weren’t expecting me, but you were expecting someone. Who is it, Lara? Who were you waiting in bed for?” His fists loosen and he reaches out and grabs me.
Just as I’m about to scream and fight my way to escape, we both hear a large gasp followed by, “What’s going on?”
Behind Mark stands Rochelle. Oh thank God. “Rochelle—”
He yells, his voice both menacing and booming. “Leave us alone.”
Her eyes meet mine as she scans me, making sure I’m okay. “No,” she says to him with no fear in her voice. “You need to leave now, Mark, or I’ll call the cops.” Dialing 9-1-1, she holds her phone up in the air. “All I have to do is push one more button.”
“And tell them what? Lara’s boyfriend used the key she gave him to come in and climb into bed with his girlfriend ? Call them. They’ll find no case, so run along and play house with that loser. We all know he needs the supervision.”
“Shut up, Mark,” I say, gathering strength from my friend. I push past him into the bedroom. “I’m only going to tell you one more time. Leave.” He stares at Rochelle, then turns to me and returns the same glare as I’m giving him. I have no patience for his bullshit anymore. “Get out of my place. Now!”
“You don’t mean that,” he says, but by the confusion written on his face, perhaps reality is hitting him square in the head.
“I do. I want you gone for good.”
“Whatever,” he says, walking toward the door. When he passes Rochelle, he hits the wall above the door. “Fuck this.”
Rochelle looks worried, but she stands strong until he’s gone. Eyeing me, she says, “You’re shaking. Stay here and I’ll make sure he leaves.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around my body, then take my robe from the hook in the bathroom, I slip it on and sit on the edge of the bed, and wait. When she comes back, she sits next to me. “He’s gone.” My breath stutters as I inhale. I drop my head into my hands and cry. A comforting arm embraces me. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Leaning my head on her shoulder, I continue to cry, the last few days finally overwhelming me. “What if you wouldn’t have shown up when you did?” My voice trembles even more now I know it’s safe to show my emotion. What would he have done?
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you.”
“It’s not him. He’s not been like thi—”
“Lara, wake up. You’re making excuses for him. Why?”
I drop my head again. “I’m ashamed.”
“You did nothing wrong. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Has he hurt you before?” I can’t tell her the truth.
“No,” I continue to lie, not even understanding why anymore. “I’ve seen a change in him. I’ve seen moments of his temper, but ignored my gut feeling that something was really wrong.”
“I’m sorry this happened. I had no idea.”
“It was only two times. I’m not trying to justify it, but it’s since we broke up. He’s always had mood swings. He says it’s natural for pro-athletes. But the last few months they’ve gotten worse.”
“Maybe he’s taking drugs.”
I shake my head. “He wouldn’t. They test regularly and he works closely with a kids’ foundation against drugs.”
She hugs me tight. “I’m glad you’re safe and I’m even more glad you’re not with him. You need to steer clear.”
“Yeah, good riddance.” I flop back on the bed. “But I still need to get my stuff.” And get my locks changed.
“Send someone to collect it. You don’t go, okay?” She lies back next to me.
Wanting to change the subject, I nod. “You said something about liquor for the party?”
“Don’t worry about it. You have enough to deal with.”
“I’m happy to help. Anyway, I’ll need the distraction. Tell me what you need and I’ll bring it tonight.”
We lie there—me trying to forget what happened—Rochelle showing her concern by taking my hand and holding it. “I’m here for you.”
I give her hand a little
Just as I’m about to scream and fight my way to escape, we both hear a large gasp followed by, “What’s going on?”
Behind Mark stands Rochelle. Oh thank God. “Rochelle—”
He yells, his voice both menacing and booming. “Leave us alone.”
Her eyes meet mine as she scans me, making sure I’m okay. “No,” she says to him with no fear in her voice. “You need to leave now, Mark, or I’ll call the cops.” Dialing 9-1-1, she holds her phone up in the air. “All I have to do is push one more button.”
“And tell them what? Lara’s boyfriend used the key she gave him to come in and climb into bed with his girlfriend ? Call them. They’ll find no case, so run along and play house with that loser. We all know he needs the supervision.”
“Shut up, Mark,” I say, gathering strength from my friend. I push past him into the bedroom. “I’m only going to tell you one more time. Leave.” He stares at Rochelle, then turns to me and returns the same glare as I’m giving him. I have no patience for his bullshit anymore. “Get out of my place. Now!”
“You don’t mean that,” he says, but by the confusion written on his face, perhaps reality is hitting him square in the head.
“I do. I want you gone for good.”
“Whatever,” he says, walking toward the door. When he passes Rochelle, he hits the wall above the door. “Fuck this.”
Rochelle looks worried, but she stands strong until he’s gone. Eyeing me, she says, “You’re shaking. Stay here and I’ll make sure he leaves.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around my body, then take my robe from the hook in the bathroom, I slip it on and sit on the edge of the bed, and wait. When she comes back, she sits next to me. “He’s gone.” My breath stutters as I inhale. I drop my head into my hands and cry. A comforting arm embraces me. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Leaning my head on her shoulder, I continue to cry, the last few days finally overwhelming me. “What if you wouldn’t have shown up when you did?” My voice trembles even more now I know it’s safe to show my emotion. What would he have done?
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you.”
“It’s not him. He’s not been like thi—”
“Lara, wake up. You’re making excuses for him. Why?”
I drop my head again. “I’m ashamed.”
“You did nothing wrong. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Has he hurt you before?” I can’t tell her the truth.
“No,” I continue to lie, not even understanding why anymore. “I’ve seen a change in him. I’ve seen moments of his temper, but ignored my gut feeling that something was really wrong.”
“I’m sorry this happened. I had no idea.”
“It was only two times. I’m not trying to justify it, but it’s since we broke up. He’s always had mood swings. He says it’s natural for pro-athletes. But the last few months they’ve gotten worse.”
“Maybe he’s taking drugs.”
I shake my head. “He wouldn’t. They test regularly and he works closely with a kids’ foundation against drugs.”
She hugs me tight. “I’m glad you’re safe and I’m even more glad you’re not with him. You need to steer clear.”
“Yeah, good riddance.” I flop back on the bed. “But I still need to get my stuff.” And get my locks changed.
“Send someone to collect it. You don’t go, okay?” She lies back next to me.
Wanting to change the subject, I nod. “You said something about liquor for the party?”
“Don’t worry about it. You have enough to deal with.”
“I’m happy to help. Anyway, I’ll need the distraction. Tell me what you need and I’ll bring it tonight.”
We lie there—me trying to forget what happened—Rochelle showing her concern by taking my hand and holding it. “I’m here for you.”
I give her hand a little
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