Page 2 of Free to Breathe
Laugh.
“Cori? She’s sweet. Had a rough life. I feel bad for her sometimes.”
The blonde bitch laughs before saying, “You’re the one who’s sweet to take that on, Colby. Not many guys would.”
“I can handle Cori.”
Addison snorts. “I can tell. She’s so huge I’m amazed even you can get your arms around her. And these are some pretty impressive arms.”
“So, she’s a little on the chunky side, Addison. Who cares? It’s not her I’m in bed with tonight, is it?”
“No, it’s not,” she purrs.
The effects of their words to my heart is so severe, I fall back where I am, uncaring if I’m seen or not. I’m almost dizzy. I don’t know if I can crawl, let alone stand. My soul, which had been repairing and blooming, is now shattered. This is friendship? This is what I opened myself up to? Exposed my family to? Our secrets, our wounds, our pain, and he’s with me because he feels sorry for me? And as for Addison, Holly would have this chick in a choke hold. Ali would verbally flay her. And let’s not mention what Phil, Cassidy, or Em would do. Then again, they’re my family through the kinds of bond that have been forged in hell.
Something the two on the bed will never understand.
My heart hasn’t felt like this since South Carolina when I realized there was no escaping the living nightmare I was in. The only difference is back then someone else stole me away from my home to pay off a debt. This time, I openly walked into my own hell because I saw the promise of something that maybe I was being gifted with as a reward for what I endured before.
Obviously not. People like me aren’t meant to have the life they’d give their next breath for.
As much as it kills me, I wait patiently for the people in the bed to pass out from a combination of alcohol and exertion. I listen until I hear nothing but Colby’s muffled snoring. Standing, my legs feeling like pins and needles. I almost lose my balance and fall to the floor. My head is throbbing from holding in my pain. Wouldn’t that be awful if I toppled over now—the pathetic cow might break through the floor and disturb their precious beauty sleep.
I don’t want to look over, but I’m helpless not to.
Colby is sprawled partly over Addison, his hand cradling her breast as he sleeps. How many nights did he crash on my couch with me, when I’d be snuggled into him, hoping for something like the display before me?
God, how disgusted Colby must have been.
Reaching into the pocket of my jeans, I pull out his room key and drop it right next to his shirt before I quietly make my way out the door.
Closing the door behind me, I turn and immediately slam into a warm chest. “Oomph!”
“Cori. What the hell happened?” It’s Jack, Colby’s best friend, whose room is across the hall.
“It’s nothing. I need to go.” I shove past him.
“I don’t think so.” Jack grabs me from behind. I take a swing at him, trying to fight or get away. “Stop moving.”
I press my lips together in a firm line. I refuse to relive my humiliation. Tears well in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
He shakes me. “What’s your fucking problem?”
Fear and pain leave me unable to form words that will make any sense or that sound nonchalant. Anything to get me out of here. I don’t want to repeat any of what just happened by telling Jack. I want to cry, to sleep, to forget.
“Did too much food go to your brain or something?” He shakes his head. “This is what we get for letting the wildlife out of their pasture after dark.”
I shake my head in denial even as I back away. Turning, I race down the hall, shoving past the partygoers on the stairs, through the room, and away from Jack’s laughter. Tears burn in my eyes as I hear him call out over the landing, “Holy hell, I didn’t know cows ran that fast.”
There’s no need to keep quiet now. My sobs can likely be heard back at my own apartment. I thunder down the stairs of Colby’s off-campus house and race out the front door. As I’m flying down the front steps, I vow never to speak to anyone who lives in that house ever again. Just as I think I’m clear, I stumble on my shoelace and go flying onto the pavement.
Roaring laughter fills the night air.
Wobbling to my feet, I reach up and touch my face. My hand comes away with grit and blood—a hell of a lot of blood. I turn and face the crowd. “Fuck all of you,” I hiss. They go silent when they see my face.
A girl I always liked from my business classes steps forward. “Corinna…” I hold out the hand streaked with blood to ward her off.
“Just stay the hell away from me.” Woozy now from my fall, I quickly bend down and tie my shoe. Standing, I turn without another word and walk alone down the lane.
