Page 85 of Cheap Shot

Haley tensed, and I rubbed my hand up and down her back. “Take all the time you need.”

She inhaled a big breath and slowly let it out. “There was a knock on my door. I assumed it was one of my friends and opened it. When I realized it was him, I tried to shut it, but he was too fast. He pushed his way in and locked it behind him then shoved me to the ground. He climbed on top of me pinned down my legs and arms with his. I tried to kick and thrash to get him off me, but he started choking me and I panicked. I stopped moving, and he let go of my throat. Then he started kissing me and tried to rip my shirt. I was able to scream, and that’s when Reid burst in.”

Each word she said made me feel sicker until I thought I was going to throw up. He pinned her down. He forced himself on her. Again.

“Why wasn’t he arrested before this?” I asked, clenching my jaw to keep from making any more accusations.

“He’s been hiding since the attack last week.” His eyes flashed to Haley before dropping again.

“Why weren’t we notified of that?” Ethan demanded. “We thought you guys had already taken care of him. I wouldn’t have let her out of my sight if I knew that creep was still walking freely.”

“I’m not one of the officers assigned to that case so I don’t have all the details. I can assure you now that he will not be leaving our custody until he faces trial.”

“What about bail?” Haley asked.

“Someone who is an obvious danger like him will have a very high bail set, and he will not be allowed back on campus if he is able to pay it.”

She closed her eyes and rested her head against my shoulder. “That won’t stop him.”

I wrapped my arms tighter around her. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t get the chance to post bail.”

Ethan locked eyes with me and nodded. It was a relief to finally be on the same side as him for the first time in so long.

After a few more questions and a promise to follow up with us in the morning, the officers left. Haley remained in my lap while Ethan and Sadie worked together to gather enough of her clothing and necessary school work that we wouldn’t have to come back here until maintenance was able to fix the door.

“I’m so sorry, Haley. I shouldn’t have left you alone. I should have just skipped.” Ethan helped her stand and held her tight.

“You didn’t know. None of us could have predicted that.” She sighed against him. “I don’t know how he found out what room is mine.”

He was insane and a stalker. It wouldn’t have taken much for him to get that information.

“Don’t think about him anymore. He’s in custody and can’t get to you,” I assured her.

Sadie, who looked like she was two seconds away from breaking down, reached for her and hugged her until Haley grunted. “I’m so sorry. I should have come sooner. I was supposed to make sure you had someone with you.”

“It’s not your fault.” Haley smiled at her friend. “I’ll go crazy if I think about all the things that might have happened differently. If I asked who was at the door before opening it. Or asking our RA to wait with me until someone else could get here. But he’s the only person I blame. He was the one that targeted me and attacked me.”

She was so strong. So brave. I was grateful she had this mindset, but I wanted to make sure it stayed this way. I never wanted her to blame herself for the vile actions of that monster. She was a victim, but she was also a fighter. A survivor.

Ethan headed to the door with Sadie, but I reached for Haley’s hand and tugged her toward me. I held her until the officers asked her to speak to her for her official statement. The paramedics cleared us but offered to take us to the hospital for testing. Haley declined, and there wasn’t a chance I was going to leave her. My knuckles were fine, just bruised.

I stayed with her that night, and the next. I slept on the floor and woke anytime she moved or make a sound. She needed time to heal, physically and mentally, but when she got up the following morning and smiled at me, I knew she was going to be okay.

My heart nearly burst, and I knew I couldn’t hold back any longer.

“We need to talk.”

Chapter 29

Haley

Were there any other four-word sentences in the English language that could instantly spark a full-blown panic attack faster than we need to talk?

No. There wasn’t, and I was pretty sure everyone knew that.

Days went by without so much as a text, then he came breaking through my door as a literal knight in shining armor––or sweatpants. He stayed with me, letting me recover without pushing me to talk. But then I get to wake up to those words?

“I don’t want to talk about what happened. They got him. It’s done.”