Page 55 of Complete Me
Sawyer: I don’t like it though
Me: Then tell them the truth
Me: It’s gonna come out anyway. I can’t keep these two lives separate much longer
Sawyer: You going back in full time?
Me: No, just need to make some changes
Sawyer: You doing okay? I know this dredged up everything with Lena
The mention of her name reminds me that I haven’t been to see her yet. Every Sunday, it’s my first stop, and I’ve been back here for twenty-four hours already and haven’t thought to go see her once. Fuck. I’m such a piece of shit.
Me: I’m hanging in there. Lena was next to me the whole time, making sure Kinsey didn’t see the same fate
Sawyer: I owe you my life
I hope he remembers feeling that way once we’re home and I tell him I’m rapidly falling in love with his sister and that I’m moving her out of the studio and into my house with me. I know Kinsey feels this between us; she just needs me to be all in. I thought I could be noble, I thought I could be strong and resist her, but I don’t want to fightbeing withKinsey. I want to fightto bewithKinsey. And I know her brothers are going to put up a hell of one.
Kinsey stirs next to me, and I pull her in close, loving the feel of her in my arms. She’s so fucking tiny compared to me, but she’s anything but fragile.
“Hi, sleeping beauty.”
“What time is it?” she asks groggily as she blinks and lets her eyes adjust to the warm light pouring into the room from the window.
“I’ve lost track of it, actually. I think our days and nights are flipped.”
“I’m sorry.”
What the hell could she be sorry for? She’s doing exactly what she should be doing—resting, healing.
“Sweetheart, don’t ever apologize to me.”
“You’re too kind, Reid Knight.”
If she only knew my history, what I’m capable of, what I’vedone to balance the tides, and what I’ll do to those who hurt her.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Tired.”
“You feel like talking?”
“Not about what happened.”
I don’t want to push, knowing that she’s never done that to me, but if something happened, I need to get her checked out. I can’t be irresponsible when it comes to her safety, even if it pisses her off or crosses a boundary. I have to get to the bottom of it. I have to.
My arm curls tighter around her for a moment before releasing my hold, my hand moving to slightly grasp her chin, forcing her head back so I can see those blue eyes when I speak.
“Sweetheart, we don’t have to talk details yet, you don’t have to tell me what happened until you’re ready, but I need you to please tell me if you were violated.” My voice cracks on the next words that I never thought I would need to say. “If you were raped.”
Kinsey’s eyes bounce rapidly back and forth between mine, and I know she understands why I need to know. I just care about her safety and providing what she needs to heal. Her sweet face shakes briefly side to side, but my heart doesn’t settle. I need her words. I need verbal confirmation.
“Words, baby,please. Did they?”
“No.”
The relief I feel is instantaneous, but only a brief reprieve from knowing that she still went through something traumatic. It doesn’t mean that her fear over them possibly raping her wasn’t constantly running through her veins. Rage ignites inside me as I start to spiral, my emotions ping-ponging back and forth. I push them out of my mind, instead focusing on Kinsey and being what she needs right now.
