Page 106 of Wild Hearts

“I didn’t want to upset you for no reason. We didn’t get anywhere with her. I wasn’t going to bring it up and cause you more trauma. You’ve been through enough.” Airlie offers me a sad smile. “We didn’t know what to do because Sienna wouldn’t come forward. She had no proof, but we were starting to see a pattern. Hazy memory, drink spiked, underwear missing.”

My stomach roils.

“A couple of weeks ago, another one of my teammates called me up. Told me he’d heard we were asking questions about Drew.” Flynn glances at Airlie and she nods. “He said he’d overheard Drew bragging to someone about how he filmed all the girls he’d had sex with.”

Brady spins around. “What?”

Airlie nods. “We spoke to the guy, Hamish, and he wasn’t really forthcoming at first, but Flynn was... persuasive, and he eventually admitted it. He also told us that Drew bragged about keeping all the underwear as a... trophy.”

My eyes find Brady’s, my breathing coming out in short, ragged gasps. Sensing my panic attack, he crosses the room and sits behind me, pulling me into his strong arms.

“Breathe, Rookie,” he murmurs in my ear. “I’ve got you.”

I focus on breathing in through my nose and holding forthree... four... five.Out through my mouth forfive... six... seven...

“I–I’m so sorry, Wren. Are you okay?” Airlie asks quietly, keeping her eyes on me as Flynn places his hand on her knee and squeezes gently.

I lean into Brady, breathing him in, and nod.

“We were already planning to come and see you,” she continues. “I didn’t want to tell you all of this on the phone.”

Flynn flexes his fists and it’s then I notice the scabs on his right knuckles. “I...convincedHamish to go to the cops. Figured if he was dobbed in for filming girls without their consent, it was better than nothing. He’d still get into trouble. Hamish called me two days ago to tell me Drew had been arrested.”

I’m still trying to get my breathing under control. Brady’s rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“It’s over, Wren,” Airlie says, her eyes shining with tears. “He’s finally getting what he deserves.”

It’s over.Airlie’s words repeat over and over again in my head.It’s over.

I love her. She’s the only person who stood by me when everyone else whispered, “Slut,” when I walked down the school hallways. She’s the only person who stayed by my side as I cried. She always answered her phone no matter what time it was I called.

But she’s wrong: it’ll never be over. I’ll always have to live with what happened to me that night.

But I also know she’s trying to comfort me in the only way she knows how, so I nod, turning and burying my head in Brady’s chest.

“I got you,” he whispers, holding me tight. I focus on his words, knowing that he will never make me feel like I have no control over my own body.

HALF AN HOUR LATER, Airlie and I are walking along the main beach near the surf club. We left the boys in my apartment, much to Brady’s disgust. I’m hoping Flynn doesn’t end up with a broken nose by the time we get back.

“So, Brady really seems to care about you,” Airlie says. “I’m glad you two figured everything out.”

I dodge the statement. “So... you and Flynn Peters,” I counter.

She bites her lip and nods, colour spreading over her cheeks. “We’ve grown close this last couple of weeks.”

“Clearly.” I smirk, giving her a nudge.

“He’s actually a really nice guy,” she says, preparing to defend him, but I stop her with a smile and a side hug.

“If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

“Really?” she asks, surprised.

“Of course,” I say. “You’re my best friend. How long are you staying for?”

“We fly out of Brisbane on Monday morning.”

Disappointment washes over me. I’d been hoping to spend a little more time with her.

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