Page 136 of Brassy Bigwig

“I know, and that makes it harder.”

She’s scaring me a little bit. Finally, she covers her eyes with her hand and speaks again.

“A few days ago, he woke me up in the middle of the night because he was horny, and he wanted to roleplay. It wasn’t unlike him to do this, but this time was very different.” She stops talking and exhales loudly.

“Different how?” I encourage her to continue.

“Reed wanted me to pretend I was you.”

What?

“Are you joking?” I know she’s not. I don’t know why I asked her that.

“It was so weird, and I didn’t want to, but he got that look in his eye again. Only this time, it was more than just anger. He was terrifying, Chloe.”

“Shelby, I’m so sorry any of this happened to you. Why didn’t you say anything? I would have helped you get rid of him.”

Knowing now what Reed was capable of, I’m not certain I would have been able to help Shelby get away from him. But I would have at least tried. For my best friend, I would have fought with everything I had.

“I was scared,” she whispered, as more tears roll down her face. “It took everything in my power to pretend I was okay. And I tried to be.”

“My god,” I cry. “How self-absorbed was I that I didn’t notice this going on?”

“No, he put on such a good act, Chlo. He even had me fooled a few times. I knew something wasn’t right yesterday when he woke me up and surprised me with breakfast and a spa day. But I wanted to believe everything was fine, so I went with it.”

To see my strong and confident best friend doubting herself so severely because of that asshole, makes me angry. I have to remind myself he’s dead to feel even the slightest bit better.

“What happened in that house, Chloe?” She gives me a sorrowful look. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

I still don’t remember everything that happened, but I remember enough. I just don’t know if I can talk about it yet.

“I want to tell you, Shel. But I just can’t yet.”

She brings her hand to my cheek as more tears come.

“I love you, poophead,” she smiles as she cries harder. “And I’m so happy you’re okay.”

“I love you, back,” I tell her.

But I am far from being okay.

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