Ugh!
With no peace in sight, nothing to lose, I ramble off more truths.
“He is into dark stuff, too. In the bedroom.”
“What kind?”Ashleigh’s eyes brighten.
“Like...” I inhale in a long breath, then reply, “Spitting. Hair pulling. Slapping—”
“On the ass?” Matt asks.
“Yeah... and face.”
Ashleigh gasps. “He slapsyourface?”
With shame, I nod. “He put soap in my mouth, too. He isreallystrong. I’m heavy, but not to him. And I think Grayson likes hurting me.”
She nearly falls off the gurney. “Hewhat?”
Matt doesn’t flinch. He just studies me, serious and still. “That’s sadism. And from what you’re describing, he probably watched too much abuse porn.”
I swallow, shaky. “He watched a lot. He even made a video with his ex. She was tied up, humiliated. He shoved her face in a toilet.”
Ashleigh gasps and sits up. “No!”
“Yes.”
Ashleigh shakes her head vigorously. “Oh my word! Porn ruins people. Makes them evil. Especially that type. Want my opinion? He’spsychotic,Charlotte. Game over. Leave ’em.”
Matt’s jaw flexes. “Yep. He is a sexual sadist. They’re demented. You seem way too sweet for a guy like that.”
I blush and nod knowingly as I gaze into those warm brown eyes. Matt always says how sweet I am. It’s like he knows my limits without testing them. Like I’m not meant for that dark stuff.
Why couldn’t I have met Matt first? Fallen in love with him instead. A normal guy with a normal girl.
Ashleigh snaps. “Babes, kick his ass to the curb.Youown the house, right?”
“Yeah.”
She throws her hands up. “Then evict the bastard!”
I cringe. “I don’t know”
“Are you scared?” Matt asks, his palm roaming over my shoulder in a comforting gesture. I peek up at him, easily falling into those deep brown eyes once more. But honestly, Matt is safe, sweet, and yes, probably normal, but I can’t meet his eyes for long.
Because, Grayson.
For all his faults, deep down, the hopeless romantic in me is screaming to shut up. Don’t second guess Grayson. Trust him blindly.
Easier said then done.
“Even if I wasn’t scared of him cheating,” I whisper, “I’m scared of him. Of telling him. He’s... intense.”
“We’ll go with you,” Ashleigh says suddenly, cupping my hands in hers. “When class ends. We’ll tell him together.”
“Today?”
“Today.” She nods. “No more waiting around to be mistreated.”
