Page 37 of First Time

I gave my friends the brief version, sticking to the facts, but it still took me a good twenty minutes to get through sharing what had happened in the previous nine days. Micah was the only guy there involved in the BDSM lifestyle and knew who Chantelle was. He didn’t seem surprised by her cunning ways and what she’d set into motion.

He sat quietly after I finished, and I swallowed down the last of my beer. “I know from experience that she won’t be forced into leaving him,” I tacked on.

I hadn’t told anyone except Chantelle about my parents, but even she didn’t know the whole story. Only those in my past were aware of what had happened that hot August morning. Meeting each of the four men’s stares made me realize I wouldn’t be judged by them. Wouldn’t be pitied for what I’d endured. They needed to understand my first-hand knowledge of the situation Becky was in.

“My dad was an abusive asshole,” I stated, my voice steadier than I’d expected. “My mom stayed too long—and I got to witness what that cost her. So yeah, I’m well acquainted with the shit Becky is going through, and I’m powerless to make her see she deserves better than that fucker.”

“Shit,” Jarod muttered, shaking his head. His dark eyes bored into me as though reading the inner turmoil I sometimes had to face when memories riled up on the offense. “You okay?”

“I got over that shit,” I stated a half-truth considering the dream I’d had Friday night, “but this situation is definitely dragging my past back up.”

“We’re here if you need us,” Blake stated firmly, his stare intense. “Whatever it is, we got your back.”

“I could call Uncle Sully if you want?” Reid suggested, his tone and demeanor just as serious as the others.

Chief of Police Sullivan had helped him and Jessie out when her ex had come sniffing around, intent on making her pay for putting him behind bars.

“I appreciate it, but I can’t do anything until Becky changes her mind and decides on her own to leave.”

“So what the fuck are we gonna do?” Jarod asked, leaning forward from where he sat on the couch to my left, elbows on knees. “Just sit around and twiddle our thumbs?”

My chest went tight at how the four men supported me when we had only been friends for around a year.

“I know some people,” Blake tossed out with a shrug while sprawling out over the couch’s corner in his usual air of arrogance—confidence, he would say.

I huffed a snort. With his connections thanks to his grandfather being a senator and in the country’s one percent of rich pricks, I didn’t doubt Blake’s words. There had been more than one rumor on social media over the years about the senator and one of the mafia families from North End.

“You could kidnap her and whisk her away to my place down in Cancun,” Micah offered.

“You can use my family’s private jet,” Blake tacked on.

“I have access to drugs at the hospital that would knock her out if you think she’d fight.”

My gaze swung toward Jarod at his suggestion.

“What?” he asked, glancing around at the rest of the guys. “Just because I’m a nurse means I can’t do unethical things for the right reasons?”

I shook my head and released a slow exhale. “While I appreciate all the offers, I won’t cross lines. Can’t have Becky years down the road deciding I coerced her into a new life. She’s got to figure this shit out on her own.”

“Be her friend.”

Brow raised, I peered over at Reid on the second recliner.

He studied me with dark eyes as though trying to figure out exactly how far I would go to win her affection. “Find out where she goes when she isn’t with Stephen,” he continued. “Make sure you’re there. It might take you a long-ass time,” he said, getting up from his chair, “but show her what a real man is. Anyone else need another beer?”

Micah and Blake declined, but Jarod agreed.

“I think Reid is onto something,” Micah said as our friend traipsed toward the kitchen.

“It’s how he won over Jessie,” Blake said before swallowing down some of his lager.

“Didn’t you do the same?” I asked.

Blake grinned. “I was friendly, but I also pursued the fuck out of my little Birdie. Took four attempts to get Wren to say yes to me and everything I had planned for her.”

Reid returned, gave Jarod his drink, and once more sat.

“How did you win over Christine?” I asked Jarod.

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