Watch Me - Page 108

I wring my hands together, hoping I’m trusting the right person. I don’t want her to think the guys did this and I’m lying to her to keep them from getting in trouble. “My roommate and her boyfriend assaulted me on Friday night.”

“What?” Hope puts her hand over her mouth. She reaches out and puts her hand over mine. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

I unwrap the scarf from my neck. “When I got home that night, I didn’t think anything of her being there, but they were looking for money I didn’t have.”

Hope gasps at the sight of my neck. I set the scarf on the ottoman.

“Her boyfriend choked me, but Blake ended up saving me.”

“That’s lucky. Why was Blake at your apartment?”

Yeah, not going into that. “He wanted to check up on me after the first week.”

“If he hadn’t…” Hope leans in and touches my arm.

I nod. It’s what haunts my dreams. What if he hadn’t? The guys didn’t plan to see me until Monday. No one would have expected me until Monday. Those two could have kept me trapped all weekend. You want to pound her first or watch me take her? Ice pours through me as I shake off Valerie’s words again.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” She glances around. “So, the guys moved you in early? See, I knew they’re good people. Fuck the haters.”

I smile as my insides soften, thinking about my guys. “Yeah, they’re good. They didn’t want rumors to start about me moving in early or that they were choking me.” I shake my head like it’s a ludicrous thought. They wouldn’t do anything without my consent, and the finger bruises on my throat are not someone trying some new kink on me.

The guys might leave marks but not violent ones. The marks Noah left all over my body last night are all hidden beneath my clothes, so I don’t need to explain where I got the love bites.

“I wish we could go celebrate you moving in properly, but I understand now why you wanted to meet here.” Hope takes a drink. “Did they catch your roommate?”

I shake my head. “They’ve gone underground. The police are still after them. They were out on bail, and my assault means they’ll be held this time, once they’re found.”

“Locking you in a tower is probably ideal, then. Fuck.” Hope finishes her drink and goes to get the bottle. “You doing okay? Is there anything you need?”

She brings the bottle and tops off my glass.

“No, I’ve got everything I need here. I just didn’t want you to think I was blowing you off. I really want to be friends.” Even if I suck at actually making friends.

Hope grins. “You’ve got me. Okay, you’ve got this huge TV, and I’m imagining access to every streaming service possible because those guys are loaded. Let’s begin your TV education with a little Witcher.”

Chapter 33

First Time

Madison

I ride the elevator down to the ground floor with Hope.

“We’re going to binge the rest of the season on Sunday.” She points at me. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“You don’t have to twist my arm. Seriously, how did I not know about this show?”

“Because you lived under a rock.” Hope shakes her head as the elevator stops. She grabs me in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ll see you this weekend, if not before.”

I squeeze her back. “You’ve got it.”

As she exits, I wave and don’t even peek my head out of the elevator before I hit the button to go upstairs. The receptionist is probably long gone, but I don’t want to risk her catty looks. It's exciting to have a new friend in Hope. It’s nice to be happy for once and not struggling to make ends meet.

But I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the shit to hit the fan. For… whatever other metaphors I can come up with about things falling apart like they always do. Happiness doesn’t last long in my world.

Not without a lot of struggles to get there.

I touch my scarf. Maybe this will be it for the struggle, and once I heal, it will be forgotten. The twinge in my gut tells me I’m never going to forget being choked, even long after the bruises heal.