I watched as Tyler walked out the door. I turned and looked out the window as I watched him walk down the sidewalk and up a little ways. He jumped into a Toyota 4Runner that took off down the road. I glanced over to my right, only to see Reed staring at the retreating 4Runner also. I put my hand on my stomach and tried to push down that awful feeling I hadn’t had in so many years.
He’s out of the country, Courtney. He can’t hurt you any longer.
When I looked back at Reed, he was staring at me. He smiled that smile of his and made his way over to me.
When he pulled me into his arms, he whispered in my ear, “Let’s stay at a hotel tonight.”
I closed my eyes and held on to him harder. I had told my mother that I didn’t want to stay at the house. I couldn’t bear the thought of Reed being in the same bed where Noah had done those things to me.
I hadn’t even had to tell Reed my anxiety over it. The first night we had gotten here, he had gone up to my room ahead of me. When I’d walked into my room, I’d seen he had built a little tent on the floor. When I’d crawled into it, blankets and pillows had been on the floor. I’d looked at him, and he’d told me we would be camping for the next few nights. I had thrown my body into his as I’d cried and told him how much I loved him.
When I stepped back, I opened my eyes and nodded my head.
“I’ll let your mother know our plans.”
I couldn’t talk. I just stood there and watched him as he walked into the kitchen and said something that made my mother laugh. Then, her smile faded, and she looked at me. I was scared shitless she would start screaming about us wanting to leave and go to a hotel. She turned back and smiled at Reed as I watched my father shake Reed’s hand.
Wait, what’s happening? What did he tell them?
Reed walked up and took my hand as he said, “Let’s go pack up. I’ll call and make reservations at a hotel.”
I followed him up the stairs in silence. When we got in my room and Reed shut the door, I finally found my voice. “What did you tell them? Are they mad we’re leaving?”
He laughed as he put both suitcases on the bed and shook his head. “I simply told them that I was uncomfortable being under their roof, and that due to my respect for you and them, I just simply couldn’t make love to you while being here. And that since we are newlyweds still, I was going to have to take you to a hotel.”
My mouth dropped open. “You didn’t,” I whispered.
He looked at me and said, “Oh, yes, I did.”
“And my father didn’t kill you?”
Reed shrugged his shoulders. “Nope. He said he respected me for being honest and for thinking about their feelings on the matter. Married or not, he said you are still his little girl.”
I sat down on the bed and tried to let it all sink in.
That’s it. Reed Nickolas Moore has powers, very strong powers, that not only control my heart, soul, and libido, but apparently, he has the power to make my family fall so in love with him that he can do no wrong.
This is bad, very bad.
After we checked into the hotel and made our way to our room, I was exhausted. My cell phone began ringing, and Reed and I both moaned, “Not again.”
“She’s already called you three times since we left…an hour ago,” Reed said.
I collapsed onto the king-sized bed. I rolled my eyes as I hit Answer. “What is it now?”
“Excuse me, young lady, but that is no way to talk to your mother. I just want to make sure you asked the hotel to give you a wake-up call.”
I let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Yes, Mother, I did. I have my alarm set, Reed has his set, I set the alarm in the hotel room, and the hotel is calling with a wake-up call. I will be there at six.”
“Did you leave your dress here? Oh, I hope you did, so it won’t get wrinkled. Meg, did she leave her dress?”
I heard Meg start laughing in the background.
“Mom, will you just chill the hell out? You’re going to drive Meg insane before she is even an official member of the family.”
Reed began rubbing my feet, and I let out a soft moan.
“Mom, I have to go. I’m exhausted. Do you want me to have bags under my eyes tomorrow?”
“Oh no, Court! You should call down and get some tea bags right now. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep. Take a hot bath, sweetheart, and make sure you are here by five forty-five.”
Reed was slowly moving his hand up before he began drawing circles on my inner thigh. I closed my eyes and willed him to put his lips on me.
I popped my eyes open and said, “Wait, now, it’s five forty-five, Mom? Are you crazy?”
She let out a laugh and said, “We have a lot to do to set up and get ready. Tyler is not coming back until right before the ceremony tomorrow, so we all need to pitch in and get things ready.”
I sat up. “What? Why does he get out of work? It’s his fucking wedding.”
“Language, please.”
“I’m pregnant! I deserve special treatment, too.”
Reed let out a giggle as I continued to argue with my mother.
“Where is the baby staying tonight anyway?” I asked as I flopped back down and pouted. Even though she couldn’t see me, I wanted her to feel my dissatisfaction.
“I’m not sure. He just said he was staying with a friend. Courtney, I need to ask you something,” my mother whispered.
I could tell she was walking outside when I heard the screen door opening.
“Sure.”
“Your brother was acting weird. Even Meg noticed it. Do you think he is having second thoughts?”
I smiled and shook my head. “No, Mom. He’s just nervous. He acted weird to me, too, before he left. I think he will be fine after the ceremony, and I’ll be able to kick his ass for being rude to Reed.”
My mother let out a sigh. “Yes. I’m still upset that he did that to Reed. It’s just not like your brother. It’s almost like he was…hiding something.”
My stomach dropped, and I had the same feeling sweep over my body as I had earlier. “Yeah. I thought the same thing, but…everything will be okay, Mom.”
“Courtney, he wouldn’t tell Meg who he is staying with. She’s beginning to have things run through her mind, and I don’t know what to tell her.”
“Why didn’t he tell her?” I asked as I looked at Reed nodding off to sleep. Great. There goes any hope of sex for me tonight.
“I’m not sure why he wouldn’t tell her. She is trying to act like it doesn’t bother her, but I know it does. She almost seems—”
“What? She almost seems what?”
My mother let out a sigh and said, “Never mind. I think I’m just a nervous wreck. Is it wrong I’m secretly hoping Sissy elopes like you did?”
I let out a gentle laugh, so I wouldn’t wake up Reed. “Nope, not at all. I’m heading to bed, Mom. I love you. Night.”
“Night, sweetie. Sleep good,” she said with an evil little laugh.
I could almost picture her wiggling her eyebrows up and down.
“Night, Mom.”
I hit End and set my phone on the side table. I turned to look at my passed-out husband. I watched his chest moving up and down. Each breath caused me to relax more and more until I could no longer keep my eyes open. As sleep took over, the pit in my stomach slowly started to go away.
He’s not here, Courtney. He can’t hurt you anymore.
The wedding was starting in two hours, and I was pretty sure my mother was going to have a breakdown. Meg had been too quiet all day, so I made my way up to my parents’ room where she was getting her hair done.
I knocked on the door and barely heard her say, “Come in.”
I opened the door to see her sitting there, alone, staring out the window. When she looked at me, she gave me a weak smile.
“Hey, you. Is everything okay?”
She patted lightly on the seat next to her. As I walked over toward her, I couldn’t help but notice how sad she looked.
I’d known Meg since high school. She was a year older than me and a year younger than my brother. They had been dating since Tyler’s senior year and her junior year of high school.
I sat down and followed her gaze. I wasn’t sure how long we sat there before she began talking.
“Have you ever carried a secret so dark that you felt like you were drowning in it?”
I snapped my head over at her. Does she know? I quickly looked away and nodded my head as I said, “Yes.”
Now, it was her turn to look at me. “Sometimes, I just want to run away.”
I looked at her and gave her a weak smile. “Are you having second thoughts?”
She looked down and said, “I don’t deserve your brother.”
“What? Meg, of course you do. He’s damn lucky to have you. How you put up with his ass, I’ll never know.”
She laughed slightly and said, “I’ve tried talking him into moving to Texas. I just want to leave New York. I hate it here.” She looked back out the window. “The memories here are too…painful.”
I grabbed her hand and held on to it as I took a deep breath. “Meg, is there something you want to talk about?”
She turned, and when I saw the tears in her eyes, I caught my breath.
“Something happened. It was a few years back, but I never told Tyler, and the guilt is killing me.”
My heart started pounding. “Did you cheat on him?”
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “No! God, I would never do that to Tyler.” She quickly wiped the tears away. “I’ve never told anyone, and I just can’t do this anymore. I’m so scared, Courtney.”
“You can trust me, Meg. I promise you.”
She was just about to start talking when the door opened, and my mother, Sissy, and Meg’s mom all walked in.
“Oh hell, Megan, your eyes are going to be all puffy now.” Meg’s mother stood there with her hands on her hips, looking at her daughter, clearly not caring that her daughter was upset.
Meg pulled her hand from mine and stood up. She wiped away any evidence of sadness and replaced it with a smile. I recognized that smile. I’d seen it a million times on my own face.
“Sorry, Mama.”
She started to walk away, but I grabbed her hand. She gave me a look, and I dropped her hand.
Sissy walked up to me and whispered, “Those did not look like happy tears. Is everything okay, Court?”
I gave her a reassuring smile and said, “Nerves, that’s all.”
I had tried to talk to Meg again, but we were never alone. Now, it was nothing but running back and forth between rooms, getting hair and makeup done. Sissy was zipping up my dress when little Lizzie Sue, the flower girl, walked up to me.
I bent down, and she said, “Um…Weed is waiting for you in the libwary.”
I smiled and said, “Thank you for letting me know, angel.”
I stood up, and Sissy turned her back to me, so I could get her zipper.
“Lucky bitch. I wish I had weed waiting for me. I don’t smoke the shit, but if Mom doesn’t cut out the crazy-ass behavior, I’m going to be picking it up.”
I hit her shoulder and laughed. “Reed is waiting, Sis, not weed.”
She turned and winked at me. “I knew what she meant. You better hurry if you want to sneak in a quick fuck.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at her. “Oh. My. God. Really?”
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Listen, I’m just saying if my hotter-than-hell husband was waiting for me downstairs, you better believe I’d be ditching my panties on the way down.” She turned and walked over to our mother but not before turning and winking at me. She held up her hand and mouthed, Five minutes.
I hugged myself as I headed to the hall bathroom and followed my little sister’s advice. I walked into the library, closed the door behind me, and locked it. It was dark in there since my father had the curtains drawn.
“Reed? Baby, I got your message, and I have a little surprise for you.”
I saw someone move in the corner. I smiled as I made my way over. I stopped when I saw Noah step out into the small amount of light coming in through the curtains.
No.
“It’s been a long time, Courtney. I’ve missed you.”
I just stood there, frozen. I willed my feet to move, but I couldn’t. “Wha-what are you doing here?”
“Funny how I had a change of plans right at the last minute, isn’t it?”
I shook my head as I took a step back.
“You see, I knew you wouldn’t come to the wedding if you knew I was going to be here, so I hatched up the whole being-out-of-town-for-the-wedding excuse. I knew Meg would never change the date even though Tyler had asked her to so that his very best friend wouldn’t have to miss the wedding. That fucking bitch hates me. She tries everything she can to keep Tyler and me apart.”
My head began spinning. “Does Tyler know you’re here?” I whispered.
He threw his head back and laughed as he took another step toward me. “Of course he does. Who do you think threw his party last night? He stayed at my house last night, too. Naturally, I asked him not to tell you about me being here. With our history and all, I told him you would be upset, and I just wanted to get through this as easily as possible. You know…with how you devastated me and all by breaking up with me.”
I went to turn and walk away, but he grabbed me and spun me around. He held on to my shoulders and began backing me up until I hit the wall.
“You’re crazy. We were never together! Let me go, or I’ll scream.”
“Now, Court, if you scream, you’ll regret it. Did Tyler happen to mention that I’ve taken Sissy out? We went out twice, and she sure is a sweet little thing even though she’s a few years younger than me. I’m now engaged though. Sweet girl, Lilly is, but she sure isn’t you.”
I looked at him, confused. “Stay away from my sister.”
Noah laughed. “Please. Your sister is a bitch. I have no interest in her at all.”
I let out a sob and placed my hand on my stomach.
He looked down, and when he looked back into my eyes, his eyes were filled with anger. “You let him get you pregnant, you bitch. You. Are. Mine. You’ve always been mine, Courtney. I was your first.”
I closed my eyes and prayed Reed would come find me. “Please…please just let me go.”
He grabbed my face and got so close to me that I could feel his hot breath and smell the alcohol. “Did you tell that fucker about us?”
I closed my eyes as he squeezed harder, and I let out a small whimper.
“Look at me.”
I opened my eyes and tried to smile. “Yes.”
He laughed and whispered, “Liar. Don’t fucking lie to me, you bitch!”
He placed his hand on my stomach, and I pushed it away.
“Don’t touch me.”
He grabbed my hands and put them over my head as he held on to them with one hand.
Fuck. He is so strong.
He used his finger and began moving it along my cleavage.
“Please stop,” I whispered.
He moved his hand down my body, and my eyes snapped shut. I forgot that I had taken my panties off. He reached his hand up under my dress and slowly started to touch my inner thigh.
“Reed, please…I need you,” I whispered.
Noah instantly stopped moving his hand. “What in the fuck did you just say?” He pulled his hand out and grabbed my face again before he began trying to kiss me.
I tried turning my head. The moment his lips touched mine, I wanted to throw up.
Reed! Please, Reed, help me! I need you!
In that one second, I knew what I had to do. I needed to show Noah that he could no longer control me.
Reed…I need you…please hurry.
I walked down the hallway, heading back to Court’s bedroom. I had left my Kindle in her room, and I wanted to make sure I got it before we left to head back to Texas. A bed
room door opened, and Sissy ran right into me.
“Shit,” we both said as we hit each other hard.
“Damn it, Reed! What in the hell?”
I laughed and said, “Sorry, Sissy. I was heading to Courtney’s room to get my Kindle that I’d left here. I don’t want to forget it.”
She smiled and said, “Wow, are you two done already? That was fast.”
My smile faded as I looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”
“You and Court…you know…getting it on in the library. She got your message to meet her in there.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “I never sent her a message to meet me in the…” I turned and started running down the stairs.
“Reed? If it wasn’t you, who was it?”
I called back, “Oh God…Noah’s here. I have to get to Courtney.”
Sissy started running after me. “Why?”
I ran down the stairs as fast as I could. I stopped and looked at Sissy. “Shit! Where is the library?”
She just stood there, looking at me, confused.
I grabbed her shoulders. “Sissy. Please. Your sister is in danger. Please tell me where it is.”
Her face dropped, and she took off running down a hall as I followed her. We ran right by Tyler, and I almost knocked him over.
“What the fuck? What’s going on?”
Sissy said as she pointed, “Last door on the left, but, Reed…”
I ran past her and tried the door. It was locked. I stepped back and kicked it open. As soon as I walked in, I looked to my left, and a guy was doubled over, holding himself.
“You fucking bitch!” he yelled out.
“Courtney!” I yelled.
She let out a scream and ran to me. “I knew you would come for me! I knew you would come!”
She slammed into my body, and I held her. I looked at the fucker as he stood up. He gave me a smile as he ran his hand through his hair. I pushed Courtney back and looked her up and down.