Page 130 of Someday Away

“Hey,” he says quietly, squinting at me. “You good?”

“Yeah.” I run my hand through my damp hair. “I’m just gonna go make us some coffee.” I sigh and look down at Charlie. She’s still fast asleep, her breathing soft and even. “Take care of our girl?”

Our girl.

“Always,” Trey says with a sleepy smile, laying back down and pulling her gently against his body.

CHARLIE

I can’t move. His hands against my skin are cold and clammy, and he’s touching me everywhere, pawing at my breasts and stomach. His handsome face, which I once adored as a girl, is like a foggy memory, and as much as I squint or close my eyes, I can’t see that boy anymore. What I see now is twisted, and it fills me with fear.

I want to fight. I want to run. But my head lolls to the side. Hot tears run down my cheeks and onto the bed. I’m helpless to stop this.

“Charlie…”

“No, stop,” I rasp.

I can’t breathe. He’s so heavy on top of me.

“Charlie!”

I wake with a sharp gasp, pulling air into my lungs as the fingers of panic start to loosen their hold on my throat. I look around wildly and realize I'm safe in Lincoln’s bedroom.

“Charlie, shhh.” Trey’s deep voice grounds me. “You’re okay.”

“Sorry,” I mutter. “Bad dream.”

His arms tighten around me, and I relax into his embrace, taking a long moment to breathe him in until my limbsstop shaking. Then I look around. Golden fingers of afternoon sunlight filter through the parted curtains, casting dancing shadows on the floor.

“What time is it?” I ask, rubbing my eyes.

“Just past one,” Trey says, tracing his fingers down my arm. “We were up pretty late. Do you have someplace to be? Will Seb and Marcus be worried?”

I shake my head slowly. “No, they’re still in Vancouver, so I had the house to myself.” I turn in his arms and look up into his warm chestnut eyes. “Where’s Link?”

“He went to make us coffee.”

Just then, the door opens and Link enters, balancing three coffee mugs in his hands. He pauses, something in his gaze unsure and vulnerable. I sit up, reaching for one of the mugs with a tentative smile, but Lincoln’s expression remains cautious.

“Thank you,” I murmur, breathing in the rich aroma.

Trey takes the other offered cup as Link sits onto the bed, and we all lean against the headboard and sip in contented silence. My thigh is touching Link’s, and my cheek is pressed against the soft warm skin of Trey’s shoulder. I feel so safe and loved, and it’s a relief after weeks apart from Link, followed by last night’s events. Just thinking about Matt makes my stomach churn.

After a few moments of quiet, Link turns to me, his granite gaze hesitant. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he starts haltingly, “but if you do want to, we’re here. No judgment.”

I swallow heavily, and nod, feeling stronger than I did last night, but even as I start to speak, my vision blurs, and I feel moisture clinging to my lashes.

“When I woke up in Matt’s room, he was naked, and he was trying to force himself on me.” My tears feel too hot as they trickle down my face, but I know I have to say it out loud. I wantto face it because I’m so angry that I let it happen—in the fifteen years I’ve known Matt, I wasn’t strong enough or smart enough to see him for the true monster he is. “He said he wanted to fuck me like he should have when we were together, and he was angry about the bad blood between his dad and Martin. He called my mom a whore. Do you think he knew about the affair?”

“I’m not sure how he’d know, considering what your stepdad did to keep it under wraps. It was probably just a dig to get a rise out of you,” Link says, his voice low and dangerous.

I take a deep breath, and Trey reaches out to grasp my hand, interlocking our fingers.

“I was angry too. I called him a rapist, and he slapped me.” I touch my sore lip. Trey’s fingers tighten around mine, and I hear a low growl from Lincoln, but I refuse to meet his eyes again. “I shouldn’t have provoked him,” I say softly.

“Bennett,” Trey says, grasping my chin so our eyes meet. “This isn’t your fault. Do you hear me? He’s a twisted fuck who tried to rape you. None of this is your fault.”

My chin wobbles, and I bite my lip, wincing when my teeth graze the cut. But I nod because deep down I know he’s right.

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