I can’t finish. I don’t want to admit out loud what Davis did. Luke finally looks at me, pain shining in his eyes, and it takes everything in me not to crumble under the weight of it.
Olivia smacks Luke on the shoulders. “Seriously, Luke? Jake? Why are you still hanging out with that jerk?”
“That’s not all,” Ryland adds, and his eyes bore into Luke’s.
Luke studies Ryland for a moment, and it’s then that I realize Luke has no idea what happened last night after he left. So, when did Ryland punch him? I wanted to take Olivia’s place and start demanding answers, but when Ryland reachesover and tugs the sleeve of my hoodie up to reveal the evidence of Davis’ anger, I freeze.
Olivia inhales sharply, one hand covering her lips, the other reaching out to touch my wrist as she examines the bruise on my arm. “Are you okay?” she whispers so softly I can barely hear her.
I give her a nod. “I don’t think Davis meant to hold my arm so tightly, and I bruise easily.”
“Don’t make excuses for him,” Olivia adds, her fingers tracing over the purple tint in my skin.
“A bruise for a bruise,” Ryland adds, looking at Luke.
Luke’s expression drops along with the color in his face. He pushes himself from the wall and goes to move toward the door, but Ryland is quick and stands in his way. Luke is much larger than Ryland and easily could shove him out of his way, but he has respect for Ryland, and it shows in how he backs away.
“You forget, Luke, that your choices don't only affectyou. You made the decision to leave Raine, and look what happened because of that,” Ryland snaps, pointing toward my arm that Olivia is still examining with tears in her eyes. “I took her to her grandparents’ house, but Davis followed us. He even went out of his way to block our way out and threatened not only her Mamaw and Papaw but my family as well. He won’t let her leave so now she’s stuck there without your protection.”
“Who's to say that’s my responsibility?” Luke adds, color returning to his face as his anger rises.
Olivia blinks back her tears and looks up at Luke. “We did when we chose to become friends, Luke. Since middle school, the three of us have always made sure to have each other’s backs. When bullies, like Jake, try to get to us, we put a stop to it and are there for each other. You’re supposed to protect Raine, not cower away for your own benefit.”
“Who's going to protect me, then?” he adds.
“Me,” I say. “I walked into the living room to have yourback, Luke, but you turned your back on me when you left me there withhim.”
He turns to face me, shoulders falling for a second time. “He’s only been in your life for a little while. I’ve had to deal with him my whole life, Raine. I don’t want to do it anymore.”
“I get it, Luke. I don’t want you to have to suffer anymore. I just—” It hits me then, hard like a baseball bat to the back of my skull, that I’m the one being unreasonable.
Davis has tormented Luke his whole life, and I should want him to escape that pain. I want Luke to be safe, no longer suffering at the hands of his father, and yet I’ve kept things one-sided this whole time. I’m being selfish, and that’s not fair to Luke.
If I want to protect Luke, I need to let him go. If I play my cards right and walk on eggshells at home during the week, then in two years, I will graduate high school and be able to leave for college. I can apply to colleges that are far away from Covewood and finally be free. It won’t be like this forever. I just have to bide my time.
“I made a mistake in underestimating Davis last night. It won’t happen again. I’ll be careful from now on. I’ll follow the rules and make it through the next two years. You shouldn’t have to suffer with me, especially if he’s leaving you alone.”
“What?” Ryland says, but I ignore him and reach out to touch Luke’s arm, bringing his attention to me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t think about your feelings, Luke. And I forgive you.”
A single tear falls from Luke’s good eye, and guilt tries to suffocate me. How did I not see just how much he’s hurting because of his father? The pain I felt last night doesn’t compare to what he’s endured for years. He reaches out and pulls me into a hug, placing a faint kiss on top of my head before nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck.
“I’m sorry I left you. I was scared,” he whispers.
“It’s okay.”
He pulls himself away from our embrace, sniffing away evidence of getting emotional, before he gives me a nod and releases his hold on me. I peek behind Luke to see Ryland and Olivia both watching us with uncertainty. And then Olivia asks the question that’s been nagging at me.
“So, when did you punch him?”
Luke winces at the memory. Ryland’s face doesn’t hold as much anger as it did before. His shoulders bounce once as he says, “This morning. In the parking lot.”
“He pulled me out of Jake’s car, shoved me against the hood, punched me, and walked off without explaining all of this.”
“I figured you’d put two and two together.”
“I mean, somewhat, but you could’ve explained the parts I didn’t know.” Luke shakes his head and makes for the door, clearly still upset with Ryland. By the looks of his swollen eye, I would be upset too.
