Page 104 of Meant to Be

“I knew he’d done this before. He was too calm about it all. Too skilled in terrifying me. I moved two different times trying to get away from his threats. I changed jobs because I was getting hang up calls at work. But the harassment never stopped.”

“That’s why you came back to Williamsport.”

I swallowed and nodded, avoiding Josh’s gaze.

Joshua inhaled deeply, standing from his stool. I watched him warily, wondering what his next move was going to be.

“You know he can’t go on living.”

I frowned. “What?”

“He can’t continue to live and breathe and walk around this earth. Not after what he’s done to you. He’s the reason you were so different when you came back. He stole your spark. He has to die for that alone. Don’t even fucking mention the other women he’s done this to. Fuck, Kay! Why’d you wait so long to tell me? You couldn’t trust me with this?”

I moved off the stool to stand in front of Josh. Placing my hand against his chest, I gripped the T-shirt he wore. “Of course I trusted you.”

He shook his head. “No. You couldn’t have.”

“Josh, we hadn’t spoken in so many years. How—”

“I wouldn’t have given a shit. One phone call. That’s all that was needed for me to hop my ass on a plane to murder any motherfucker who thought he could do this shit to you!” He pointed angrily at the file on the counter.

Lowering my head, I squeezed my eyes shut to prevent the tears from spilling. I regained control of my breathing and said, “I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t tellanyone.As angry as I was at him for what he’d done to me, a part of me felt like I deserved it.”

Josh stared at me in horror—his eyes wide, mouth set in a hard line.

“I can’t fully explain it in a way that will make sense. I just … I thought … that maybe what happened to me was payback for betraying Chelsea the way I had, and for being so carefree, and dressing the way I had. When he said I’d wanted it, it reminded me of the way I’d flirted with him the previous night. The other guys I’d danced with, the low-cut tops and tight jeans I often wore around town. Everything. I enjoyed the attention I got from men. Maybe he was right.”

“Which is why you started wearing different types of clothing, straightening your hair, less makeup.”

I nodded.

“He doesn’t have the right to any of you. You are not responsible for his—”

“I know,” I interrupted. “I know that now. I knew it all along, I just forgot. I’m not responsible for a grown man’s inability to hear the word no, especially when he steals my ability to say no by drugging me. He made me doubt that for a while, but you made me believe in myself again. You reminded me of who I was and why no one gets to steal that from me.”

“Then you agree. He needs to die.”

If this situation hadn’t had been so serious, I would’ve laughed at how stern his face was when he said that.

“No.”

Josh snorted.

“I’m serious, Josh. He does need to face what he’s done. And go to jail for it. I felt deeply he had to be doing this to other women. But I’d gotten so scared, and lost who I was, I just wanted to leave and get away from him. However, I found myself again, here, with you. You make me strong.Andwe have proof.” I pointed at the papers from the envelope. “That he’s done this to others is just further confirmation that I need to help end this. I’m done running.”

“What does that mean, Kay?”

“It means I’m going to seek charges. I want him prosecuted.”

There was a war going on behind Joshua’s eyes. I could see it. He was grappling with whether or not to let me handle this my way or to take matters into his own hands.

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly and sighing. “You need this. I can see it but you won’t face that piece of shit alone.”

I smiled against his shoulder, resting on him. “Thank you.” I held onto him as if he were the air that I breathed, because he was. Despite the confidence when I said it out oud, I wasn’t entirely sure I could go back to Portland and face the man who’d tried to destroy me, but I did know with Joshua by my side, I could do anything. That was enough for me.

****

Joshua