Page 146 of Pretty Broken Wings

“Make me,” Gage hisses, angry.

“Gage,” I say.

“Make me, Raven.”

She thrashes now, completely unable to move his big body. There’s a flash of fear in her eyes.

“That’s enough.” I grab Gage’s shoulder roughly and rip it back. It throws him off balance for a second, then he’s back on top of her.

“You proved your point.” I try to rip him off again, but Gage is fucking strong.

“Fine!” Raven spits. “You want to know what’s wrong so bad?” Her face twists in hate. “I forced you, and I liked it.”

There’s a moment of stunned silence.

“What?” Gage growls.

“I did exactly what Max did to me.” Suddenly, the hate is gone, covered by a blank look that scares me a lot more.

“Get the fuck off her.” This time, I put the palm of my hand under Gage’s nose and shove back violently. It has the intended result. Gage clutches at his face, tears welling in his eyes.

Raven immediately curls up, covering her face.

“Look at her,” I hiss.

Gage’s eyes go from angry to watery and scared.

“Fucking oaf.” I shove him back. “Get out.”

“Raven, I didn’t mean–”

“Get out. You can talk about it later.” I push him until he’s almost out of the room, and this time, he lets me.

“Wait, I need–”

“Give her a goddamn second.” I shove him out and shut the door. For a second, I stand there, unsure if I should leave as well.

There’s a rustle behind me, then I hear Raven flick on the bathroom light. The shower turns on, and I wait for the bathroom door to shut, but it doesn’t.

I should go. I should definitely go. Run for the hills. Get the fuck out of here like I originally planned.

But that tiny part of me that knows how isolating it is to push people away because of what you’ve been through wants me to stay.

I shouldn’t stay. This is just going to hurt me.

And yet, I find myself being drawn, step by step, to the bathroom.

Raven didn’t shut the door. She knew I was in here and didn’t shut me out.

I stand there, fists clenching and unclenching. This isn’t me. I’m not the comforter. I’m not Gage.

But Gage doesn’t understand. I do.

I knock on the doorframe. “It’s Axel.”

I hear nothing. Just the water hitting the floor.

Totally stupid. I should go now.