AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"And when things started to go bad? I don't for one second believe he just flipped out. There had to have been signs."
I asked myself the same thing, laying in that hospital bed, throat so sore it hurt to breathe. And yes, there were signs. So many signs.
"There were. But I didn't see them. What he did...it wasn't even in the realm of possibility to me. My family was amazing. I always felt safe. Nothing bad ever happened to me and they always protected me. So his jealousy seemed harmless. And when he grabbed me the first time, I chalked it up to him not knowing his own strength. By the time I figured out there was a pattern, it was too late to get away."
"You tried. Before that night I mean?"
Conscious of Nick's and John's silent presence I answer. "I broke up with him. He apologized, smoothed everything over, so I took him back. That night though, I'd had enough. He'd gotten jealous at Curves Ahead over nothing, and I ended my shift early. When we got back to my place, I broke up with him. But he didn't seem like he heard me. Or maybe he did, but he just brushed it off.” He was pacing and ranting, and honestly didn’t seem to hear anything I said. “We spent an hour talking...well, yelling. Finally I'd had enough. I was so done. But when I tried to make him leave, he snapped." Snapped is an understatement. His whole face changed, becoming someone I didn't recognize. "I didn't know he had that kind of violence in him."
Abby sighs and leans back in her chair. "I don't know what the answer is. I obviously failed at my relationship. But I do know that everyone lies."
"So I just have to accept that."
She shrugs. "I have."
"You shouldn't," John says, hands planted on the island. His whole body seems to be vibrating in our direction. "You don't have to fucking settle."
These men are giving me whiplash. "You guys just told me that men lie. That's just the way it is."
"Then find a man that values you so much, and understands every fucking part of you. Then tell him that you need his fucking honesty, or you're gone."
"Simple as that?"
John shrugs, and turns to rifle through the grocery bags. "You eating Abs?" he asks casually. Same way he asked her at the last dinner, and the dinner before.
"Yes, if it's not too much trouble," she answers politely.. The same way she answered last time, and the time before.
John grunts, but there's a hint of humor in it that makes Abby's lips curve. She busies herself getting her art supplies out, smiling the whole time.
21
NICK
"Jonas, it's my fucking turn."
"I'm better at it than you."
"How the fuck am I supposed to get any better if you don't let me have a chance?"
He slow blinks at me, then huffs out a breath. "Fine. Here." He holds the knife out to me, point facing the middle of my chest.
"For fuck's sake. How many times have I fucking told you not to pass the knife that way?" John semi-yells, taking the knife out of Jonas's hand.
Jonas stares at him, unbothered by the shouting. "Six. No, seven."
"I thought you were a fucking genius. How many more times do I have to say it?"
"Well, you've had to say it every time, so statistically speaking...a lot more."
John's hand tightens on the knife, and I'm about to stick myself in between them, when Bree's there. "Jonas, why don't you help me with the onions?"
"Okay," he says cheerily, turning away from John. I have no doubt that Jonas was very aware of how close to the edge John was. But he's also confident that John is one of us, and won't actually stab him. A punch or mild strangulation aren't out of the question, but those are pretty run of the mill for us brothers. I think I've strangled or been strangled by every one of my brothers. It's kind of a regular Saturday night thing.
John passes me the knife, point side down this time, and leans against the counter with a heavy sigh. "You guys are a lot of fucking work."
I laugh, but don't bother denying it. "I know. You've been damned patient. I'm impressed actually. We once had a chef leave the restaurant we were eating at. He owned it actually, but he up and left halfway through a meal thanks to us."
"I'm fuckin' shocked," he mutters, glaring down at the pile of mushrooms.
