Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 81584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Bas didn’t answer, the muscle in his jaw flexing.
“I’ve got her,” Lou said quietly. “We’ll be out in a minute. Promise.”
“You good, Frank?” Bas rumbled, still respectfully keeping his eyes averted.
“I’m not hurt,” I assured him, my voice rasping painfully in my throat.
“All right.” He turned on his heel and left.
The moment he was gone, Lou swung the door closed, and it bounced back open. Bas had mangled the latch when he’d burst through the door.
“He’ll fix it,” she muttered, turning to me. “What happened?”
“He—he—he—” I couldn’t even get the words out. I felt like such a fucking idiot. Why hadn’t I been paying attention? I knew better. It was so ridiculous.
“What?” Lou said gently, moving closer. “Slow down and tell me.”
“He hasn’t been wearing a condom,” I blurted, my voice trembling.
Lou’s eyes widened. “You didn’t know?”
“Of course I didn’t know,” I snapped, gaping. “He was getting one, ripping it open, putting it on and then—”
“He took them off?” she asked in disbelief. “How do you know?”
I turned and hurried to the bathroom. I needed a shower. I needed bleach.
“Frank?” Lou called from the doorway.
“He didn’t bother to pretend last night,” I spat angrily, tears still rolling down my face. “I found the unused condom in the bed this morning.”
“That motherfucker,” she breathed.
“When I asked if he hadn’t been using them, he asked why it was such a big deal.” I turned the shower on as hot as it would go. “He didn’t deny it. He acted like I was overreacting because I was angry about it.”
“Oh my god,” Lou gaped. “What an asshole.”
I climbed into the shower, wincing at the burn. After a few deep breaths, I could stand the heat, and I leaned into the water. A pale, delicate hand snaked into the shower and turned the heat down. I let out a hiccup of a laugh.
“I’m going to finish breakfast, but I’ll be right back,” Lou announced. “Get cleaned up, and I’ll braid your hair when you’re out.”
I cleared my throat. Then I cleared it again, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes. “Okay,” I called as soon as I knew my voice wouldn’t break.
“It’ll be okay, Frank,” she called gently. “We’ll get you an appointment right away. It’ll be okay.”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.
How in the hell had I let it happen? I was so stupid. I’d paid attention to make sure that he was putting one on, but I knew how condoms felt. How hadn’t I noticed that he was taking them off? How long had he been pulling that shit? It was terrifying to think about.
I was always careful. Always. Why had I let my guard down?
I thumped my head against the wall, letting the rhythm soothe me.
Eventually Lou came back in to ask why I was still in the shower, and I hurriedly washed the events away. I opened my mouth to say something but closed it again.
I wondered if she’d be so sure that everything would be fine if I told her that I’d changed birth control three weeks ago. The old one was giving me horrendous periods, so the doctor had prescribed something different. She’d reminded me more than once that I needed to use another form of contraception until the new stuff was fully effective.
I hadn’t said anything to Scott. Why would I? It was my own private medical decision, and as far as I knew, we were using another form of contraceptive.
After drying off, I pulled on the oversized hoodie that Tommy had let me borrow and I’d never given back, and a pair of sweats. Thick socks on my feet. My stomach flipped as I glanced at the bed. Jesus, how much semen was on those sheets? I stripped the bedding off angrily and dropped them on the floor.
How hadn’t I known? He couldn’t have been doing it every time, or I would’ve noticed. There was no way that I would’ve missed it fully sober. Unfortunately, there had been plenty of nights that he’d shown up when we were having drinks.
“Breakfast,” Bas announced quietly, stepping into the doorway.
“I’m coming,” I replied hoarsely, looking up at him.
“I’ll fix the door,” he said, glancing at it. “You’d locked it.”
“I’m not worried about the door,” I assured him as he threw an arm around my shoulders and led me down the hallway.
“I know places he’ll never be found,” Bas murmured.
I let out a scoff and laid my head on his shoulder. “No need for that.”
“You sure?”
“I’ll let you know if I change my mind,” I joked as we reached the kitchen.
Lou was flitting around getting everything plated, and Brody was washing his hands at the sink.
“Hey, I didn’t know you stayed,” I said to Brody. I pulled away from Bas. “This looks good, Lou.”
“I was hungry,” she replied, handing me a plate. “Hash browns, eggs, bacon, and toast. You want coffee?”