Page 4 of Rescuing Mary

“We’re too different,” Brian said. “You’re poor and live in that shithole trailer. My parents would never approve of us being together.”

“But you told me that they liked me. That they were happy you were with me.”

“I lied. There’s no way they would ever approve of you. You’re too white trash for me. They didn’t care that I sowed my oats with you, but that’s all this was.”

Mary felt her heart break in half. He couldn’t be saying what she thought he was. He’d been so nice to her. So tender and caring. He’d stuck up for her when other boys at school made fun of her.

She’d thought he loved her. That they were going to get married after she graduated.

“You’re too young for me anyway,” Brian continued callously. “When I go off to college, you’ll still be here. You can’t afford tuition, and you’ll still be living in your shithole trailer with your whore of a mother. You guys are the laughingstock of town. No one is gonna marry the town hooker’s daughter. Did you think I’d wait for you, that we’d get married?”

“You said you loved me,” Mary repeated, too hurt to even address the whore comment.

“I only said that because you wouldn’t give it up.”

“Give it up,” Mary echoed, staring at Brian.

Brian leaned in and tapped her on the nose before straightening. “Yeah. It took longer than I thought. The guys all thought for sure you’d be an easy lay because of who your mom is, so who would’ve thought your legs were all but chained closed? But I gotta say, once I got them pried open, you were one hot lay.”

Understanding finally dawned, and Mary clenched her teeth before saying, “You said you loved me so I’d sleep with you?”

“Yeah, Einstein. There’s no way I was gonna stick with you much longer anyway. The game had gotten old and there’s a new batch of freshman cheerleaders I wanna take for a ride before I graduate.”

“Fuck you,” Mary said in a low, controlled voice.

All her mama’s warnings echoed in her head. Her entire life, she’d thought her mama was a drunk, bitter old woman. But she’d learned a harsh lesson—Mama was right. Men sucked. All of them. The boy she thought loved her, and who she’d wanted to marry and have babies with, had used her.

Thank God, she’d made him use a condom, even when he’d complained that it dulled his pleasure.

“No thanks,” Brian said flippantly. “I’ve had my fill. You were a fun diversion, but way too much work. I gotta go. Andi is waiting for me in the lunchroom. I have it on good authority that she wants me, and who am I to deny a bitch my cock?”

And with that parting shot, he spun on his heels and walked away. Leaving Mary standing in the middle of the hallway.

Mary stared after him, her heart slowly hardening.

Despite everything her mom had told her. Despite seeing man after man parade in and out of their trailer, she’d still believed in fairy tales. She’d lain under her bed many nights, dreaming of her own Prince Charming. Dreaming of a man telling her and showing her without words how much he loved and cared about her.

But at that moment, watching Brian walk away the day after he took her virginity, after admitting he did it just to see if he could, Mary felt her heart shrivel up. She’d never believe tender words of love again.

Mama was right. She’d never trust another man as long as she lived. Never.

* * *

8 Years Ago, Age 22

* * *

“Men suck.”

Mary turned to look at the woman who’d spoken.

She’d recently moved to Dallas after getting her college degree and was sick of sitting in her apartment by herself. She’d found the small hole-in-the-wall bar and decided to go out for a drink or two. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have anyone to go with.

She’d been sitting there for about twenty minutes before the other woman plopped herself down on the barstool next to hers. She’d ordered a Midori martini before sighing and giving her commentary on men.

Mary grinned. Now here was someone after her own heart. “Agreed.”

“I swear to God, I don’t know why I keep trying.”