Page 89 of Love Bleeds Red
“Bailey,” Leon starts, but I hold up a hand.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I ask, stepping fully into the hallway. The borrowed clothes feel too big, like I’m a child playing dress up, but I straighten my shoulders anyway.
More footsteps and voices approach and suddenly Damon, Blake, and Falin appear at the end of the hall. Great. Now it’s a full audience for whatever this conversation is.
“We should call Mom and Dad,” Jasper says, redirecting us. “They need to know you’re safe. They’ve been waiting?—”
“She needs space first,” Leon cuts in. “Look at her, she can barely?—”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” I interrupt. “And Jasper, how long has what been going on? You were asking about Leon and me?”
I try to hide the hurt from my expression.Leon didn’t tell them.All this time passed and he kept our relationship a secret.
Jasper looks as hurt as I feel. “How long, Bails? How long have you two been... together? Without me knowing?”
“We should go back,” Damon says so suddenly I flinch. “That estate, there could be evidence. Other girls. I want to make that bastard pay.”
“No.” Leon’s voice is final. “We’re not going back.”
“You wanted to earlier,” Damon points out. “You were ready to burn the whole place down.”
“And you were right to stop me,” Leon admits. “Bailey’s safe. That’s what matters.”
“What about the others?” Jasper asks quietly. “The ones who might still be there? And what about our parents? They deserve to know she’s alive.”
I hold onto the wall for strength at the mention of others.
“Bailey?” Blake steps forward, her voice gentle. “I’m a med student. Would you let me take a look at you? I don’t have all my equipment, but I can do a basic exam. Make sure you’re okay.”
“She just got out,” Leon says. “She doesn’t need to be poked and prodded?—”
“It’s her choice,” Jasper cuts in, hurt still in his voice. “Stop deciding what she needs. You’ve been making decisions about her long enough.”
“I’m trying to protect her!”
“From what? Medical care? Her family? Or are you trying to protect yourself from having to explain why you kept your relationship with my sister a secret? I can’t believe I didn’t realize it earlier…”
I watch them argue about me again, and something inside me snaps.
“Stop.” My voice comes out stronger than I expected. “All of you, just stop.”
They all go silent and turn to me. I want to shrink against the weight of their stares, but I feign strength I don’t feel.
“Jas,” I say, steadying my voice. “Leon and I... it happened last summer. Before I was taken. We didn’t tell you because...” I glance at Leon, who looks like he’s hanging on my every word. “Because it was new and we were seeing how things went.”
Leon’s face falls. “That—that’s not entirely true.”
I shoot him a warning look, silently telling him to stop. Jasper doesn’t need to know everything. But Leon continues anyway.
“I knew I loved you right away. There was no doubt in my mind how things were going. Was there for you?”
“Really, this isn’t the time, Lee,” Blake interjects.
“So, you didn’t trust me? Did you think I’d be pissed?” Jasper sounds more disappointed than I’d ever heard him and I hate myself even more. I can’t even meet Leon’s gaze.
“It wasn’t about trust. It was about not wanting to complicate things if it didn’t work out.” The words feel wrong as they spill from my lips. “We were going to tell you.”
“Were you?” Jasper asks quietly.
