“Who was that guy?” Ally interjects. “I mean, I’m not stupid. There’s obviously a story there for Javi to act like a man on a murder mission.”
Selena swallows and then reaches for a paper towel, wetting it under the water running in the sink and dabbing it across her forehead. “Yeah, there’s a story alright. That was Jesus, my ex.”
I furrow my brows while hoping that she’ll continue. I mean, it’s not unheard of for an older brother not to like the ex-boyfriend of his younger sister. But Javi’s reaction was far beyond dislike. It was borderline murderous.
“Sydney … has Javi told you about Jesus?”
With a soft shake of my head, I answer her. This has to be it. This has to be related to why Javier went to prison. I heard what Selena said. She warned him not to do anything so he wouldn’t go back. What the hell did Javi do?
Ally and I huddle closer to Selena as she fiddles with the damp paper towel in her hands.
“There was a party at our friend’s house over three years ago now. Everyone was drinking, smoking, having a good time. I was extremely buzzed and went inside to use the bathroom. When I finished and opened the door, Jesus was standing there, waiting for me. We’d been broken up for months, but he never could seem to leave me alone.” She takes a deep breath and then continues. “He asked if we could talk, and since I wanted to remain friendly and wasn’t exactly thinking straight, I agreed and followed him into one of the spare rooms. As soon as he shut the door, he kissed me, but I fought to push him off. He didn’t like my denial and then started getting rough with me as I fought back. The last thing I remembered was him punching me in the face. I blacked out. But when I came to, Jesus was lying on the floor and Javier was being pulled off him by Andre, both of them covered in blood. Javi looked like a demon had possessed him. I’d never seen my brother so enraged.”
“Oh my God …”
“It gets worse. I guess while I was unconscious, Jesus raped me. I barely remember my body shaking at one point while he was inside of me, but my mind is so fuzzy still from the details. I guess that’s what Javi walked in on and that’s why he snapped and beat the shit out of Jesus.”
With my hand covering my mouth, I feel my body vibrate from the intense pounding of my heart. “Selena, I’m so sorry.” I can’t imagine what that must have been like, living through that but not even truly remembering it either.
“Javi and Andre took me to the hospital to get checked out, and I did. It was processed as rape. They took my clothes and samples of DNA off my sweater and from between my legs. I was mortified, and then I chickened out with pressing charges. I didn’t think anyone would believe me because I had been drinking and barely remembered it myself. Plus, I was weeks away from opening my salon and I didn’t want the rumor mill to inhibit the success of my business before it even started.”
“Selena,” Ally speaks, reaching out and rubbing her arm.
“A few weeks later, Javi got served with assault charges. Jesus was pressing charges against him since he apparently damaged his left eardrum permanently. I was the one who was raped, but my brother did time in prison for aggravated assault when the fucker deserved exactly what was coming to him.”
And there it is, the truth about why Javi did time. It’s resting in the space between us, and my body isn’t sure how to react. On the one hand, I’m glad that Javi did what he did because lord knows that Jesus deserved it. But on the other, irritation runs through me knowing that Javier couldn’t just tell me this himself. I’m his girlfriend, and he’s been so forthcoming with other information. I kept telling myself not to push him, to let him come to me when he was ready to talk. I fought my inclination to force him to tell me numerous times, especially over the past few weeks as I felt us grow closer.
I just wanted to know, and I wanted to hear it from him. Instead, I’m hearing it from his sister in a bathroom at a honky tonk.
“Selena, thank you for sharing that with us. I know it’s your story and I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to tell us about it. I am so sorry that ever happened to you.”
Wiping a tear from her cheek, she gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you.”
“Where are the boys?” Ally pops up as we all realize we’ve been in here for a quite a while now.
I reach into my pocket and check my phone, seeing a text from Andre that he, Collin, and Javi are all out front.
“They’re at the entrance. Come on.” I reach for Selena’s hand and lock elbows with Ally as we head for the front of the establishment, my mind still spinning with all of the details and events that dispersed this evening.
***
Have you ever been in a car for over an hour with six other people and not one person is speaking? No? Well, I don’t recommend it, especially if the air in the cab of the SUV is laced with tension and unspoken words.
By the time we arrive back at Selena and Andre’s, it’s well after one in the morning. Ally and Collin head home after a quick goodbye, and Andre pulls Selena into the house, leaving Javi and I alone outside of his front door.
“Are you going home?” He finally asks as he unlocks his door and pushes
