“Juliette, you are not stupid,” Reno says, enunciating each word. “No one should ever talk to you like that.”
“I know.” An errant tear treks down my cheek. “I made good grades in high school and in college. I know I’m not stupid, but it still hurts to be belittled.”
Reno pulls my face to his and kisses my lips, gentle as a butterfly. “You are smart, Juliette McNamara. The way you can put words together to tell a story is such a rare talent.” Then he presses his lips to my forehead. “What’s in here is just as beautiful as the rest of you. I am in awe of you.”
Well, a girl can’t hear that enough.He pulls me close again, and my body melts against him, his warmth rivaling the heat of the setting sun.
“After we got to his apartment, he acted like nothing even happened. I finally told him he’d hurt my feelings by saying I was stupid, and he acted confused. Said he didn’t even remember saying it.”
“Did he apologize?”
“He did, and it seemed sincere, but a couple weeks later, he called me a dumb bitch.” I feel Reno’s body quake, but despite his obvious anger, I’m not afraid in the least that he might hurt me.
“I’m going to need this prick’s full name and address. Now.” His voice is an iceberg, cold and resting just beneath the surface.
“It’s in the past. It was two years ago,” I defer.
“What did your brother say aboutthe colontalking to you like that?”
I pause. “I didn’t tell him. I thought it would blowover.”
“But it didn’t?”
Shaking my head, I inhale the fresh scent of Reno’s thick neck. “No. I was beginning to seriously rethink things because he seemed to be calling me names more and more often, like it just became habit for him. Never in front of anyone else though.”
“What made you finally break it off?” Reno’s hands are gentle as he caresses the back of my head and the length of my spine.
“I… I was FaceTiming with him one night. He was in his apartment, and I saw a naked woman walk across the room behind him.”
“What the fuck?” Reno snaps.
“Those were my exact words,” I say wryly. “I had finally reached my breaking point and called him a dumb, cowardly, cheating-ass, little bitch.”
Reno’s shoulders shake. “Sorry, I know this isn’t funny, but that’s the best damn thing I’ve ever heard.”
I giggle too. “It felt good to say. As soon as I told him it was over, I felt fifty pounds lighter. Like my body was relieved my brain had finally gotten with the program.”
Rolling my lips between my teeth, I pause before telling him the next part. “Collin caught a flight and showed up at my house the next morning. He was apologizing all over the place and begging me to forgive him. Then he started explaining how it was all my fault since I wouldn’t move with him immediately.”
“What an asshole,” Reno mutters. “Is that when he got violent?”
Nodding, I say, “Yes. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me so hard my teeth rattled. I was scared, and at that point I knew I had two choices.” I let out a breath. “I could either speak quietly and try to talk him down, or I could knee him in the balls.”
“And what did you do?” His voice is strained like a guitar string someone tightened three turns too many.
“I went for the balls,” I state and feel Reno’s exhale against my neck, like that’s the answer he wanted to hear. “The twat muffin twisted at the last minute, so I only grazed hiscrotch, but it was enough to make him double over.”
Reno gently pushes me back and cradles my cheeks in his big hands. I’m finding it easier than expected to say this next part face to face. There’s no pity in his eyes, only steadfastness, like he’s sharing his energy with me.
Only a slight quiver mars my voice when I speak again. “I ran, but he caught me. Twisted my arm up behind my back. There was a horrible pop. I know he heard it because he let go immediately.”
“Fuck, dream girl. Was it your shoulder?”
I nod. “Yes, it was dislocated. I fell onto the floor, and he stared at me like he couldn’t quite figure out why I was lying there. I pulled my phone from my pocket, and Collin immediately began apologizing. Saying he didn’t mean to. You know, all the bullshit abusers spew afterward.”
Reno’s lips flatten into a harsh line. “I’m aware.”
“So I called my brother Bubba and told him Collin hurt me. He started yelling so loud even the twat muffin could hear him. And… he ran.”
