“I always knew he’d put you in the hospital one day,” Brody said quietly.
I squeezed my eyes closed and bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering. I nodded. When I thought I could answer without breaking down in tears, I said, “You called it, Ace.” My voice trembled.
“Are you okay?”
I took in a breath to keep the tears away, hoping Brody didn’t hear the shudder in it. “Never better.” A knot formed in my stomach, traveled up my throat, and lodged there. It felt like someone was strangling me from the inside. My hands fisted in the bed sheets so hard my fingernails bent against my palms.
“Glad to hear it.” I listened as he walked out of the room.
A sob ripped from my chest and I fell to the floor, pulling my IV from my arm. Blood and IV solution dripped on the floor and monitors blared. My nurse rushed into my room to find me lying on the cold tile floor, sobbing, holding my chest above my heart. It physically hurt. Could a heart really break? It felt as though mine had shattered.
“Honey, what happened? Are you okay?” she asked, kneeling beside me.
“No,” I whispered.
The best thing in my life had just walked away from me. No, that wasn’t true. I pushed him away. The one person I didn’t want to live without—couldn’t live without. I just pushed him out of my life like he meant nothing. Again.
Life was a vindictive bitch.
May
The first, my birthday. Jaden forgot. I don’t know why I was surprised.
Jenna and Tim surprised me with a gift certificate for a spa day. I so needed that. A lavender footbath sounded like Heaven. Jenna and I made an appointment to go that Saturday.
“I want to get my feet babied, baby.” I smiled at them. “Thanks, guys. This is perfect.”
But the best gift came from someone who didn’t leave their name. It was taped to my locker when I got to school that morning. A white chocolate and almond candy bar.
“Brody,” I whispered.
And my heart soared.
I was done with Jaden’s crap. It was over, whether he wanted to admit it or not. I didn’t bother telling him. I just wore a new T-shirt I had made. It was the one time Jenna was excited to go with me to get one of my horrible—her word—T-shirts. She even paid for it.
I walked into school and to my locker like any other morning. Jaden was waiting for me, his back against the locker door.
“Hey, Wills.”
“For the last damn time, don’t call me that!” I shouted.
“Whoa, watch how you talk to me. What’s up your butt anyway?”
“Nothing. Move. You’re blocking my locker.”
Jaden stepped aside. I opened my locker, got the books I needed, and threw in those I didn’t. Slamming the door shut, I walked away. Jaden caught up with me and grabbed my arm. My books scattered across the floor. Everyone around us stopped and stared.
Tim knelt to help me pick up my books. Jaden kicked them across the hall. “She can do it herself,” he said through clenched teeth.
Tim ignored him and picked up my things anyway. He carried them into class for me. I followed close behind him. I prayed the teacher was already in the classroom because Jaden followed me. He’d seen my shirt.
“Willow!” he bellowed.
I walked through the door into biology, and my heart sank. No teacher. Jaden came up behind me and jerked me around to face him. His fingers dug into my flesh, and I fought the urge to flinch away.
“What the hell is that?” He pointed at my shirt. Everyone in the room was silent as they watched the show.
“It’s called a shirt, Jaden.”
“I know it’s a shirt. I meant what it says, “Yes, I’m single. You’re gonna have to be awesome to change that.” What does that mean?” He poked me in the chest.
“Just what it says. We’re done. Through. Over. I’m single. You’re single. Go hookup with Sarah or whoever your flavor of the week is. I’m finished with you.”
He grabbed me by the collar and jerked me to him. His face was just inches from mine. I could feel his hot breath on me when he spoke. It made my skin crawl, like dozens of ants were swarming my skin.
“Remember the little secret I know? You wouldn’t want the police to find out what your dear mommy did, now would you? We’re through when I say we are.” His face was red, and a vein bulged in his neck. Spittle formed in the corners of his mouth. “I wish you’d learn that little fact. It’d make life easier for both of us.”
“Jaden, wish in one hand and shit in the other… see which one fills up faster. I said we’re done. I wish you’d learn that little fact. It’d make this so much easier.”
He jerked me closer. His hand fisted on the collar of my shirt. He raised his other hand, and I fought the urge to cringe. Realizing where we were, he let his arm fall to his side.
“We aren’t done, Willow,” he said through clenched teeth.
I kneed him in the crotch and pushed him away from me. “I say differently.”
I was lying in bed that evening, staring at the wall, when my phone chimed. I rolled over and looked at the clock. Eleven-thirty. I picked up my phone, pushed the button to read the text, and my heart jumped into my throat. My head pounded in rhythm with my heartbeat, which was racing.
Brody: You ended it with him?
Me: Yes. For good this time.
Brody: Good for you.
Me: Thanks.
Brody: Night, Willow.
Me: Goodnight, Ace.
I knew it was a probably just a meaningless text. He didn’t say anything in it to give me any indication that he wanted to see me or even have any type of relationship. But, still, the butterflies in my stomach gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, it was a sign that he’d let me explain everything. That he’d let me back in.
We might not ever have what we shared before, but I needed to tell him the truth. I needed to tell him I still loved him. Would always love him. It was him. Would always be him. No one else. Brody Victor showed me what true love was and in doing so, he ruined me. No other man would ever live up to the standard he set. I might find love again, but there would always be a piece of me left hollow—a piece that only Brody could fill.
Only he could make me whole.
“You little bitch,” he roared. He knocked me to the ground and kicked me in the stomach. I pulled my knees up to my chest, covered my head with my arms, and waited for the next hit.
That was only the first one. There were always more.
Ralph grabbed my arm and yanked me off the floor. The attack caught me by surprise. He was supposed to be traveling.
He pushed me hard against the wall before backhanding me. I felt blood gush inside my mouth. The metallic taste made me gag as it slid down my throat.
“What do you have to say? Huh? Anything?” he yelled, and I winced.
“Yeah,” I rasped.
“Willow! Just be quiet!” my mom cried from where she sat on the stairs.
“Shut up, Mom. Help me!” I yelled as loud as my voice would allow. She looked away. “You’re the reason I’m here. You did this. If you hadn’t walked away that night.” I turned back to Ralph. “I do have something to say, asshole.” I spit blood and saliva in his face.
I knew I was asking for more abuse. If I’d just kept my mouth shut and let him have his temper tantrum, I would’ve been better off, but the urge to fight back was growing inside me, pushing out my weakness, my fear.
He wiped his face with his shirtsleeve. His other hand darted out and grabbed me around the neck. “Don’t ever do something like that again or you will pay. And the price will be high, dear, sweet Willow,” he whispered, staring in my eyes.