I pull myself inward, wanting to fold up and hide. I’m damaged goods.
He slides behind me and slips his arms around me. I cringe and tear myself away, my torso throbbing from the kicking blows.
“I’m sorry,” he says, frantic and edges next to me. “Did I hurt you?”
I ignore his question. “You didn’t have to stay.”
“I was worried about you.” His hands settle on his thighs and wounded eyes pierce me, slicing so deep it hurts more than my torso.
“You can’t want me now. Not after…after that.” Tears well, waiting for release.
“Parker.” His hands cradle my face. “I don’t care what your father did to you. That’s not who you are. That’s who he is. You’re still the same girl with the beautiful smile I fell for two years ago.”
I grab his wrists. “I’ve lied to you. So many times.” The tears fall. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I told you I’m not the girl for you.”
“You didn’t hurt me. I’m just relieved to know what was really going on.”
I nestle into him, taking in his acceptance. He can’t learn about the rest of it. He can’t. “What were you doing here?”
“I came over to see if you wanted to go out tonight. I still don’t have your number and it’s not listed. I couldn’t stop fast enough when I saw your dad kicking you.”
I break away, remembering the dull thud of flesh hitting flesh. “My father…you…you…” I flounder. “He didn’t hit you, did he?”
“No. Andrew was right behind me. He pulled your dad away from you. I carried you over here.”
I want to tell him I know, but Rose comes in and interrupts. “What time is it?” I ask.
Rose sits next to me, setting her arm around me. “It’s dinnertime. Are you hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“Arissa is at Damian’s. Your father came over here drunk and we didn’t want her near him. Jason refused to leave, though.”
The crying begins anew. “I’m sorry.”
“Sweetie,” she says, wrapping her other arm around me, “you have nothing to be sorry for. You did nothing wrong.”
“I didn’t do what he told me to do.”
Her hand massages slow circles on my back, soothing me. “That doesn’t mean you deserve what he did to you. How long has this been going on?”
I shake my head and look away, wiping my face with the back of my hand.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. We’re trying to talk your parents into letting you stay with us, but they are being unreasonable.”
My heart stops and I stare at her, not believing what I just heard.
“Would you like that?” she asks.
A reprieve. “Please,” I beg. “I can’t go back there.”
“You won’t if we can help it. Why don’t you call Damian and tell Arissa to come home? I know she’s worried about you. Tell her Damian can stay for dinner. Jason, you too.”
“Okay.” My voice squeaks from the emotional overload. Jason isn’t running from me now that he knows part of the secret. The Jerichos want me to stay with them. They’re doing the opposite of what I thought they would do.
“Thanks, Rose. I’ll call my parents,” he says.
I call Damian from the guest room phone while Jason use his cell. I go through rounds of “I’m all right” reassurances with Damian and then Arissa before telling her she can come home. She gives me the okay to borrow some clothes before we hang up.
I change into a shirt and a pair of shorts, then splash water on my face in the bathroom to get rid of the dry, salty tears. The fresh clothes and clean face renews me for the moment and I head downstairs.
A scuffling outside catches my attention when I reach the bottom of the stairs. I glance out the window and Father charges the door, but Andrew pushes him away. Mother screams in Rose’s face while Rose stands undaunted.
I fling the door open, yelling with newfound boldness, “Stop it!”
My parents gape at me like deer in headlights.
“I’m staying with the Jerichos.”
Jason steps behind me, his hands settling on my shoulders.
“We’ll call the police and have them bring you home,” Mother says, her chin in the air.
“Then I’ll show them these.” I lift the hem of the borrowed shirt to show the bruises forming on my stomach. Rose and Andrew close their eyes. I stare at my father. “I will tell them everything. And this time, there are witnesses.”
The last thing they want is trouble or anything else that will