Page 26 of Beautifully Used
“Yep. Jackson will wonder where I’m at, too. I don’t know how we can avoid that.”
“Do you have your phone on you?”
“Yeah.”
“We can call Weezer, tell him what happened and he can make up some excuse for us.”
“That might work. What type of excuse?” I needed to ask. I knew what I would like to say. I’d tell him we were off getting to know each other better, but, of course, that would never fly with my brother as a good enough reason for missing his send off.
“I don’t know.”
She took my phone and dialed Weezer’s number.
“Hey, Weez.” She kept her voice amazingly steady and controlled. “Could you do me a favor? … Yeah. Um …” she glanced at me. “I left the party with Brodie. We went to get some more rice for people to throw. …Yeah. But … um … we got a flat tire on the way. Could you let Lena and Jackson know we won’t be there to say goodbye and tell them we’re really sorry?” Silence ensued for a few seconds and she frowned. “Everything is fine. Really. Don’t worry. Tell them not to wait … I don’t know how long it will take. … No, I don’t want them to miss their plane. Tell her … just tell her I’m sorry and to have a great time. … Okay. Thanks.”
She pressed the end button and handed me back my phone. “I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth.”
I nodded. “You didn’t need to.”
“I don’t think he believed me though because he kept asking me if I was all right. He’ll make sure they know we’re okay and not to worry.”
I nodded again. “You did great.” I tried reassuring her. I was certain Weezer thought we were off having a good time together, and I really wished we were. Anything beat sitting in the dirt with bloody lips and torn clothes, staring at the likes of the perverted Jeff Adams.
We sat there for about an hour until finally the music stopped. I crept to the edge of the woods and saw that most of the guests were gone. I came back and sat next to Gabrielle. “I’m going to call the police now. Are you up for it?”
She closed her eyes briefly then opened them and took in a large breath of air. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
We didn’t have to wait too long for the cops to arrive. I had told dispatch where we were, and as soon as they found us in the woods, Jeff began complaining and accusing me of assaulting him, denying all of the accusations Gabrielle made against him. They took one look at Gabrielle then handcuffed Jeff and took him away. The female officer asked Gabrielle a gazillion questions before they left, including the dreaded question: “Is a rape kit necessary?” Thank God the answer was no because he’d never gotten a chance. They told Gabrielle she’d have to testify in court, and told me the same. As we walked out from the woods, the music of crickets caught my attention and I remembered.
I’d never been one to pass up an opportunity, even given the circumstances. Maybe it wasn’t the right time, but I decided to seize the moment regardless. I draped my arm around Gabrielle’s shoulder and said, “That was supposed to be my dance, by the way.”
Chapter 20
Gabrielle
* * *
“Are you up for it?” Brodie asked as we approached the hardwood planks still laid out in the middle of the yard. The rental company wouldn’t be by until tomorrow morning to retrieve them. I looked down at my torn gown. I wanted to cry. I wanted to go inside and run to my temporary room in Brodie’s house and shut the door, throw myself on the bed and cry. I knew that wouldn’t solve anything.
I hadn’t been raped. Almost, but not. I could hold on to that. Thank God. Thank Brodie for that. Brodie had come to find me. Why? Brodie. Of all people. The one guy in the world I didn’t think I could trust. Didn’t want to trust. My face hurt where Jeff had punched me, and I probably needed to put some ice on my lip, but then, Brodie’s mouth was in just as bad of shape as mine. We both needed ice.
We stopped walking just before reaching the wood floor. “There’s no music.” I pointed out, and Brodie shrugged.
“We have music.” He took my hand in his. “Close your eyes and listen.”
I did as he suggested and didn’t hear anything at first. Then, there it was. Crickets chirping, frogs croaking, and a swish of breeze blowing through the tree branches with leaves ruffling against one another around us. Sounds of the night. Beautiful sounds. I smiled and opened my eyes. “Okay.”
He led me onto the floor and took me in his arms. His fingers wrapped around my left hand, his other settling gently against my waist. He held me. So different from the way Jeff had held me a few hours earlier. I followed Brodie’s lead, and we moved our feet to the music of the night.
This was a side of Brodie I hadn’t known existed. A tender side. I decided that I liked it, and suddenly, I didn’t feel so dirty anymore.
Brodie pulled me in a little closer.
I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against his chest. He led me around the dance floor, swaying with each step to the beautiful sounds of the night. I kept my eyes focused on the hardwood floor until Brodie placed his finger under my chin, lifting my face so my eyes met his. His lips were mere inches from mine. I couldn’t breathe. His breath was sweet as he whispered close to my cheek, “You’re okay. You’re safe with me.”
And I felt safe.
After changing out of my torn gown, I showered off all traces of Jeff from my body; every spot he had touched me, every spot his lips had pressed against my skin, everywhere, even the places he never had a chance to make contact with before Brodie had pounced upon him. I shrugged into a t-shirt and cotton sleep shorts, ready for bed. I had agreed to stay at Brodie’s for the night to help him clean up from the reception tomorrow. Besides, I didn’t really want to stay in Lena and Jackson’s big new house alone, not after what had almost happened tonight. I knew Jeff was in jail, but I couldn’t shake what had happened so easily, at least not yet. I’d been so scared. I hadn’t given myself to anyone, not willingly anyway, and not all the way. The thought of someone taking me under those conditions sickened me, made me feel weak and vulnerable. I’d been violated before, but there was never any penetration. Thomas was always careful never to do that to me. He’d always said I should save that for when I fell in love. At the time, I wasn’t sure what I was saving. It seemed to me he’d already taken everything I had. Thinking about Jeff only made me angry. Angry at the way I’d let him trick me, angry for allowing myself to be in that situation. I swore I would never tolerate being in a position where someone touched me without my consent again. How could I have been so stupid? I knew in my heart I was going to be fine. I would survive this night, this violation, just like I’d survived those others so many, many—desperately wanted to be forgotten—years ago. I would never forget though. Wasn’t that why I’d written the book?
