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The sun has officially set, and I am not even trying to stop the tears right now. He’s locked away. He cannot hurt another girl for a long time. My heart hurts for the teenager I do not know but have far too much in common with. If I’d had a support system that believed me and had taken Harvey to court, this girl never would have been raped. She would be starting college as a happy, enthusiastic freshman. Instead, I can only imagine she is blindly navigating through life like I have been for four years.
I’m sad that there are no more letters from my mother. There is so much more I want to know, so many questions I want to ask her. Do I forgive her? I’m not sure. I feel like I could, but there is still so much I want to know. I need to talk to her, not have a one-sided conversation through letters.
I smile knowing that my hometown is free of the horrible family that is the Galloways. Harvey’s father did not deserve to run the police department when his own son was a terrible offender. People who cover up crimes because they are in a powerful position and the criminal is a loved one are a special kind of evil.
As I look out at where I know the water is, but the darkness has swallowed it, I can’t help but smile. My mother has opened her eyes to her treatment of me over the years and wants to fix a relationship I thought would always be broken. Harvey has gotten what he deserves, and I hope he is miserable in whatever cell he is stuck in for the next seven years.
Making my way back to my car, I pull my phone out to call my best friend. Going back to my apartment is the last thing I want to do and I need Emree’s help with something. She should be home by now and I am hoping she is available.
After hanging up with Emree, who was more than happy to help with my plan, I drive toward my apartment, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. The heartbreak that is Camden Collins is still stuck in the back of my mind, but I have another relationship I need to focus on. One I need to fix and hope it helps a part of me that has been broken for so long.
34
CAMDEN
Pounding on Chloe’s bedroom door in the house she shares with her sorority sisters, I’m about ready to shoulder my way in if she does not answer in the next minute. When we got to the house, it took some flirting from Maddox to get inside and I was ready to shove each of the girls blocking our way to the ground if they kept blocking me. Chloe hasn’t answered her door, but I know she is in there. Avoiding me and hiding.
“Chloe, if you don’t open this fucking door, I will break it down!” I boom. My patience has left, and I’m done with her bullshit.
Just as I’m about to slam my fists against the door again, it swings open, and a half-naked Chloe is standing there with bedroom eyes and a smile in a sports bra and boyshorts. “Hey, baby. Long time no see,” she purrs.
I shove my way into the room and push her out of the way. “Cut the shit. We need to talk.”
Mateo, Levi, Conrad, and Maddox make their way in, and Chloe’s eyes widen. “Listen, I get this is college and we should all try new things, but this is too much even for me.”
Levi flatly laughs. “Funny, but there’s no way any of us are going near your snatch anytime soon.”
“That’s not what Cam said last night.” She smirks and my blood boils.
“Fuck you, Chloe, there’s no way I would have touched you. Tell me what the fuck happened last night because I know I didn’t drink enough to black out.”
She pops her hip out and puts her hand there. “Blacked out? You were awake enough to screw my brains out before you fell asleep in satisfied bliss.”
“Try again. I don’t remember any of that, so you better tell me the truth before I get more pissed. And trust me, I can tell when a skank is lying.”
She walks over and rubs her hand up my arm. I push her off and her smile falters slightly. “Why would I lie, baby? You told me you were tired of fighting me off and needed a wild night. I gave that to you. I’m sorry you don’t remember, but that is not my fault.”
“You fucking ruined my relationship, you bitch!” I shout.
“You mean that little virgin?” She laughs. “Don’t even pretend like that wasn’t some charity case. A man like you needs more. I can be that for you.”
Pieces are starting to come together. She had to have done something. Planned this. She must have set out to destroy my relationship. I just don’t know how she got me to black out the way she did unless… “Did”—the words get choked in my throat—“did you fuckingdrug me?”
“Oh shit,” one of the guys murmurs.
Chloe’s eyes widen, but she quickly covers it. Too late. I saw the slip. “Why would you ever assume that? Of course not.”
“Y-youdrugged me. How? Why? Why did you drug me? Just so I would have sex with you? Are you that desperate?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Chloe says and turns to walk toward her bed and takes a seat. “Saying Idruggedyou is a serious accusation, and I would ask that you lower your voice as I am sure my sisters are near and none of them need to hear your ludicrous accusations.”
“You need to tell him the truth, Chloe,” someone says from behind me. All six of the people in the room turn our heads to the open door and a petite redhead is standing there. Her fingers are clasped in front of her, and she looks nervous.
“If you know what’s good for you, you would shut up and leave, Piper,” Chloe seethes.
The girl, Piper, takes a deep breath and straightens her shoulders. “No. He deserves to know. It’s wrong what you did, and you can’t ruin someone’s life like that.”
“Shut the hell up—”
