Ugh, this is the same thing, I’ve done for the past month. Ever since my birthday, I’ve stayed at Lex’s band’s house. And let me tell you. This isn’t some house. It’s a damn mansion. Anabelle had told me about it, but I’d never seen it in person. Each one of the guys had their own areas of the house that was attached by the main living areas.
The first few days I was here, it felt awkward having been in someone else’s home. Bethany and Alexis made sure to do everything they could to make me feel welcomed.
“We have to stick together when it comes to dealing with these men. Otherwise they’ll walk all over us and I’m sorry but that’s not happening,” Alexis had stated.
Bethany on the other hand simply smiled at me and shared her story about what her ex-husband had done to her. “We’re kindred spirits who can help each other and in doing so fully heal the wounds that no one can see but we can feel.”
At this I’d burst into a fit of tears and told her how dirty I truly felt. That I could still feel Justin’s hands on my body. This was the first night she’d demanded the guys go get six different kinds of ice cream and cookie dough for the three of us and Chaz’s daughter, Melody, to enjoy.
That night it wasn’t the gorging out on junk food that truly helped, it was Melody and her innocence that did. “You’re the girl in the picture,” she’d said.
“What picture, sweetie?” Bethany asked Melody as she ran a hand through the child’s locks.
“The one Uncle Lex looks at all the time. He keeps the frame in his nightstand,” Melody states with her know-it-all child voice.
I’d been surprised and when I went back to his room. The same room he put me in when I first got here, I opened the drawer and found exactly what Melody was talking about. I remember exactly when this picture was taken. It was the day before my sixteenth birthday, and we were all down at the beach. Lex took us to celebrate. My parents went along as well making it a family weekend. We’d all been goofing off and I’d jumped on his back for a piggy ride just as my mom took this picture of us.
I’m sure my mom is the one who framed this picture and gave it to him. He has a matching one that sits on the dresser of him and his sister from the same day.
I wanted to ask him about it, but I already knew the answer. He’d told me that day at the clubhouse when he’d heard me say I doubted he loved me.
So instead of asking him, I decided to simply put the frame on the nightstand next to the bed. It didn’t go unnoticed either when Lex came to bed later that night. He’d taken one step into the room, saw the picture frame, his eyes casted over to me where I was sitting on the bed.
“Baby,” he murmured, quietly.
That had been the beginning of the two of us getting to know each other all over again but in a new way. One that involved late-night movies and my body curled into his every night. It was also him and I telling each other things we’ve both hidden from our families.
I’d cried for him when he’d told me the little bit of what he’d endured while in Justin’s care. I now knew I could talk to him about what happened throughout the past two years because he was able to open up and do the same with me.
Does this mean I don’t have my freak out moments every day? Nope, I do. I have the nightmares to go with them as well. If not for Lex being there for me, letting me know I’m safe from the evil of the world, I don’t know what I’d do. Probably move as far as I can away from this area. If I did that though I’d miss my family and most of all I’d miss being around Lex.
Shaking my head, I sit up and cross my legs as I turn to face Lex. “You know what I mean. I want to get out of the house, go for a ride, I don’t care. Just want away from the property for a bit,” I murmur.
Grinning, Lex leans forward and for the first time places a kiss against my mouth.
Holy smokes, Lex kissed me.
You’d think with what all I’ve been through I’d be freaking out right about now and I guess I am but not in the way that I want to run away from Lex. No, instead it’s the opposite.
See, another thing I’d been doing is having group sessions with all the ol’ ladies from the club along with Bethany and Alexis. It was Cleo’s idea. I’d met her before Lex carried me out of the clubhouse. She’d come in the room I’d been resting in, introduced herself, and said they would be by the house Thursday for a talk with me.
I didn’t know what to expect until Cleo explained. Each one of the women shared their stories with me. I knew then that if these amazing, tough women could overcome what they’ve been through so could I. Long as I did it with the support of those around me. Which is exactly what Lex and even Anabelle have been doing, granted she doesn’t know the full story, she knows I was raped. Lex had asked me not to tell her. As her big brother he wanted to shield her from what’s going on. I don’t blame him for being her protector. If I had a big brother, that is what I’d want him to do for me as well. Too bad I’m an only child. Having my best friend live with me has been awesome. Means I’m not completely in the limelight.
“I’ve got an idea; I’m
