“I shouldn’t have let it get so far. But…” She sniffles and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. “At first… I thought maybe it was me. Something I was doing wrong. But as time went on, no matter what I did…” she trails off shaking her head.
“What is it, Lexi? What happened?”
Her eyes finally lift to mine, and the pain and hurt are so visceral that I can almost feel it myself. I hate seeing her like this. To everyone else, she may seem quiet and maybe even cold, but to me, she is so loving, down to earth, and funny.
She takes a deep breath gathering her courage. “I left because… he hits me, Shay.”
I take a slow, deep intake of breath. I had a feeling from the bruises I had seen on her before. But she always had a good excuse. And if I would have questioned her or accused him, I knew at that time, she might have withdrawn from me. And I could have lost my friend.
“How long?” I ask. It’s honestly the only words I can come up with right now. I’m furious. At him for doing this to my beautiful friend. And at her for not telling me.
“A while,” she responds. I look at her and remain quiet. Her eyes are still downcast at her clasped hands in her lap. I still don’t say anything. When her eyes hesitantly lift to mine, my brow lifts questioningly. “A long while,” is all she says.
My hand continues to rub circles on her back. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re safe now and you do not have to ever go back to that. You can’t,” I say.
Slowly she drops her head on my shoulder again and I can feel the tears soaking into my shirt. I lay my cheek on her head. I’m just thankful she got away. Too many times I’ve heard of women being killed in that type of situation.
“Please tell me you’re not going to go back,” I say quietly. She shakes her head while still resting on my shoulder. I breathe a sigh of relief.
After settling Lexi into her room, I sit on my bed and rest my arms on my knees with my head in my hands. She cried for a long time and wore herself out. All I can think now isWhat the actual fuck!
I knew she had changed significantly over the last year. Our time together had grown few and far between, but I thought it was just our schedules being so different. At least that’s what she kept telling me.
I had seen the bruises a couple of times, but when I questioned her, she gave me excuses that made sense. I guess I really just wanted to believe—or, better, I didn't want to believe what I thought.
I’m still letting my imagination run wild with everything she said when my phone vibrates on my bedside table. I heave a heavy breath and reach over and grab it. I see the handsome facesmiling at me from the screen as I swipe the green button to answer Camden’s call.
“Hey, Princess. How was your day?” he asks me in his deep voice. Just hearing his calming voice makes me smile even if just a little.
“Hey, baby. It’s been…” I think about how I’m going to tell him that my best friend and one of his close friends have been abused for at least the last year. Hell, I don’t even know how long it’s been going on. “…enlightening, to say the least,” I finish.
Camden’s end of the line goes quiet. “Do tell,” he says, sounding curious. I chuckle at him. He knows me better than anyone. We’ve known each other since we were young.
“Lexi finally showed up,” I tell him. “She’s… not herself to say the least.”
“What do you mean? What’s wrong?” He asks, now sounding concerned.
I release a heavy sigh and lay back on the bed with my feet still on the floor. “It’s bad, Cam. Real bad. I feel terrible. I should have seen this. I should have noticed.”
I can tell by the change in his voice that he’s paying close attention and he’s also worried. “Notice what, Shayna. What’s going on?” He asks.
“You know she left Jason, right?”
“About time she left that piece of shit,” he replies.
“She… “ I hesitate, taking a deep breath, because I know Cam is about to get really angry. “She left him because he hit her,” I finish quietly, hoping to lessen the blow.
“What?” he asks in a low, deep growl. He’s mad. Lexi has been my best friend for a couple of years now and he knows I care for her deeply. And not just as a friend either.
Camden and I have tried the polyamorous relationship before but it didn’t work. The girl, Alyssa, couldn’t handle the both of us. We talked about Lexi but we didn’t want to bring it upwhile she was with Jason. We’ve flirted before and joked around when we’ve been drinking but nothing serious.
I know Cam has feelings for her as well, but he isn’t open about them. I can tell though and I’m okay with it. I think he’s just nervous because of Alyssa.
“She told me tonight. She broke down in tears, Cam,” I say with tears pooling in my eyes. The anger and pain start rising again. “I’m so fucking angry,” I grit out.
I hear Cam take a deep breath and then release it. “I know, Princess. I am too. But she’s away from him now. Let’s focus on getting her feeling better and looking to the future,” he says and I know he’s right.
“Okay,” I finally say in a quiet voice. We sit there listening to each other breathe for a few moments before I speak again.
