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“You don’t understand.”
“You’re right. I don’t, but that doesn’t change a fuckin’ thing.” I stroke my thumb over her uninjured cheek and lower my lips to hers, hoping my kiss tells her all the things I don’t know how to say. If she fought me, I’d pull away, but she returns the kiss until her sobs take over.
I don’t know the right thing to do. I’m just a stupid man who has never been in this situation. Do I push? Do I back off? How the hell do I get her back?
I search for my answers in her hazel eyes but come up short. So instead, I say the only thing I know with certainty. “I love you, Navy Kennedy.”
“Blue.”
I give her a puzzled look. “Huh?”
“My middle name. It’s Blue.”
I smile and cup her face. “I love you, Navy Blue Kennedy.”
She doesn’t say it back, but I don’t care. I didn’t tell her for validation. I told her so she knows there’s someone out there who wants her to survive this, someone who’ll be by her side through it all.
“I have a few things to take care of. I’m trusting you to take care of yourself, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers.
As I climb off the bed and walk to the door, I hear her sheets rumpling and the distinct sound of a Styrofoam container opening. It’s a small victory, but it feels huge.
My first stop after making sure her door is closed and locked is a few doors down. Navy’s become friendly with a lot of the girls, but especially Betty. Today’s her last day on tour, but I’m hoping she hasn’t left the property yet.
I knock and hear, “Hold on a sec.”
The door opens, a look of concern on Betty’s face. “Is it Navy? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” I say, then amend. “As fine as she can be, I guess.”
“Oh.” She opens her door the rest of the way and hooks a thumb over her shoulder. “I’ll be out of here soon. Don’t I have until eight?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. You’re fine.”
“Then why are you here?”
Suddenly, my mouth goes dry, unable to form words because whyamI here?
“Oh, honey,” she coos. “Come in. Let’s talk.”
I tuck my hands in my pockets and follow her inside. She offers her vanity stool, and I accept, shoulders slumped and mind spinning.
“When something like this happens, she’s not the only victim.” Betty sits on the corner of her bed and rests a hand on my knee. “It’s hard on everyone who cares for her. It didn’t even happen on the property, and all the girls here are shaken up because we all love Navy.”
I nod, still unable to say shit.
“She’s going through a lot, and right now, it feels like it’ll always be this way, but Navy’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met,” she says. “I feel like an asshole, though, because this whole time, she had this big, huge trauma, and no one ever knew.”
“It’s my fault. I left her with him.”
Any secrets Navy and I kept have been exposed by now. Thankfully, no one has said shit about our relationship and what it’s progressed into.
Betty sinks to her knees in front of me. “No, honey. It’s not your fault. There’s only one man responsible. You have no idea what would’ve happened if you’d kept in contact. There’s a good chance she still would’ve hidden it. It’s not something women like to admit.”
I look at her with broken eyes. “So, what do I do?”
“Exactly what you’re doing now.” She stands and walks over to her closet to pack. “I won’t be back on tour until next month, but I decided not to go home between now and my next tour. I got myself a short-term rental in Reno so I can keep an eye on our girl.”
