Cate opened her mouth to speak to me when the maître d’ announced that the cocktail hour was starting. Cate guided me inside and led me to her table as everyone around us had some food and drinks enjoying the atmosphere, but I couldn’t relax. My shoulders were tense, and I barely ate the food Cate kept appearing with.
My mom and Shawn returned and when they were announced for their first dance, everyone stood and applauded. I wanted to stay seated, but I knew I’d be crucified if I did. I moved towards the dance floor and a hand grabbed my ass hard. I yelped and jerked forwards, knocking into one of Cooper’s friends. He shoved me away from him hard and I fell back into the arms of Zane’s creepy friend.
He circled his hands on my waist and I began to panic. I couldn’t make a scene, not here, but as he leaned down and hissed in my ear, “Go on and squirm, it’ll only make me enjoy it that much more.” I struggled trying to get free when I was suddenly ripped away from him. Cooper had him by the throat.
“Stay away from her, you hear me. You go near her again I’ll chop your dick off and make you eat it.”
Cooper grabbed my hand and dragged me away and onto the dance floor. I couldn’t look at him because I didn’t know what to say, but he put his hand on my waist and his finger gently lifted my chin. He gave me a questioning look, but the touch of him had robbed me of all coherent thought. His shirt was unbuttoned, and his tie was a little loose. He was in gray and was wearing a black shirt with a light gray tie; it fitted him like a dream.
He began dancing with me and hissed in my ear, “A thank you would be nice.”
I nodded at him and swallowed. “Sorry. Thanks.” It was all I could manage as his hand tightened on my waist. I knew he’d heard me, but as soon as our dance was over, he took off with Abbi and I didn’t see him for the rest of the night.
I managed to have some fun with Cate. She made me dance with her, and we giggled as we danced around the floor. My mom even joined us for a song, and I was so glad it was Cate who’d be staying while my mom and Shawn went on their honeymoon.
I’d been careful around Shawn. I hadn’t forgiven him for hurting me, especially when it was Cooper’s fault, but I couldn’t avoid him at the wedding, and he hugged me. “I’m glad you and your mom are in my life. I know you don’t like me or how I discipline, but I know that’s just because I’m the authority figure in your life now.”
I merely nodded and moved away from him, almost running into Zane. “I haven’t had a dance yet,” he said as he dragged me onto the dance floor. We danced around for a few minutes, and then he turned and walked away from me without a word. Abbi sidled up beside me, hissing in my ear as I was leaving the dance floor.
“So, you’re related to the boys now!” I shrugged at her, and she grabbed my arm, digging her nails in. “You’ll stay away from Cooper.” She dragged her hand away and I had a cut on the underside of my arm.
I thought no one would miss me, so I went into the house and bumped into Cooper as I climbed the stairs.
“Hey.” He smiled at me and I almost missed the step. He’d never once been nice to me and my shock must have shown on my face because his eyes narrowed. “I thought I’d try and be nice to you, but never mind.” He barged by me, knocking into my shoulder hard as he took off and I lost my footing and fell backward. I landed awkwardly on my shoulder and screamed out in pain. I tried to pant through it, but I couldn’t. My shoulder felt like someone was running me through with a scalding blade and my vision blurred as I tried to stand up.
Cooper came back around the corner and saw the look on my face. I was holding my arm awkwardly, and as he leaned towards me, I shrunk away in fear and his face tightened.
“Come on, Bailey. I’m not that scary.” He helped me up and supported my weight as my vision blurred. Every movement burned and I wanted to scream, but he managed to get me into my room.
As I sat down, he popped my shoulder into place without warning me, making me scream loudly. As the pain slowly receded, he sat beside me on the bed. “I’ve really done a number on you, huh?” He touched my cheek gently wiping away the residual tears. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a colossal dick to you. I never thought you’d be afraid of me touching you.” He stood and walked towards the door, pausing on the threshold.
As he stopped, I found my voice. “Thank you.” He turned back and stared at me before nodding at me and closing the door softly. My shoulder was still stiff, but thankfully wasn’t so sore anymore, and when I went back down to the wedding, Cooper and Abbi were gone.
The rest of the night passed quickly and when my mom and Shawn left, I breathed out a deeper breath than I had in weeks. When I went to bed that night, I was looking forward to a few weeks where I didn’t have to walk around on eggshells so much.
I spent my days reading, running, and avoiding my stepbrothers. It was cathartic and I enjoyed the fact that Cate didn’t need to know where I was every second of the day. She trusted me and that meant so much to me.
The next two weeks were amazing and flew by, I relaxed in the house for the first time and I spent most of my free time with Cate or reading. She even arranged for Wendy to come over and my reunion with my best friend, although frosty at first because she felt like I’d abandoned her, was a welcome distraction.
She stayed over one weekend and I explained everything that had happened. She held me while I sobbed telling her about Shawn hitting me and my mom refusing to acknowledge Louis. Wendy’s lips pursed and she stood up and began pacing furiously.
“I don’t get it. She said you were lying?”
When I only nodded at her, she froze and turned to me.
“Who does that? What kind of parent wants to forget her child was ever born?” She muttered in a low, horrified voice.
I was at a loss because I didn’t understand it either.
“I don’t know. I sometimes wonder if anyone would remember me if I died? I mean it hurts so much that she denies that Louis existed. Would she do the same to me?”
Wendy shrugged and then brought out her cell.
“I have to go home, now. Keep in touch with me and text me whenever you need to talk.” Just after she left my cell chirruped with a message from Wendy and she promised she’d be back. I was still upset and moped in my room that night. My mom and Shawn were due back the next day, so I was on edge, despite having finally told someone about what was happening, and have them believe me.
As I sat and stared out of the window, the door sounded, and Cooper came into my room. “Cate’s asking for you?” I nodded to show I’d heard him but stayed where I was, staring out of the window. I heard him move across the room and crouch beside me. “What ya looking at?” he asked softly as he reached out putting his hand over mine.
The heat from his hand burned into mine and I looked into his eyes answering before I even thought about censoring my thoughts.
“I was looking at the stars. It makes me feel close to Louis to know that he’s up there and watching me. At least I hope he is.” He squeezed my hand and smiled as I glanced over at him.
“That’s a nice way to look at it. When my mom died, I just wanted her back more than anything and I hated that I couldn’t have her back.”