Page 65 of Fate Forever and Always

Aubrey has experience dealing with someone she loves being assaulted. Her sister, Brielle, was sexually assaulted when she was younger. Neither of them has ever shared the exact details. I just happen to know that is why Brie doesn’t drink anymore and it's why she rarely goes out with us now. I also know she doesn’t date.

Brielle.

It was like a lightbulb went off. I needed to talk to Brielle. I stood quickly and looked at Nick.

“I want to go make a phone call. Are you okay if I head back to the room to have some privacy?

Nick gave me a worried look but didn’t protest. “Sure, I can walk you there to make sure you get inside okay, and then I'll head to grab us some dessert. Is cheesecake okay?”

I grinned up at him and hesitantly laced my fingers with his. I am trying to touch him without issue, but I’m just not there yet. “Perfect.”

I gave Brie a call, and she answered in a panic.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Hi to you, too,” I chuckled.

“Tell me, Callie. Something happened to you, didn’t it?”

I was quiet, trying to figure out how in the actual hell she possibly knew that. Did I let something slip yesterday when Itexted Aubrey? How would she know that something was wrong with me?

“Callie,” she called out again. Then she lowered her voice and softened her tone. “Tell me, please.”

“Brie, how did you know?”

“First of all, you never call me unless you are looking for Aubrey, and you know she is visiting her dad and isn’t with me right now. Second, I had a weird dream a few nights ago about Nick and you. You were crying, and he was holding you. Please tell me that wasn’t real.”

“Bean, how could you possibly…hold on. How is it possible for you to have a dream like that?”

She gasped a little when I used Aubrey's nickname. I rarely use it and always call her Brie unless we are having a more serious conversation.

“I don’t know, Cal. I have this weird thing where sometimes my dreams come true. It’s the scariest fucking thing in the world. I never know which ones will actually happen.” She was quiet for a moment. “Callie,” she whispered. “Did someone hurt you?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Were you…r—”

“No,” I paused for a moment. “I was sexually assaulted while trying on clothes at a boutique here a few days ago.” I went on to tell her the whole story, and she kept quiet. When I finished, I heard her sniffle.

“Does Aubs know yet?” she asked.

“No, and I would like to be the one to tell her. Please don’t tell her I called you first.”

“Why did you?”

“What?” I was confused by her question.

“Why did you call me and not her?”

“I figured you might be able to tell me how to let Nick touch me again.”

Her voice got louder. “Nick freaking touched you. He hur—”

“Hell no. Nick isn’t the one who assaulted me. We sort of…shit. I’m fucking telling you everything before Aubrey. I will kill you if you speak a single word of this to her, Brielle.”

“Lips zipped. I even made the motion with my hands, zipping it shut for an added level of realness.”

That made me chuckle. She was so fucking sweet for someone who had dealt with so much shit in her life.

---