Page 3 of Only Everything
“I’m never going back inside.”
Heavier sobs had me moving in closer.
“If something happened, you can tell me. Taur?—”
Weight crashed into me, hugging around me tightly.
“I hate him. I hate him; I hate him; I hate him.”
“Who? Frank? Your dad?”
“My mom promised I’d never have to come back. She promised?—”
My arms tightened around Tauren as more heavy sobs shook her. I took in the stream from the streetlight illuminating the alley, stepping us closer so that I could see her face. I pulled back, easing a finger under her chin to lift her gaze. At a little over sixteen, Tauren was turning into more than a sister—more than my best friend. With dark hair and deeply tanned skin, her light brown eyes looked golden. Her jaw was sharp, and her lips were pouty. She was beautiful, and she fucking had my heart—but in ways I tried not to even think about. I was older. Almost eighteen, and I knew not to cross lines. It wasn’t right to feel this way for her, but I couldn’t help it.
“What did he do?”
Her eyes lowered. “Nothing. Forget what I said. Let’s just go inside.”
“No.” I moved my head over so that she was forced to look at me. “What was that? Open your mouth. Let me see the inside of your lip. Is that a cut? Did he do that?”
“It’s no big deal. It’s not the first time. I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
“He hurt you.” It wasn’t a question, just a repeat as realization processed and anger took over every inch of me. It cameflooding back from my youth. From before Tauren arrived. Rage blistered like lava as more tears clouded her eyes. “How? Where?”
“I said it’s not a big?—”
“Taur.”
At my tone, her face drew in, surprised. Hesitancy only lasted a few seconds before she rolled down her lip and then pushed up the sleeve of her oversized t-shirt. Bruises, matching what I knew were fingerprints, had my pulse momentarily stopping. My head spun towards the house, and Tauren fisted my shirt.
“You can’t say a word, Reid. Promise me you won’t say anything. Daddy’s drinking again. He’s mad about something. This will pass.”
“He hurt you.”
“It’s just the beer. He’ll stop again in a few weeks. We just have to stay quiet until this episode passes.”
“And let him get away with it?”
“You can’t say anything.”
“Like hell I can’t. He had no reason for putting his hands on you. And think about it. If he’s hurting you, what about my mom? Someone needs to put him in his place.”
“And that person is you? Reid.” An aggravated sound left her. “You have to stay quiet. I heard him talking to your mom. He’s looking for a reason to kick you out. He didn’t say it outright, but you graduate in a few weeks, and he’s been on her about what you’re planning to do with your life. Becky mentioned you were looking to join the military. It helped to calm him, but if you do this and confront him now and start a big fight—” Tighter she gripped me. “He’ll kick you out. He’ll makeyou leave. You can’t leave us alone with him. You c-can’t. Promise me. Promise. You?—”
The sobs were near hysterical as I pulled Tauren back in to hug around her. Whatever she knew and wasn’t saying about her father was bad. This went beyond a few bruises and a busted lip. She had secrets. I didn’t like that.
Silence.
The memories faded out, bleeding from my mind’s eye as the trunks of trees once again took over. I stared into the distance, coming and going. Dissociating as I once again hopped between key moments of my life.
I’d come here to forget it all. To escape the loud explosions and screams from serving my country that were trapped within my mind. I had no idea they’d be loudest of all in the one place that used to make me feel safe. Calm. Home.
Was I home? Technically. I was a good half hour drive from our old house, but this was no home I remembered. Not that any place was really a sanctuary. But Tauren had been once. She’d been my peace. My happiness. My hope for a better future.
“Wake up. Reid.” My body rocked from her pushing into my shoulder. “Reid.”
“Hmm? Taur? What are you doing? Did you have another bad dream?”
