Page 10 of See You Soon
"Who was that at the coffee shop? Is that why you're so sad?" Danny asks as he grabs his whiskey, drinking almost all of it.
"Umm... it's a long story," I reply, drinking more of my wine. I want to get more relaxed with the strong tension going on between us. I highly doubt Danny would be interested in hearing a story about a toxic ex-boyfriend and losing my brother. If he's like the military men I envision them all to be, he's probably just looking for a one-night stand before he deploys.
I put my wine glass down, sighing. Thinking negatively about myself always gets the best of me. A guy like him surely couldn't be interested in me like that.
The rain starts to really pour down heavily outside with strong winds making the house creak. Loud howling through the cracks of the windows. The sound of water splashing down on the porch outside is soothing. I can see lightning hit over and over again amongst the dark clouds, through the large glass windows that showcased his acres of land.
"I've got time."
I start to bounce my leg up and down, anxiously. I get anxious every time I talk about Shane. Danny seems genuinely interested and curious enough about my life, and it felt good. This man I just met who’s totally hot, and such a gentleman. But… I felt like there was a whole side of him he wasn't sharing with me. I just didn't know if that side wasgood or bad.
"The guy that called meAri Cakes,"I roll my eyes, "was actually my most recent ex-boyfriend. His name is Shane. He's actually in the Marines. He's your cliche tool bag. He cheated on me several times. And every single damn time, I would forgive him like a dumb ass. Things even got so bad he started putting his hands on me.”
I look up at Danny, studying his expression. His body grows tense and he’s stiff.
"Finally, after the last affair he had, he ended things and I didn't take him back. He begged but I stood strong. It took everything I had in me not to give in. My brother, who’s no longer here with me, helped me get past my abusive relationship at the time."
Then I could feel the sting in my throat. I choke up and I fight so hard against the tears that were starting to fill my eyes.
Here I was opening up to a stranger during a hurricane watch in his house.
What could go wrong?
"If I were your brother, I would've kicked his ass," Danny says firmly, grabbing a hold of his empty glass. He stands up and starts towards the kitchen and fills it up with more whiskey.
"Oh, trust me, Paul, my brother, he almost did. Shane showed up at the house one night, begging me to get back with him and Paul put everything on the line for his baby sister and almost got into a physical fight with him. I got in the middle and separated them before it could escalate further. I lied and told Shane I had called the cops so he fled."
The memories of that specific night come back flooding into my mind like a movie, as I explain it to Danny.
Paul and Shane stood in front of each other getting into each other's faces meanwhile Shane calls Paul every name in the book, tempting him to make the first punch. Paul towered over Shane, laughing at his lame attempts to act tough.
Paul didn’t say one word back to him. He just smirked and let out small laughs at his attempts to get under his skin. This only made Shane rage even more. Paul kept his composure, smiling wickedly, and I didn't know how.
My heart pounded in my chest; I cried out of intense fear because I feared for Paul's career if he engaged in a physical fight with Shane. I was on the porch looking at them, hopeless, begging them both to stop. They were on the front yard grass, and I could see our neighbors turning on their lights to investigate Shane's shouting.
"I just want to talk to your whore of a sister!" Shane shouts.
"You won't ever get that privilege again, Mitchell, as long as I'm around you'll never lay a finger on her again," Paul said it so calmly and I didn't understand how.
"She likes my fingers, Paul. Tell him Ari Cakes. Tell him about all the times I made you come on them." Shane said with disdain. He's sick. I can't believe he just shared that.
I watched Paul uncross his arms from his chest and they turned into fists. He was about to give in to Shane. He was going to risk his career but I wouldn't let him. He raised his fist but I had to do something. I wasn't going to watch my brother end his career.
"Stop it! Shane! Get the hell out of here! I called the police already, they're close!"
Neighbor's dogs started barking, attracting more attention to the situation. So, I lied and said I called the police. Shane finally stopped and he stared straight at me when I intervened, over Paul's shoulder. I locked into his eyes, and they were of hurt and hatred. He pointed his finger at me, and I winced. Soon after, he got into his car and drove away. Paul watched him the entire time as I wept.
That was the last time I saw him, until today.
I told Danny in detail about the things Shane would do to me. The times he slapped me so hard in the face he would make me bleed. The times, when I caught him in lies so he would try to manipulate me and get his way out of them. He would accuse me of being crazy or explain that it wasmy faulthe cheated on me. The times when he was overly jealous if I talked to another guy, he would call me a whore, a slut, and then sexually assault me after.
I never let him put his dick in me though. My virginity still haunting me. But Danny didn't need to know that part.
After Shane showed me his true colors, I knew if I gave myself fully to him, I would keep running back to him.
I look up at Danny. He’s clenching his jaw, taking in everything I just told him. His body stiffened and I can tell the stories were only making him upset. The way he’s looking at me, it shockingly makes me feel like the safest I've ever felt with a man. What felt like the longest minute in time, Danny's deep voice finally says, "You didn't deserve any of that. That's not love. I sure as hell don't know what love is but I know it's not that. No man should ever put their hands on a woman. That's a pathetic weak piece of shit."
I look up at him, aching to embrace him as the words roll out of his tongue.
