Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I survived.
I’m alive.
“Here, Char,” Roux says, setting a hot cup of tea on the end table beside me. “Drink that. You’re trembling.”
I force a smile, dragging my gaze down her heavily swollen stomach. She’s due on Christmas Eve, but her baby girl is huge. There’s no way she’ll make it another week.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
She eases down onto the sofa next to me, leaning her head against my good shoulder. Her hand is warm to the touch as she takes mine, squeezing it. “I’m here to talk. About anything. You know that, right?”
I reach over with my free hand and sip the lemon ginseng tea. “I know.”
“But you’re not talking. I’m afraid you’re bottling it all up inside. What happened…it was horrible, Char.”
Tears sting my eyes. “I think I’ve blocked a lot of it out.”
“Maybe that’s not a safe thing to do,” she murmurs.
“I promise I’m not keeping it inside trying to forget,” I utter, setting my teacup down. “I just can’t seem to linger on that night. Each time I start to panic about it, my mind calms because I know they can’t hurt me again.”
Michael is in a coma.
Cal nearly killed that rapist who tried to murder me in cold blood.
It’s empowering to know he can’t do those horrible deeds to me or anyone else ever again because if he does wake, he’ll go to prison. And Ryan…Cal made sure he’d never be able to do bad things either. Dad told me Ryan’s injuries were extensive. He’s been given the necessary surgeries to keep him living, but nothing cosmetic since they want to put him in prison as soon as he’s healed.
Mom and Dad are worried about the psychological trauma that was caused from the rape and assault of that night. Luckily, I’ve been exposed to proper therapy when I went to rehab. I was quick to want to see a counselor again, knowing the quicker I face my tragedies, the more easily I’ll be able to handle them. Eventually, I will have to testify against the Cunninghams, but when that time comes, I’ll be ready. Cal did what he had to do to protect me, and I’ll say what I need to say to ensure he doesn’t get in trouble for it either. Not to mention, my account of what happened will further nail the case shut and prevent those two monsters from ever hurting anyone again. And when I’m ready, Samantha thinks we can bring everything back to the judge to reopen my accident case. She believes, based on the rapes, we can prove Ryan manipulated me that night and used his father’s police influence to show I was the driver. I’m not looking to drive any time soon, but it’d be great to get my record expunged.
“Emilia is getting antsy to make her appearance,” Roux says in a breathless voice, shifting and rubbing her stomach. “If she grows any bigger, I’ll have a heck of a time giving birth to her.”
“That’s what you get for letting a big Hoodlum knock you up,” I tease.
She flashes me a surprised smile. “How are you okay? I’d be…I don’t know that I could be as strong as you.”
“I’m not okay,” I admit, willing the tears away. “But I will be. I want to be. I’ll fight to be okay. Ryan took so much from me, and then his father too. I won’t let them take any more away from me.”
“I love you,” she says, squeezing my hand again.
“Love you too, Roux.”
“Loden said he’ll come by later after Jordy picks me up. That way you won’t have to be alone until Cal gets off work.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure her.
“I know,” she says, “but we care about you and don’t want you to be by yourself.”
In all honesty, I’ve appreciated the flooding of friends and family. Every time I turn around, someone is coming to visit me. Yesterday afternoon, I watched a Disney movie in bed with Sebban and Hollis. Last night, Loden and I ate ice cream while watching Cal and Terrence paint the living room, both shirtless. This morning, Dad swung by to pick me up and take me to my doctor appointment. Tomorrow, Penny will be over with Mom to bring groceries.
“They tried to break me,” I tell Roux, my voice hardening, “but they couldn’t do it.”
“No,” she agrees, “they couldn’t.”
“I really am going to be okay.”
Another squeeze to my hand. “I know.”
“You think I could turn Terrence gay?” Loden asks from one end of the sofa.
“I don’t think it works like that.”
“But, like, he cracked his head open. Maybe he forgot he’s straight. Have you seen him with anyone since he woke up?” Loden toys with his tongue ring, as though he’s really pondering this.
“He’s not gay. You can’t will it into existence just because you saw him shirtless and now want to bone him. Besides, you can’t fuck any of my friends. That’ll mess everything up.”