Page 100 of Easy Reunion
Chapter 39
Rierson
“Why are you telling me this now?” To my shock, Kelsey hasn’t moved an inch. I’ve lost all track of time, and this is the first she’s said a word. I’m taking it as a good sign she didn’t go bolting for the door during my explanation.
“If I had my choice, I never would have told you,” I admit honestly. She flinches, her head whipping away as if I’ve struck her. “Do you think I want to admit to my biggest shame?”
“What do you have to be ashamed of?” Hearing that makes my heart ache. I rub a hand over my chest, trying to ease the pressure while she rails on, beautiful in her fury. “You did nothing shameful, Rierson.” Her hands land on her hips as she squares off against me.
“What about what I did to you?”
“What about it?” I draw back in confusion. She steps forward. “What’s changed except the level of hatred I hold for the people who hurt you, hurt me, the same ones who threatened your sister?”
It can’t be that easy, can it? I shake my head in denial.
“Yes, Ry.” I’m stunned when she answers me because I have no idea I’ve spoken aloud. Then she confuses me by saying calmly, “So, what you’re telling me is that it was Max’s fault he’s been bullied at school.”
“The fuck it is!”
“Are you sure? It’s not his fault for not taking the jeering about his sexuality better,” she pushes.
Is that what it was? God, I’ve missed so much. Then her taunting words register, and my temper rises. “What’s wrong with you? Of course it isn’t!” I explode. I take a step to put myself back into her space when she wraps her arms around my waist, surprising the hell out of me.
“Then how could I blame you for the same thing? What would ever make you think I’d blame you for being harmed and exploited?” A lone tear rolls down her cheek.
“Don’t cry,” I rasp out. I don’t think I can handle her tears.
“I can’t help it. I always tear up when the hero shows up.” A second follows the first. Automatically, my hand reaches up so my thumb can brush it away. Instead of letting my hand go when it would have moved away, she grabs hold of it. Turning, she presses a kiss in the center of my palm. Leaving her lips there, she whispers, “I will always wish this never happened to you, but I think you forgot something after you got that call from your father today.”
My head swimming, I barely manage to rasp, “What’s that?”
“I’m not the same girl who left her demons behind fifteen years ago. I’m the woman who went back to face them. And I’m strong enough to help you do the same.” Reaching up, she cups my face. “Don’t you dare forget it again.”
I’m sure there must be some prayer I’m supposed to say to thank God for the woman in front of me; I don’t know what it is at the moment. When I do, I’ll be on my knees saying it over and over. Right now, all I can do is lean my head down against hers.
If I didn’t feel so weak, I’d feel selfish absorbing the strength she’s pouring into me, especially knowing the emotional turmoil she’s been under the last few weeks. I don’t know how long we stand there in the study in the shadows of our past. Each time her mouth opens, it’s to whisper words of encouragement and love. The first few times, I froze, almost panicked, at the idea that would be the moment Kelsey would finally walk away.
Eventually, a shudder runs through me. Her arms hold on tighter. “When do you leave?” she asks me quietly. During my explanation, I told her about my father’s call and what happened back in Savannah.
“I have a flight out tomorrow night.” I’d give anything to not have to go but not because I’m selfish, simply because I wish this had never happened. Even though I feel like I’m reliving what happened to me so long ago all over again, the pain John’s grandson is feeling is fresh. It should never have happened. “Maybe, if I’d been stronger…” I don’t finish the sentence because Kelsey grabs my face.
“You can’t feel guilty about those you weren’t able to save.” Her voice is scratchy.
“If I’d have come forward…” I try again, but she cuts me off.
“You can what-if all you want, my love. You saved two special people by being as brave as you were—you and your sister. And back then, were the right laws in place to have protected you?” I begin to rack my brain, trying to remember when hazing laws went into effect when Kelsey asks me something completely unexpected. “Why did you stay on the swim team, Ry?”
Surprisingly, a smile crosses my face. I move us both to the sofa and drop down onto it. Pulling her into my lap, I answer simply, “You.”
A look of confusion crosses her face. “You participated on a team you hated…”
“Because you made me remember why I loved the sport, Kelsey.” Clarity replaces the confusion and along with it, a rather becoming blush. “That’s right. When you asked me what I felt while I was in the water, you forced me to remember why I loved it.” Lowering my head down to hers again, I admit, “And it didn’t hurt because as you began to mean more to me, it gave me the leverage to protect you.”
“And who again did you think you didn’t protect? Because right now, I’ve counted three,” she persists.
I open and close my mouth, unable to say a word, which is a good thing because she proceeds to blow my mind.
“You do what you need to, Ry, but don’t you dare apologize to me or anyone else about the decisions you made. They’re what make you…you. The man I love.” While I’m falling in love all over again, she causes me to do something I never imagined I’d ever be able to do when I told her about what happened in that dark locker room all those years ago.
