Page 152 of Feels Like Home

I nod butdon’treally know. “Yeah. But I don’t understand why he’s a factor,” Iadmit.

“Well, I didn’t at first, either. In fact, I didn’t know it until just recently. As in,yesterday.”

“Mom. Please just tell me what’s happening. You’re making me supernervous.”

“I’m just going to explain it as best I can and with all the details. Just listen to me and don’t interrupt. You can ask questionslater.”

“Mom.”

“Yeah. Okay. So. Andy caught Heather having sex withPreston.”

I nod because, of course, I know thatmuch.

“Right. So, what I just found out is that Preston is Dawson’s olderbrother.”

“What?” I ask, my voice barely above awhisper.

“I know. Little punk following his older douchebag brother. Man, I hate that family,” she saysangrily.

“So, what does that have to do with us, though? I mean, aside from the crazy coincidence.Wait…”

“What?”

“It’s just… that night that, you know.” I gesture up and down my body, and she closes her eyes. We haven’t talked very much about the night Dawson wouldn’t takenofor ananswer.

Grady and I had gone to the field party together, just like every other week. But that night I was pissed at Grady for not realizing that I wanted more. I’ve been in love with Grady since I was eleven yearsold.

Dawson had been asking me out on a date for a few years, and I always turned him down. It wasn’t only Dawson who I wasn’t interested in. It was every other guy who didn’t go by the name of Grady Ryan. He was my only andforever.

That night, Dawson cornered me. Luckily, he didn’t get far — though he definitely got far enough. He gripped my arms and wouldn’t let go then jammed his disgusting tongue down my throat. I tried to move my head away from him, and that’s when he got reallypissed.

“You’re such a fucking tease, Bri. No wonder your mom couldn’t hold on to her husband. I bet you learned everything from her,huh?”

“What?” I ask, continuing to try to push himaway.

“That’s right. My older brother told me all aboutit.”

“Told you what?” I ask again, genuinelyconfused.

He smiles a smarmy smile then grabs me again; he yanks my body against his so quickly I lose my footing, slamming intohim.

“I knew you’d come aroundeventually.”

“No. Stop,” I plead, tears already streaming down myface.

I push and squirm, trying to get away, but he is toostrong.

He reaches around, grabbing my butt in his hands and squeezeshard.

“It’s gonna be so much fun breaking you in. I bet Grady hasn’t done it yet, hashe?”

I use the heel of my hand to hit him in the nose, and the next thing I know he has me on the ground. When I continue to fight, he slaps me across thecheek.

“Stop fighting, and it’ll be so much more fun. I promise.” He grinds his pelvis against my center, and I whimper, begging him to listen to me. To stop. “Oh, come on, Bri. I’ll show you what you’ve been missing, hanging around Grady like a lost littlepuppy.”

“Stop. No. Dawson, please. You don’t want to dothis.”

“What the hell?” Someone shouts, and suddenly Dawson’s body is lifted offmine.

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