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She frowns. “It’s not just aboutyou.It’s aboutme.Don’t you get it? So many men I’ve never met have seen me naked. They’ve jerked off to me. They’ve left comments, calling me adirty slutand alittle whore.” She shudders. “Every time someone watches that video, I feel completely violated. You think I’d feel safe staying in a house with three giant, strange men, knowing that sooner or later, they’ll probably see me getting fucked from behind?”
“You could’ve told us not to watch the video,” Eli says quietly. “We wouldn’t.”
“I didn’t know you! How was I supposed to believe anything you said?” She crosses her arms. “I don’t trust anyone who says they won’t watch it. How do I know they won’t just get curious? I would doanythingto stop people seeing me like that. Anything. I feel dirty every time I think about it.”
My chest aches. She wipes her cheeks off with the sides of her hands. “I meant what I said in the letter, though. I need to thank you guys. You didn’t just save my life, you gave it back to me. These last few months, ever since Sam first threatened me, I’ve been so sad, and anxious, and scared all the time. I avoided people in the street. I was terrified of men recognising me. I felt so guilty. I was turning into a completely different person, and I didn’t even realise it. I’m not a shy, scared person. I love sex. I love my body. I love being adventurous. Being up here, in a place where no one knew me… I got to be myself again. Thank you for that. Thank you. Even if you want to get rid of me, you’ve helped me a lot.”
Eli chokes. Cole straightens, his gaze sharpening. All three of them turn to look at me.
Christ.
I cup her cheek. “Baby. We don’t want to get rid of you.”
Her lips part. “You don’t? But—I lied to you all.”
“Not to manipulate us, or trick us. You were just trying to keep yourself safe,” Cole says, standing up. He puts his hands on Daisy’s shoulders. “Look at me,” he demands, and she tilts her head back, meeting his gaze. “Youalwaysdo the thing that keeps you safe,” he says gruffly. “Always. No exceptions. We will deal with the consequences after. Youneverjeopardise your safety just to make someone else happy.”
She just looks up at him.
“You were right to lie to us,” he continues. “We were strangers, and you were trapped here with us. You’re right; as long as that video is up, you are more at risk to violence.”
I remember the man yelling at her in the street, and my fists tighten.
“I would much rather find out that you lied to me, than find out you put yourself in danger. You did theright thing,” Cole emphasises. “So stop apologising.”
“Thank you,” she whispers. He squeezes her shoulders and steps back again. Her lips press together. She looks down at her hands. “I don’t want to live the rest of my life like this, though. Hiding my identity to stay safe. Giving a fake name. None of this is my fault; it’s not fair I have to do all this.”
“You won’t have to,” I say. “Sharing intimate pictures of someone without their consent is illegal. If you took it to court, you could get the video removed, and probably hit your ex with some jail time.” I try not to sound too excited about that.
She shakes her head. “He’s got money. I’d never be able to afford a good enough lawyer to go up against him. All he has to do is say that I put the video up myself. I don’t have any proof that’s not true.”
“My parents have been trying to bribe me to visit them over summer. They’ll do this for me. They know some of the best lawyers in England. They will find you a lawyer, and theywillsponsor your case.” God knows they deserve to, after what they did to Eli.
I expect her to look relieved, but she wilts. “I don’t know if I can,” she says quietly.
I blink. “You don’t want to?”
“Oh, Iwant to.But—I don’t know if you understand what I’ll have to do. I’ll need to go through the video with the police. And then I’ll have to stand in a courtroom, with Sam, while grown men argue over my head about whether or not I’m a liar. It’s… how can youdothat?”
Eli pulls her into him, pressing his lips to her temple. “It’s the worst feeling in the world,” he tells me.
I swear. Why the Hell does this have to be so bloody humiliating for her? She’s done absolutely nothing wrong, and she’ll have to go through so much pain, just to get justice.
“Well,” I say after a moment. “Of course, we won’t make you do anything. But it’s probably the only way to get the video taken down.”
She sniffles, wiping her face. “No. No. You’re right. I have to do it. I won’t be happy until I do.” She somehow manages to look fierce, even with wet eyes and a pink nose. “I can do it. I’ll probably need a lot of hugs. But I can do it.”
“We’ll be with you every step of the way,” Eli promises. “Providing hugs.” Cole nods. I reach across and squeeze her thigh. She smiles weakly.
“Thanks,” she whispers. “Thank you.”
The rest of the day passes lazily. We all huddle together in the lounge, only getting up occasionally to get food. After such an awful fucking day, we all want to be together. Eli, Cole, and I sprawl on the sofa, and Daisy’s bundled up in blankets and passed around between us. There’s never a point where someone isn’t holding her or touching her. She seems to enjoy it, nestling into all our arms. She obviously wants the comfort, and God knows the rest of us need it.
As the clock ticks into evening, we’re all drinking mugs of hot chocolate, curled up together. Eli is telling some dumb story about one of his skiing students. I’m half-listening, watching Cole with Daisy.
He has her settled in his lap. Every minute or so, he presses a little kiss to her temple or cheek.
I haven’t seen him be this tender with somebody since Rickard was born. It’s so strange to see this side to him again, after all these years. Like meeting an old friend.
