I leave my room and notice that Ris's door is closed, meaning she is still asleep. I make my way to the bathroom to shower. I showered last night and scrubbed every inch of my body, but I still feel dirty and violated. I hope Brady is clean and does not have any STDs. Knowing him, I cannot take any chances. He's such a loose cannon when it comes to girls.
I've never had to worry about that because I'm very picky about my sexual partners. Which isn't very many. I've also never had someone force themselves on me or have ever been raped. Raped, I was raped last night, wasn't I? What did I do to have someone I know attack me and force himself on me?
I step into the shower and somewhat relax as the hot water cascades over my naked body. I grab my loofah and bodywash then sit on the cold tile floor of the shower. I start to clean every inch of my body. As I scrub my arm, I notice I have some black and blue marks on my wrist and a little farther down my arm as well. I look at my other arm, which has the same bruising, but it's a bit darker. I scrub and scrub, trying to make them disappear, so I am not left with a constant reminder of what my co-worker/boss did to me last night. I want to cry in anger, sadness, and shame, but I've become numb to the situation. I need to be strong and show Brady what he did, will not break me.
I scrub and rinse off every part of my body once more. I step out of the shower and pat myself dry. The bathroom door opens as Ris moseys on in, while I put on a tank top and shorts, then throw my hair up in a towel.
"Morning," I say slowly.
"Morning. How was your dinner with Brady?" she asks while half asleep but still a bit bitchy.
"Fine," I reply and walk out of the bathroom.
Ris doesn't say anything. I can hear her start the shower as I enter my room. I skim over my closet for something to wear, trying not the think about last night at all.
My phone buzzes and I grab it, then sit down on the edge of my bed. It's Luke. I want to talk to him, but it's hard not to think about what I went through last night. He makes me forget about the negative in my life, but I don't know if he can heal this wound right now or if I can even tell him about it.
Good Morning! I have a question for you.
His text reads. I swiftly reply.
Good Morning to you! What's your question?
My phone rings.
"Hi!" I answer.
Slight silence is present on the other end, then I can hear Luke take a deep breath.
"Would you be mad if I took the afternoon off and came to see you? Maybe, stay the weekend, you could show me around the city," he says.
I want to cry, hearing his voice. I want to see him so badly right now and have him hold me in his arms. I want him here to protect me from Brady.
"No, I wouldn't be mad. I would love for you to come and stay here for the weekend," I reply, trying to sound excited.
Because I am excited, considering.
"Barrett, my boss, put together a dinner for tonight in celebration of my landing the Christiansen account. It will be at a fancy restaurant, so make sure to pack an outfit like the one you wore to my dad's Will reading," I ramble.
"A party with your co-workers and having to dress up. I don't know about all of that, Ali," he says.
Luke sounds unsure, but I want him with me. Does he not want to come now? I need him here; I need to see him. I am not okay. I'm a wreck on the inside. I need to have him bring me back into that world I drift off to whenever we are together.
"What? You do not want to come here now?" I ask, almost ready to cry.
He starts laughing.
"Ali, I was being sarcastic. I will be there and dressed to a 'T'. You can count on it. All you needed to do was ask," he chuckles.
My heart drops into my lap. Maybe, I would have picked up on his sarcasm if Brady wouldn't have forced himself on me last night and ruined me. I'm glad Luke was only joking and will be accompanying me to the party tonight.
"Okay, good!! I cannot wait to see you," I say eagerly.
"I better get going to pack quick and head into work so I can leave here by noon," Luke states.
"Yes, you best!" I reply.
Finally, there is a light at the end of this very dark and horrifying tunnel. Luke is coming to save me, which he has been doing pretty much since we met.
"See you in a few hours, Turtle," he says in a low tone.
"See you soon!" I reply, melting in his sexy voice.
We end the call, and I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I have to tell Luke about Troy as soon as he gets here before he's told by someone else tonight. I am sure Troy will be coming with Brady. I can also bet that Troy won't have the slightest clue about what his best friend did to me. Brady will act all calm and collective, I know it. How could Brady do that to his best friend? He knows how Troy feels about me. Drunk or not, he had no right to pin me down and violate me, all because I wouldn't kiss him.
Maybe I should've kissed him, and if I would have, then perhaps he wouldn't have forced sex on me. Did I lead him on in
