“Who?” I ask, already knowing the answer, knowing what happened earlier today. I know it was nothing, but if he saw… “WHO?” I shout before I push past them and rush down the remaining hallway, grabbing the door frame and using it to swing into the office.
The initial image of her sitting on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest as she’s just staring in front of herself. Her sister sits next to her and nods at me as I walk into the room.
Tatum’s not crying, not filled with rage. She just sits, staring in front of her… imploding in on herself.
I attempt to swallow, but it doesn’t even budge the blockade that my emotions have in my throat.
Blair stands up from the couch and moves out of the room as I stand frozen in fear. I can see her glance up at me as she passes by, touching my arm as if to jolt me back into reality.
The sound of the door shutting breaks the stronghold that our emotions have on us and Tatum looks up at me, her eyes showing me just how much trauma she’s holding. The cut on her trembling lip makes it difficult for me to remain somewhat calm.
We don’t say a word, I just walk over to her, as carefully as I can, because something inside of me tells me not to startle her, maybe somehow my mother’s fucking voice has become a slight voice of reasoning at this moment and is reiterating Ella’s words to me. Tatum needs me to be soft with her. Our eye contact doesn’t break until I’m sitting down on the couch next to her and she finally feels safe enough to fall to pieces in front of me.
I pull her into me, wrapping her up in my arms as tightly as possible. If I could crack my chest open and keep her safe there, I would, even knowing it would kill me.
Her wincing causes me to stop.
“Fuck, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how—”
“It’s not you…” She trails and sighs, looking up at me this time, the shame that she believes she should feel written on her face.
“Show me.” My mouth dries as I prepare myself for what I know is coming. Balling my fists up as she looks down, her bottom lip quivering. Her hair slides as she moves, and her neck grabs my attention. Carefully and slowly, as to not startle her, I reach up, moving the remaining hair off of her shoulder, exposing her neck. She freezes as she realizes it, and I can see the 3 red distinct finger marks where I caved and placed my lips on her earlier.
“I didn’t realize they were there, as well.”
“As well?” I ask her, keeping my voice low and keeping Ella’s words in mind as not to scare her even more.
Her eyes look defeated as she looks back up at me and nods her head.
“Where else, baby?” I hate how my fucking voice cracks.
“I shouldn’t be here.” She whispers, her eyes filling with tears. “I just didn’t know where else to go. I needed to get out of there. And he left for work.”
“It’s okay.” I whisper, cupping her cheek. “I told you. I’m always here for you. You don’t have to show me if you don’t want to.”
“It’s not that. I just know that this isn’t fair to you.” She looks away.
“Life isn’t ever fair.” I whisper and feel somewhat accomplished when she glances up at me and smirks as much as one can do without reopening the wound.
“But this is me not being fair to you.” She stands, but I reach up, not grabbing her arm, just touching her, knowing that’s enough to stop her and bring her back to me.
“It’s okay.” I whisper. “You came here for a reason. You trust me?”
She nods her head as she continues to look down, but she speaks instead. “Absolutely not.” The tears trickling down her face.
Even if she wasn’t nodding her head yes, I would know that she’s joking. “Then just tell me what happened.” I pause, realizing what must have happened. “He saw us talking?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then what?” It just seems too coincidental…
“He had gone out to the car when I went to the bathroom.” She shakes her head. I don’t need her to tell me the rest. I mean, I already know. “I got out to the car, and he seemed fine. We drove home, and he fucking lost it once we walked in the door.” She pulls her sleeve up her arm and shows me the bruises that are already turning colors there. “He grabbed me and told me he wasn’t a fucking idiot. That he saw your bike in the parking lot and why else would you be there unless we were trying to see each other right under his nose?” She shakes her head before chuckling. “I told him the club owned it and so it would make sense that you were there.”
“I mean, yeah.”
She smiles up at me, shaking her head. “He backhanded me, telling me I should have fucking told him that before we went to eat there. And I couldn’t help myself. I rolled my eyes and told him he would have freaked out if I did because I shouldn’t know that much information about you.”
“That just pissed him off more.”
