Page 54 of Trusting Easton

She rests her hand on my shoulder. “Did this man do something to you?”

Part of me wants to tell her what happened, but why would I do that? Why would I even consider it? Nobody needs to know what my dad did, how he set me up, how Vince tried to force himself on me. It’s all just a memory now, one I’ll lock away with all the others I’m trying to forget.

“Here’s your water,” Easton says, coming back in the room. As he sets it on the nightstand, he notices the concerned look on his mom’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I quickly say, hoping his mom will let it go. “Thanks for the water.” I pick up the glass and take a sip.

Penelope had her eyes on me but finally looks away, back at Easton. “Is Jenna up?”

“Yeah, she’s asking when we’re having breakfast.”

“I’ll go up and start it.” She gets up, then says to me, “Every Saturday, I make a huge breakfast. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon. I’ve been doing it since the kids were little.”

I wish I’d had a mom who did that. Most days, I didn’t even have breakfast because there was nothing to eat.

“Her pancakes are the best,” Easton says. “You think you could try one?”

“Yeah, it sounds good.”

“Towels are in the cabinet if you want to shower,” Penelope says, before leaving the room.

“You need help?” Easton asks.

“Showering?” I smile. “I don’t think your mom would be okay with that.”

“I can’t have you getting dizzy and falling down.”

“Then maybe you should wait in the other room and if you hear a loud thump, go in and check on me.” I shove the covers back and try to get up. My vision blacks and I grab Easton’s arm and wait for it to clear.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just dehydrated.” I let go of him and slowly make my way to the bathroom.

“You sure you don’t want help?” he asks. “I promise I won’t look.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I’ll get it started for you.” Easton joins me in the bathroom and starts the shower, then takes a towel from the cabinet and sets it on the counter. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“Thanks.” I give him a weak smile, feeling like I used up all my energy just getting from the bed to the bathroom.

The shower feels so good. The hot water takes away my chills and soothes my sore muscles. I use the shampoo that’s in there and suds up my hair, washing away the memory of Vince’s hands gripping my hair as he held me down. I don’t even want to think of the things he would’ve made me do if I hadn’t gotten out of there, or what I would’ve had to do if I’d been forced to work there.

I wouldn’t have done it. I never would’ve worked there. I still can’t believe my dad did that to me. But I guess if he’s okay with his girlfriend doing that stuff, he thinks it’s okay for his daughter too. I hope Rita doesn’t get stuck doing that someday. She’s so tiny and innocent, but her future’s already ruined if she stays there, growing up around people like my dad. Just look how I grew up compared to Easton. I ended up homeless and a high school dropout and Easton lives in a gorgeous home and got a scholarship for college. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like now if a family like Easton’s had adopted me.

“You okay in there?” Easton yells from outside the door.

“Yeah, I’m almost done!” I yell back.

I’ve been in here a long time, long enough for the whole room to steam up, but it feels so good I don’t want to get out. Shutting the water off, I grab the towel from the counter. It’s thick and soft, nothing like the towels I’m used to, which feel like sandpaper. I wrap myself in the towel, imagining I’m at some luxurious spa. That’s what this feels like. The comfy bed, soft sheets, thick towels… it’s like I’m at a spa. I can’t imagine living like this every day.

“That felt really good,” I say as I come out of the bathroom.

Easton jumps up from the chair and comes over to me. “Did my mom give you some clothes to wear?”

“I’ll just wear what I had on.”

“You need clean ones. I’ll go get you some, or I’ll tell my mom to. She’s better at dealing with Jenna than I am. I’ll just end up fighting with her.”

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