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Chapter Thirty-seven
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Iwalkedintochaos.Pictures were on the ground, the tent on its side, missing parts, constellations crumpled on the conference table. Sal was scurrying around, picking things up, but Elena was sitting in a chair, staring unblinking at a wall as tears rolled down her cheeks.
I pulled a chair in front of her, sat down, and took her hands in mine. “What happened?”
She gestured around her, sniffling. “They win.”
“You know who did this?”
She blinked slowly, sending more tears cascading over the brim of her eyes. “I have a guess.”
The idiots from her class. Who else would have done this?
I swiped the tears away with my thumbs, aching at the sight of them. Whoever had made my girl cry would pay. They’d be crying before the end of this.
I kept the riot of fury out of my voice and offered her the calm she needed. “We’ll fix it. I’m here now, I know where everything goes. Get up. We’ll make it right.”
She shook her head. “There’s not enough time. It won’t…I can’t. This is too much.”
I’d never once seen her like this. Elena had gone through getting gum in her hair, a bump on her head, bloody chin, been called every nasty name, and probably a whole hell of a lot more she hadn’t shared with me, and she hadn’t missed a step. I couldn’t help thinking I’d done this. I’d started the break, and this was the last straw that had snapped her in two.
I rubbed her arms, needing to bring her back. “Listen to me, Ellie. You’re strong. I’ve never known anyone stronger than you. You’ve got this.”
Her mouth pinched. Her chin quivered. “I hate that. I don’t want to be told how strong I am. That’s just an excuse the patriarchy uses so they keep piling shit on women. ‘Oh, she’s so strong. Look how she handles all that horror without breaking. Let’s give her more. She can take it!’Well, I don’t want to anymore. Fuck being strong. Fuck the patriarchy. This is too much, and I am not strong enough to handle it. I won’t be ashamed to say that.”
Anger was washing away her tears. She was right. I’d done this to her, the pressure from her parents, the bullies, Nate, Oliver, the goddamn patriarchy—it was all coming to a head, and she shouldn’t have had to handle it.
Leaning forward, I kissed her nose, then her forehead. “Sal and I have got you. We’ll fix this, then we’ll tear apart the ones responsible. I’ve got you, Elena.”
Climbing to my feet, I stepped outside, called a few guys from maintenance, including Theo, then got to work with Sal. Within twenty minutes, five other guys showed up, all of them pitching in.
Elena stayed in her seat for a while, and everyone let her be. Once, I’d turned around from hanging up the constellations, and she hadn’t been in the room. The next time I’d checked, she’d come back, makeup fixed, hair smooth, and was directing Theo where to hang pictures.
The timing was tight, but we got the job done. Everything was back in its place, and Elena had found her inner reserves to pull herself together. When the guys filed out, she thanked each of them. I went last, carrying a ladder with me.
“We did it,” I murmured.
“You did. Tha—”
I tapped her lips. “Don’t thank me. I’m happy as hell I can be here for you.”
“I’m happy you were here for me too.”
“We should talk, after all this.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
I hesitated, not wanting to leave. “I should go, let you do your thing.”
“You should.”
“Okay.”
Her mouth twitched, and she placed her hands on my chest. I dipped down, giving her my mouth. Her lips were soft, sweet, and far too fast. She backed away, taking my sweet with her.
“Good luck,” I gruffed, my chest filled with her. Everything was her.
