Page 206 of Only With You

His body becomes taut, every inch of him rigid, and when I feel his steady heart rate speed up, my stomach sinks.

“He confessed.”

I sit up, feeling a bit claustrophobic and hot.

“Love, I’m right here.” He leans against the bedframe and guides me to straddle him.

I slump down, resting my head on his shoulder. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hear it,” I weakly mumble. “At least, not right now.”

He caresses my back, rubs soft circles, and lays his chin on my head. “That’s okay. Whenever you feel ready and if you don’t, that’s okay too, but I don’t want you to forget that you’re so brave, okay?”

“Okay.” I focus on the feel of his heart rate, counting the beats to twenty and restarting until my own isn’t racing like it’s going to explode. “That was fast. How did you manage to do that?”

“I didn’t. He started talking and I just encouraged it, but I think he would’ve said anything anyway because he was seeking validation. I guess he thought if he told me his side of the story, I’d agree with him, that I’d support it, and justify everything he did.” His heart rate quickens and his voice sounds like it’s been doused in gasoline and when he utters the next words, the heatof them licks my skin. “I could’ve killed him. I wanted to. I really fucking did.”

“He’s not worth it, but you didn’t…”

“You’re worth it, but no, I didn’t do anything to him. Except maybe break his nose.” Pleasure fills his voice, but fire brims in it. “I won’t lie, for a second, I contemplated it. My foot was on his throat.”

His admittance shocks me and I pull away, looking up at him. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, but I couldn’t go through with it. Thinking of someone trying to make a move on you because I’m locked up stopped it all.”

I grin at the severity in his voice. “That would never happen. I’d never give them the chance.”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes and he cups my neck. “I’m so sorry you went through that. I’m so sorry he did that to you.”

The pain in his voice punctures my heart.

“Me, too…but I’m thankful I ended up running into you that night. I know you didn’t have to, but you took care of me and I’ll forever be grateful.”

“I wish I had known. I wish I could’ve?—”

“You were there after and that’s all that matters.” I take his hand from my neck and interlock my fingers with his.

Still, my words don’t seem to ease the discomfort because he stares at me with anguish. Like there’s still more he hasn’t shared with me.

“There’s more, isn’t there?”

His lips flatten in a tight line. For a long moment, he stares at me, the silence so fierce but so thin, a knife could easily slice it.

“I know who drugged you that night.”

I hold my breath and nod for him to say it, because I don’t think I have the voice to ask.

“Sienna.”

I laugh, shaking my head because that sounds absurd. “Is that what Cole told you? Because I’m sure he’d make that up just so?—”

He heaves a breath, rubbing the nape of his neck. “There’s proof she did it. She admitted it in a text message.”

I recoil back and my mouth opens, but my thoughts are too scattered and become a tangled mess. I can’t think straight, much less form a single word because there’s no way.

“She couldn’t have done that. She wouldn’t do that. Sure, we don’t get along, but there’s no way she would do that to me. There’s just no way, Landon,” I ramble, panic in my voice. “She wouldn’t do that, right? We used to be friends, best…friends.” My voice cracks. “She…she…wouldn’t do that…right?”

“I’m so sorry, Love. She did.” He wraps his arms around me, and I let him pull my numb body, feeling too overwhelmed to do anything.

I drop my head on his shoulder as flashbacks of Halloween resurface like a scary film.

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