Page 102 of Bottles & Blades

But worse that it took us a while to figure it out.

Because she’s always hated me. Because the change was a death by a thousand cuts, slowly getting worse and worse.

Until that first day she hit me.

Sharp words? Yes.

Sharp nails and smacking palms and clenched fists making contact with me? No.

Stefan had seen the aftermath. I’d cried into his arms and he’d helped me get this care plan together.

And now it’s not enough.

I’ve felt the strain for months now, deluding myself, thinking it wasn’t that bad, that I could handle it.

But he’s getting worse, and so is she.

And…

You’re not alone anymore.

I want that to be true.

I want to just let Jean-Michel swoop in and solve all my problems, fairy godfather style.

But he’s already done so much and he has so much on his plate and?—

You’re not alone anymore.

I bite back a sigh as my eyes fill with tears, and fight against the relief that has me wanting to curl up into Jean-Mi’s arms and let him take care of everything.

I’ve fought for my life, for my freedom and independence.

I can’t give it up now.

Except…this feels less like giving up my freedom and more like bolstering it.

Because I don’t have to be strong alone.

“Since you’re not going to leave until Nancy gets here,” my dad says, “how about you tell me about that man out there and why he’s got you so much in your head.”

I still, glance over at him. “I don’t know what you mean,” I lie.

“Precious girl,” he says, not buying that in the least.

“He’s a friend,” I hedge.

My dad’s eyes warm. “Bullshit.”

“I hardly know him,” I whisper. “It’s been…” I can’t tell him it’s only been days because that makes me sound even more insane than I feel when I stop and think about all that’s happened between Jean-Mi and me. “It hasn’t been long and?—”

“He looks at you like you hold his entire world in the palm of your hands.”

I inhale sharply. “Dad, it’s not like that.” A lie. “We’re just starting off, and I don’t know where we’re going.” Truth. “And anyway, I want to talk about you.”

“And if I want to talk abouthim?”

“Jean-Michel’s a good man and I like him a lot,” I murmur. “That’s all I’m ready to talk about for now.”

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