Page 77 of Expressionate
“Wherever you want,” I offer. It’s not like I have anywhere inmind.
“Well, little girl,” the man says. “I gotta tell ya, this ride isn’tcheap.”
I stare straight back at him, Anne’s reminder running through my head. “What did you have in mind?” I ask. “I don’t have much money.” The guy grins at me, his eyes trailing down to my wet legs and up to my damp t-shirt.
“Who said anything about money?” he asks. Protection. Survival. There’s no way I can go back toAnne.
“Whatever you want,” I say – my anger rising even as the words spit out of my mouth. “You can just fucking take it.” Anne’s already taken my home and my life. Let this fucker have my pride too. Fuck him. Fuck Anne. I close my eyes and rest my head against the seatback. I thought it would feel more painful. I thought I would feel disgusted, but right now this seems like the only way I can go. It’s the only way to moveforward.
“Alright, then,” he smiles, and I’m falling down yet another path that will lead me intohell.
(Present Day)
“And I’ve broughthim back for you,” Anne says, drawing me away from my darkmemories.
I blink at her, confused. “Brought…?” The door across the room opens before I finish the question and ice bricks land on my chest, stealing my air, and sending tingles of panic shooting through myveins.
“Hi, little girl.” I would take a step back, but there’s nowhere to go. Anne smiles at me as she moves towards the door and Danny closes it behindhim.
“You should pick up where you left off,” Anne says. “I’m sure you have so much to catch upon.”
I shake my head almost violently, and when Danny reaches me, I turn my head to her. “Don’t leave,” Isay.
Anne tilts her head to the side. “Don’t worry, Love,” she says. “He’ll take good care of you, just like he alwayshas.”
The door closes behind her, and Danny’s eyes roam over the skin exposed by my hospital gown. My throat squeezes shut. “Don’t you worry,” he says. “Your Momma and I knew you needed me after that call lastnight.”
“She’s not my mother,” I say between clenched teeth. At least now I know how he got my number. It seemed too convenient that he would come back into my life – those text messages, that phone call. “Stay the fuck away from me.” I jerk away fromhim.
Instead of heeding my warning, though, he moves closer. “Nah, don’t be like that – I know you missed me,Baby.”
I shake my head again. “I’m not going with you, Danny. Our relationship is over. You’re delusional if you think I’m going with you. I was a child then and you should never have come near me. I’ll be damned if I let you touch me now.” I edge to the side, away from him and dart towards the door. The second I make my break to get past him, he reaches out and latches onto myarm.
“You used to be smart enough to do what I said. You’re not a child anymore, little girl. You’re all woman.” His lecherous eyes move downward, and shame spirals up my spine. “I just came back to claim what was mine. You disappeared on me so suddenly, I thought you had gotten yourself killed.” His grip tightens on my arm and a whimper escapes my lips as he presses himself against me. “I missed you so much, baby. I can’t wait to shove my cock back in your tight, littlepussy.”
Black dots assault my vision. My breath rushes in and out and yet it feels like there’s no oxygen in the room. I push against his chest. “Let go!” I cry. Danny laughs in my face, his breath reeking of something sour and nasty. I turn my cheek, looking past him – trying, desperately, to see if anyone notices anything. But the door is closed, and someone has drawn the blinds to the hallway down. I’m alone with a fucking monster, and this time it isn’tme.
27
Tax
Icatch Love’s sister waiting outside as I stride through the front doors of the hospital. I promised I wouldn’t leave, and I’m not going to, but damn if all of this doesn’t make me want a goddamn smoke. After bumming a cigarette off of another guy in the waiting room, I take it outside and slip it between my lips. As I had hoped, there are at least a couple of other smokers several yards away from the hospital doors – laws abiders and all that jazz. I quickly prod one of them into a light before I suck in a deep breath of nicotine and make my way over to thegirl.
“Hey,” I say, movingclose.
Love’s sister starts as if she didn’t realize anyone was around. She looks up and immediately steps back. I don’t blame her. After the shit she’s obviously been through, I’d want to stay the fuck away from guys that look like me – or really guys in general. But other than the one step back, she doesn’t do much else to show her discomfort. Nah. The only way I can tell is by the way her shoulders hunch inward and her eyes dart from side to side – catching on the passersby and making sure that we’re notalone.
I would offer to go get Blake or Cross – Blake especially seems unassuming and Cross… well, maybe he wouldn’t be any better than me. They’re around somewhere with Ally – likely in thecafeteria.
“Hey,” she says. Her voice is smooth, even, but body language doesn’tlie.
“How’re you holding up?” I ask, blowing out a breath of smoke. It lifts, filtering into the air, dancing in front of my face as the wind comes through, sweeping it away like it wasn’t eventhere.
“Holding up?” she says before straightening her shoulders and unhunching her back. “I’m fine, or I-I’ll be fine. Thanks for…um…everything.”
A tall man in blue jeans and an untucked button down sidles up to the sidewalk and passes us. When he does, Trisha moves back, allowing him room. The way he smiles at her – his lips curled in interest – as he passes makes me scowl. But the guy doesn’t stop or say anything. Good for him because my fists are feeling a bit twitchy despite thecigarette.
“Love’s gonna be okay,” Trisha says drawing myattention.
