Christian (The Mitchell/Healy Family #3)(23)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“He did. Your father made sure of it. He’s convinced that Ethan was the reason you came home last night.” My mother giggled to herself. “Sorry, it’s funny how your father gets about you girls. I feel sorry for the men that ask for your hands in marriage. They’re going to have to go through hell for him to approve.”

I wanted to smile, but my pent up emotions wouldn’t allow it. “If we even find men that want to be with us.”

“Don’t say that. You may not want to indulge me with what’s going on in your life, but I’ll always be here, Christian. God didn’t give me you kids if he thought I couldn’t handle it. Whatever it is, you’ll get through it.”

This made me so upset. Desperately I needed to tell someone what had happened to me, but for the life of me I wasn’t able to spit it out. The pain inflicted on me both emotional and physical was draining to think about. Even though I’d come home for comfort, I knew it was time for me to leave before my mother pried the information out of me, forcing me to relive what occurred. “I have class soon so I better get goin’. Thanks for checkin’ on me, mom. I appreciate it.”

She leaned over and kissed me before standing up. “I love you with all of my heart. No matter where you are, you need to remember I’m only a phone call away.”

“Thanks.”

After she’d left the room I got up and dressed. My intentions were to go back to my house and sleep the day away. For the second time I was skipping my classes. I sent an email to professors telling them that I’d encountered a family emergency. Luckily, since my grades were always good, they offered my assignments through the internet, allowing me to submit my work online. I still didn’t know how I’d be able to keep focused, but at least I had the opportunity to not fall behind.

As I was leaving the ranch I spotted my dad in his truck. He pulled up next to my car and his window slowly rolled down. “Good Mornin’, darlin’. You alright?”

“Yeah, dad. I’m fine.”

“You sure?” I could tell he was giving me a once over. “Your mom and I are worried. Next time you come home instead of goin’ to gram’s.”

“Okay.”

“Tell that boy to treat ya better so he doesn’t have to chase you down again.” Even though my dad was speaking about Ethan, I thought of Seth chasing me down.

Without explaining my bout of shock I pulled off of the property and took off down the road. My dad would go to my mother and together they’d try to fix me. I wish it were that easy to make all of this pain vanish, but I wasn’t going to kid myself. This would haunt me for the rest of my life, and no matter how hard I tried I’d never be able to forget it.

I’d stopped crying about a mile from the house, and as I pulled in I was determined to get some rest and then make a few calls to find a professional to talk with. As ashamed as I was, I knew I couldn’t go through it alone.

I’d no sooner stepped inside of my bedroom when I saw him sitting there. His hands were on his knees, but his focus was on me. Slowly I backed out of the bedroom, praying he wouldn’t stand up too fast.

“Chris, wait. Let me just talk to you.”

After locking myself in the bathroom, I pressed my hands against the wooden door, praying he couldn’t get through it.

I could feel him knocking on it as the warm rush of tears poured out of my eyes. I wasn’t just afraid of seeing him again. I was petrified that he was here to do what he’d done before.

“Why won’t you return my calls? I don’t know why you’re being such a bitch. Come out and talk to me. You can’t push me away forever.”

“I told you before that I didn’t want to see you, Seth. You need to leave.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you; the way you taste, and how good it feels to be inside of you. You probably don’t know this, but I’ve wanted you for a while now. I sit behind you and watch you chewing your pens, imagining those teeth biting into my skin as I’m fucking you.”

I cringed, closing my eyes and praying for this to be another nightmare. “Please stop it.”

“I can’t. I won’t let you walk away from this. We’re so good together.”

“I hate you. Don’t you get that? I’m scared of you, Seth.” I cried harder. “Please leave me alone. Why are you doin’ this to me?”

“To you? You’re the one being a damn dick-tease, putting out then pretending it never happened. You came on to me you little closet slut.” He punched the wood right at my face, making me jump out of my skin. “Open the fucking door.”

I backed away, while reaching into my pocket to retrieve my cell phone. I had one bar of battery left, and knew it was just enough to call Ethan. As mad as he probably was at me, I knew he’d come to my rescue.

It rang once before he answered. “It took you long enough.”

“Shut up and listen to me. I need you to come to my house and help me.”

“With what? You said we were done, Chris. What the hell is going on with you?”

“Who are you talking to?” Seth yelled from outside of the room.

“Please,” I begged. “I’m so scared.”

Just then I heard someone on the other side of the door. Becca spoke and I started to relax. “What are you doin’?”

“I came to talk to Chris, but she won’t open the door.”

“Make him leave, Becca. I don’t want to talk to him.”

I heard her ordering him out of our house. When the front door slammed she knocked. “Chris, honey, it’s just me now. Seth’s gone.”

“I have to go,” I told Ethan.

“Wait!” I hung up on him without responding.

Slowly I cracked open the door until I saw Becca waiting on the other side. “Hey.”

Her eyes widened when she looked me in the eyes. “Oh my God. What’s goin’ on?”

She pulled me into her arms and comforted me while I sobbed. Becca was kind, getting me a glass of water and some tissues while I let it all out. Once I’d finally calmed down I knew I had to explain. After taking a deep breath I began to tell her what happened.

“It started the other night when we all went out. I met Seth and he started hittin’ on me. I thought he was nice, and easy on the eyes. When he came back to the house we hung out some more, and then one thing led to another. We ended up in bed, which is somethin’ I’ve never done before. Then it happened again the next day.”