Page 77 of Dark Love

“Mom, Dad, let me give it a try.”

What does he want to try? Tormenting me? I don’t want to do this.

They leave the house without a word.

“You made soup.” Max walks over to the stove.

“Ramen. Would you like some? I made extra.”

“Sure. But I’ll get it. You stay there.”

Today has been too confusing for me to protest. I watch as Max grabs everything he needs and joins me at the island.

We eat in silence for a long minute.

“Ramen hits the spot sometimes. Especially with the hard-boiled egg.”

“That was Hope’s idea. Something about needing protein to make it a meal.” I swirl my noodles listlessly.

“Prudence, I want you to know that you can trust me.”

Trust him? Do I know Max past him being Hope’s father? He’s a great father. “You love Hope a lot.”

“More than life itself. And if there’s one thing I’ve taught my daughter, it’s no one is allowed to hurt a woman ever.”

“Isn’t that a bit sexist?”

Max’s lips tip up. “Maybe. But it’s still the truth in my home. A man taking advantage of a woman… hurting her when her back is turned isn’t acceptable ever.”

He’s right. I know he’s right. “I’m okay. Nothing happened,” I mumble into my bowl, unable to look at him.

“So, you weren’t roofied?”

Lie. Life would be so much easier if you lied. “I was.”

“By whom?”

That should be the easiest question. I should know who did that to me. The name of the man that took away my sense of security. “I don’t know.”

“A loss of memory is common with those drugs. Who did you go out with?”

“No one. I went to a club alone.”

Max’s spoon clatters into his bowl, splashing broth onto the marble. “You went to a club alone?”

“I know. It wasn’t smart, but I didn’t plan on being there long. If I could go back and do it again, I never would have walked in the door.”

“What club was it?”

Do I tell him? Vex seems to like to live a quiet life. But Max isn’t going to let this go.

“You know what club you went to.”

“Yes. It’s just that nothing happened. I passed out on the bathroom floor. Then a friend took care of me this weekend.”

Max reaches over and places a hand on mine. “Something happened. And even if you want to pretend it didn’t happen, it did. If you don’t tell me for yourself, you need to tell me to protect the next woman.”

“Night Dreams.”

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