could have had the time to make this room my own before a powerful fist connects with my temple sending me spiraling into darkness.