Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Oh, thanks? That’s…nice of you.” She extended an arm to take the soda and the cuff on her wrist inched up a fraction from the movement. A huge black bruise peeked out from underneath.
“Holy hell,” I whispered as my stomach sank. “What is that?”
“Nothing. Just fell off my bike the other day.” She quickly covered her wrist and spun on a toe, ready to dart away. Luckily, the door didn’t open any more easily than it shut.
“Nora, come on. Don’t hide from me.”
“I’m not hiding. I haven’t been feeling great, but as soon as I get better, I’ll be back at the creek. Thanks for stopping by.” She finally got the door open, but if I let her escape, there was a good possibility I’d never get her back.
“Wait,” I said, grabbing the back of her hoodie.
Her whole body winced, and a cry she couldn’t muffle tore from her mouth.
Oh, God. How many other bruises was she hiding under that thing?
I immediately let her go and begged, “Please just talk to me.”
She looked down, a curtain of brown hair covering her pink cheeks. It was a dead giveaway that she was about to lie. “There’s nothing to talk about, Cam. Just drop it.”
“Did your dad do that to you? I know he puts his hands on you, Nora. You don’t have to lie to me.”
Tears hit her eyes, but then she laughed, loud and heartbreaking. “That’s bullshit! I have to lie to everyone. About everything. My entire fucking life is a lie. I’m not even sure I know how to tell the truth anymore.”
I stabbed a finger at my chest. “You don’t lie to me.”
She barked another sad laugh. “Are you sure about that?”
“Nora, you told me my shoes were stupid the first time we met, and once, you spent an entire afternoon talking about my ugly swim trunks. I’m pretty sure you don’t pull punches where I’m concerned. And if you have lied to me, I don’t care. We’re true friends, remember? That means having each other’s back no matter what. You can trust me.”
“I can’t trust anyone!” she screamed so loud her face vibrated, and the sheer act of that alone shifted her hoodie, revealing bruises on her neck, dark blue and purple with a hollow center as though she’d been bitten.
A wave of adrenaline flooded my veins. “Yes, you can!” I yelled right back. “I’m standing right here. I know about your dad. I saw him in action.”
Her chest heaved with unshed emotion, but her fire momentarily quelled. “What?”
“I followed you home one day after we first met. He was screaming and cussing. He pushed you down before punching your brother. Then that piece of shit said it was your fault your mom left, and you know what, Nora, I never mentioned one single word of that to anyone, but only because you never showed up with bruises. And trust me, I didn’t even like swimming in the creek that much, but there’s not much you can hide in a bathing suit.” I swung a finger at her wrist. “This is different.” I pointed at her neck. “That sure as hell is different. If he did that to you, then—”
“Then what? What are you going to do about it, Cam?”
I clamped my mouth shut. Now, that I didn’t have the answer to. But I couldn’t turn a blind eye and ignore it like every other person in her life. “I don’t know. But if you would just talk to me, I could at least try. I’ll listen. You might not realize it, but there’s not much I wouldn’t do for you. And if that means sitting here on your porch and having a man-to-man with your dad myself, then so be it.” Right smack in the middle of her front porch, I sat down. I turned and leaned against the brick, kicking my leg out in front of me, all the while hoping my parents wouldn’t be casket shopping by the end of the night.
“Okay, he’s due back any minute. Suit yourself.”
I swallowed hard. “Thanks. I will.”
“Fair warning, he and his girlfriend broke up, so he’s probably drunk and looking for a fight.”
Shit. “Fine by me.”
“Did I ever tell you about the time he spent the night in jail for dislocating a man’s arm during a bar fight?”
No. She had not. Fuck. “I’ll take my chances.”
She let out a groan. “Cam, stop being ridiculous and go home.”
“I’m not leaving. He can’t treat you like this and expect to get away with it. Your dad and I are going to have a conversation about those bruises. Honestly, we should have had it last year. So it’s long overdue.”
“Oh, good Lord,” she huffed. “Fine, have it your way. Thanks for the Coke.”
I reached into my back pocket and retrieved a slightly smooshed and melted Snickers. “I got you a candy bar too.”