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"Thank you, Lay," Adam says after a few moments, his voice soft and tired. "I know all of this. I've worked through a lot of shit like this in therapy. I— I guess I just needed to hear it from someone I trust to have it really stick with me."
Smiling softly, I move one hand to rub his back in comfort. "It's easier to tell ourselves we're lying than it is to tell ourselves someone we trust is lying to us. It's okay to need comfort and validation from outside of yourself. It's also okay to need time to work through something traumatic like this."
A sharp cramp tightens my stomach, but I hold back my wince as much as possible. They haven't stopped since last night, but with everything going on, I haven't had a chance to mention them just yet and now definitely isn't the time.
With a deep sigh, Adam pushes out of my lap and drops his head in his hands. "I don't know what to do, Lay. I don't know where to go from here. I fired her, but do I press charges? Is it worth it?"
Twisting my hands together in front of me, I debate how to say the next part. I understand the hesitation since police aren't exactly known for taking things like sexual assault seriously. Adam being a man complicates it even more.
"I think Rhys might be able to help you with that part of it better than I can," I say as gently as possible. "That doesn't mean you have to talk to him about it, but with his background in the force, he'll know how to approach that part. A large,very large, part of me wants her to pay for what she did to you and go to jail for her actions. That's my anger talking because I hate that she ever thought she could take advantage of you. The more logical side of me knows when it comes to sexual assault, it's not easy to have justice served. With you being a man, it's doubly as hard."
"Those are my exact fears. It makes it hard to know what to do or where to go from here." Adam looks up at me, a small smile on his lips. A small piece of my heart stitches itself back together at that smile. "You always know what I need to hear. Thank you for being, well, you."
"There's no need to thank me for comforting you in your time of need. I love you, Adam. I'll always be here through the good and the bad times."
Placing my hand over his on the bed, I barely contain the grimace as another tight cramp sends pain throughout my abdomen. The babies twist and kick with that, adding extra pain on top of the cramping pain.
Adam thankfully doesn't seem to notice as he stares across the room at his dresser. "I'll probably talk to Rhys tonight about it. Not knowing what to do is going to make my anxiety even worse than talking about this for a third time."
"Third?"
Adam rubs the back of his neck with a grimace. "Right, I forgot that part. Juliette showed up which is what shook Jade up enough that I could finally move away from her and get her out of the building. She only caught the end of it, but I guess overheard me screaming at Jade to get the fuck out and that she was fired. You have a good friend in her."
Smiling, I nod my head. "Wehave a good friend in her. I'm glad she was there and could help you. I can't imagine how much worse it could have been."
"Me too, Lay."
"Should we go get something to eat? It's okay if you aren't ready yet, we can take all the time you need," I quickly reassure him, not wanting to pressure him into anything.
"You go get started and I'll be there soon. I want to shower in the hottest water I can stand and then get into clothes she hasn't touched. I need all reminders of this fucking shitstorm to be washed away," Adam responds with a shudder if repulsion.
"I can wait if you need," I offer, feeling lost on how to keep supporting him. "You just tell me what you need and I'll do it."
"Thanks, baby. I love you," he whispers, squeezing my hand in his. "Once I have her fucking violation washed off of me, I'll properly thank you with a kiss. I just can't stand the idea of kissing you while still having the remnants of her perfume on my clothes."
Standing up, I pull him up with me and squeeze his hands back. "You don't need to explain anything to me. You move at whatever pace feels comfortable and tell me what you need. I'm happy to wait until you're ready."
"How are you so amazing?"
Laughing softly, I shake my head and take a step backwards. "I'm not. I just happen to know trauma as intimately as you do."
Adam nods somberly, clenching his hands at his sides. "What a broken little family we are."
"We may be broken individually, but together? Together our broken pieces seem to fit seamlessly. Together we make a whole." I walk towards the door and smile back at him. "Go shower, we'll be waiting for you when you're ready."
Walking out of the room, I do my best to look as unaffected as I can so I don't raise too many questions in Rhys and Hudson. Adam will tell them in his own time. My heart hurts for him, but I also feel honoured that he felt he could come to me with this extremely traumatic experience. He could have chosen to handle it on his own, but he didn't.
"Everything alright?" Rhys asks as I walk into the living room. He sits at the edge of the couch, his cop face in place whether he realizes it or not. It always comes out at the slightest hint of danger, and I’ve come to understand that it’s because he cares so much about our safety.
“Adam is just having a shower. He’ll be out in a little while,” I explain, without actually saying anything. “He’ll talk with you guys when he’s ready.”
Rhys nods, his cop face still firmly in place. Hudson stares at me for a moment then nods his head as well, his furrowed brow smoothing out slightly.
Clenching my teeth, I hold the side of my bump and wince as another more painful cramp rolls across my stomach.
“Lay? What’s wrong?” Rhys jumps up, running to my side before I can get a word out. Hudson is on my other side a moment later, both of them supporting my sides.
“I’m okay,” I assure them, standing up straight once it passes. “I’ve been having some cramping since late last night. I think it’s just some false contractions.”
