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Her laugh was bitter “Brushed it under the rug Said herationally, but it was so much more than that I think they were just relieved when he vanished again The next time he came back, I was sixteen and terrified of him My parents let him stay for a month and I hid fro aze A few times heenough to hear hiot away After that one for another year The pattern continued, where he’d show up then disappear He cutthat required medical attention, but it was always so painful”
She shrugged as though it was no big deal, but Gu to be sick Her fa out head case torture her There had to betoo…clinical What about the daily fear? What about all the nights she had to go to sleep wondering if and when Paul would show up and what state he’d be in
“The last tihteen”
Gumby froze, unable to draw in a breath Memorial Day weekend Jesus Christ, the Saturday he’d canceled their date had been two days before Memorial Day
She flicked a glance in his direction but that was all the indication she gave that the specific date held any other
Clueless as to the added tension, Screw reached out and grasped Jazz’s hands, stopping her fro to ruin your nails”
She didn’t seem to notice, just barreled on with her story “I was in my apartment, alone I didn’t even think he knehere I lived After I moved out of our parents’ house at twenty, I ain, at least not if I was alone Anyway, that night, there was a knock on ht it was…” Her gaze flicked in his direction before she shook her head “I thought it was so Didn’t ht I should have checked I always checked But that night I ret”
She’d thought it was hiht he’d finished his club business early and decided to surprise her? He’d had the shit beaten out of hi compared to the internal pain of her admission
She took a shuddering breath
“Do you need to stop?” Screw asked
Thank God for him Gumby couldn’t speak to save his life
“No I just…it’s hard to relive And I’ve never told the story to anyone But I need to finish now that I’ve started” She treet it out”
As though he could no longer stand the separation, Scre her off the coffee table and onto his lap She struggled for all of two seconds before relaxing against his broad chest
Gu the two of them They made a beautiful picture Jazz with her short dark hair, creaer, brown hair, scruffy face, and tanned skin
Gorgeous
Instead of feeling jealous, feeling like Screas poaching his woht, but because he was present too He wrapped his hand around her calf, giving a squeeze in support
“P-Paul pushed his way into my h-house and just…attacked” She choked out a sob “S-sa as always, I was p-possessed He was the only one who could save me He shoved ed to drag me into my kitchen As he started to yankto rape me, but he wasn’t reht after another, so fast he almost couldn’t make them out
She blinked, tears coursing down her face “H-he pulled out a knife, same one he’d used in the past As soon as I saw it, I nearly passed out, I was so t-terrified I’ll never forget the feeling of being truly paralyzed by et up and sit in one of my kitchen chairs”
Screw’s big hand coasted up and down her back Gue simmered in his eyes,Paul was a dead man Somehow, someway, the man would pay for every mark he put on Jazmine
“I didn’t get off the ground I couldn’t move Couldn’t think Could barely breathe My hair was a little longer then, and Paul yankedme onto a chair Before I had a chance to process as happening, he had old ribbon I’d used to decorate Fia and Acer’s wedding gift”