Page 98 of Last Fall

I was still living my life to keep Tony happy. My life was secondary ineveryway.

And then we went to theValentine’sBall.

I shuddered. I could still feel his hand clamping down on my arm, just above my elbow. The pain that shot down my spine as he yanked me tothecar.

“Do you want him? You’re embarrassing me flirting like that right in frontofme.”

I wasn’t flirting. I didn’t even know what he was talking about. Nikita Johnson was one of Tony’s partners. I’d spoken to him many times before. Tony didn’t say a word on our way home but his anger was unmistakable. The air heavy with the violence he was about tounleash.

“I was just talking,”I said when were closed up in ourpenthouse.

“He wanted you. I saw the way he looked at you.”Jealousy dripped fromeveryword.

He pressed me into the wall, ripped my dress off, pawed at my body.“You’re mine,”hesneered.

I did nothing to stop him. I didn’t even protest. Maybe I was in shock. I’d known Tony to be jealous and quick to anger, but never directed at me in such a sudden waybefore.

He took me hard against the wall. Pushed me to the ground when he couldn’t find relief and shoved his way into my mouth, all while spewing a nonstop stream of hate and anger. Words that cut deep into my own selfdoubt.

He came and I thought maybe, just maybe this would end, but I was wrong. It only seemed to make things worse. That’s when he hit me, grabbed me, shoved me through the penthouse to ourbedroom.

“You hide things from me.”He mounted me, shoved back inside.“You don’t want to be with me. All I want is you. And you? It’s never enough. Nothing I do is everenough.”

The sex was rough and oddly exciting at the same time. The things he was saying made no sense but they were said with such passion. Suchdesperation.

I thought it was somehow my fault. I had caused this suddenjealousy.

And when it was over and the pain began to set in, he started crying. Wailing. He was so sorry. He just loved me so much. He was scared I mightleavehim.

Then he opened the nightstand and pulled out myValentine’sgift.

Anengagementring.

He couldn’t live without me. He’d do everything to fix the mess he’d made thatnight.

Isaidyes.

I had an MBA. I was supposed to be smarterthanthis.

But Iwasn’t.

I stared at the blank legal pad for a long, long time. Reliving the memories. All the nights like that Valentine’s Day. All the times I forgave him. All the times I thought about leaving but never had the courage to followthrough.

I picked up my phone and dialed Belle. She picked up almost immediately. “Hey! I was hoping you’d call mebacksoon!”

“Sorry it tooksolong.”

“Oh it’s okay,” she giggled. “My brother has never been so nicetome.”

So Belle knew. “Yeah. He had me a bit distracted and then I had some workstuff.”

“I saw that too. I follow all the guys social media but especially Wes. It was a bit of a shock to see my brother shirtless like that at first, but it was so much fun seeing you and your friends that I gotoverit.”

Yeah, I should have thought about Erik’s siblings being on social media. Too late now. “So now you’re up to date on me. How are yourclasses?”

“Good. Hard but good. And I took your advice. I’ve been writing every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This story is really starting to takeshape.”

“I want first dibs on this.” And I meant it. I really enjoyed her fan fiction and the potential was there. All she needed was someone like me to cheer her on and point her in the rightdirection.