Page 63 of Decoded
Or pity.
Or closure.
But when Keaton steps inside, dripping and hesitant, I don’t stop him.
Walking over to the bathroom, I grab a towel from inside of the closet. I cross back over the small space and sit it on the arm of the couch in front of him. I can’t hand it to him directly. I can’t risk touching him. If I touch him, I know I’ll crumble. And I have to be strong to say what I need to say.
“I can’t keep doing this, Keaton,” the words are soft as they pass my lips. “I can’t keep feeling like I’m not enough for you.” I whisper the next part, “You promised you would never leave me again.”
He rubs the towel through his hair and down his face. “I know. I know that I fucked up. I know that you hate me.
“I should hate you,” I release a sigh of defeat. “I should, but I don’t. I want to, but I can’t. Because I love you too, Keaton. From the moment I watched you grip the armrests on the plane to this very moment where you’re being a complete dumbass. I still love you.”
He walks around the couch until he is standing directly in front of me. He reaches out his arm, but I hold my hands up. “I love you Keaton, but I’m still insanely pissed at you.”
Taking a step back, he nods. “I know. And you have every right to be.” He hesitates before speaking again. “Amanda mentionedearlier that I didn’t have the full story. When I asked you if what that fucker said was true, you said yes. I’m just really confused, and I know I have no right to it, but I want to know. I need to hear the truth from you, Anna. What happened with him?”
He looks like a man ready to watch his world fall apart and it makes me want to run over and throw my arms around him in comfort, but I remain where I am. I stay strong and hold my head high. Because it wasn’t Keaton who had his body violated by a man he was expected to trust his entire life.
But he is the man who protected me.
He is the one who showed up for me.
And he is the one who loves me.
So I tell him.
I tell Keaton about the worst day of my life.
Keaton is standing in the middle of the guesthouse like the air has been knocked out of him. He hasn’t said a word in nearly a minute, probably because he’s got his jaw so locked tight I swear I can hear his teeth grinding.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, apologizing for not telling him sooner. For causing the pain that’s written all over him.
He lifts his eyes to mine and the look in them has a soft gasp escaping my lips. Not pity. Not revulsion. Fury.
“Don’t do that,” he says, his voice tight. “Don’t apologize for his crimes. You did nothing wrong, Anna.”
I nod, but tears sting anyway. “Keaton, I promise I wasn’t trying to keep a secret from you. I was just so humiliated. So disgusted. So, ugh, I don’t even know. I just wanted to put it behind me and pretend like it never happened.”
“I’m not upset with you. Not even in the slightest. Fuck, Baby, I’m so damn proud of you.”
My nose crinkles. He reaches out to run his thumb over to smooth it out. And it feels so good that I find myself leaning into his touch.
“I’m so proud of you for getting out of that situation. For getting away from him the best way you knew how. I’m proud of you for telling someone what happened. You did good, Anna.”
“But he isn’t gone, clearly,” I whine. “Him showing up here in Cheatham was one thing, but he’s always going to be around. He’s my dad’s best friend and has been since before I was even born. He’s always there. At every holiday. Every cookout. Every event you could think of.”
“Then you tell your dad what you just told me. You tell him about his best friend’s crimes.”
“But what if he doesn’t believe me?” I can feel myself crumpling, but Keaton pulls me into his arms. I breathe in his scent, and it brings instant comfort. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.
“Daniel told him about the two of us being married. I’ve never seen him look more disappointed in me than at that moment. What if he thinks I’m just trying to ruin Daniel because of mistakes I made?”
“Our marriage is not a mistake,” Keaton presses his lips to my forehead. “And we have the proof. You have messages from Daniel. He had no reason to be at our office, other than the fact he was there to see you. We show that to your dad, and well,”he releases a breath, “if he still takes his side over yours, then maybe your dad isn’t the man you think he is.”
I nod, but my whole body is shaking.
“I’m here, Anna. I believe you. I love you. And you don’t have to do this alone anymore. I’m not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever again.”
