Page 101 of Drown My Sorrow

“The rain isn’t going to hurt you. It’s a light shower.”

I pant and struggle, but he doesn’t let go, instead leading us off the tarmac and to the waiting cab.

I don’t know where we are, but it doesn’t look like the islands anymore. It’s huge, and the climate feels different, too. Colder, the air feels much colder and crisp, without the heat and humidity I have grown used to.

“Put me down!” I whimper, but Kelly is remorseless.

He gets me inside the cab and drags me onto his lap so the others can squeeze in. Luckily, it’s some kind of minivan.

The rain gets louder, and I throw myself at Kelly, locking my arms around his neck and burying my face in his throat. He’s a wall of strength that smells like tequila and safety. At the moment, I don’t care what he’s done. I just need that safe space.

He holds me while I tremble.

“It’s okay. It’s just rain. It’s going to stop. All rain does in the end,” Kelly mumbles.

“Why are we letting him do this again?” Beau asks.

“Associating rain with the safe surfer. Psychology 101,” Keagan says with a laugh.

I know it’s a manipulation technique, but I don’t even care right now.

“Also, Kelly gets all beat up, and we don’t,” Beau says thoughtfully.

I snarl, and Kelly’s arms around me tighten, his hands soothing down my back in steady, circular movements.

We arrive at a hotel, and I’m carried inside and taken into the bathroom, where Kelly hesitantly starts stripping me out of my clothes. He nudges me towards the shower, but I’m too busy staring up at him.

“Why didn’t you come and find me? If you wanted me like you said you did?”

Kelly swallows. I watch the movement of his Adam's apple and then look back up. I can’t see his eyes, but his face looks sad, and that surprises me.

“Because I wasn’t strong enough to protect you.”

“From who?”

Kelly sighs and then steps into the shower. He’s fully clothed, but I still step back, reluctantly going with him, under the hot spray. He washes my hair, rubbing my scalp in gentle circles.

“My uncle is a very bad man, and I didn’t realise how much he hated me until we found you.”

The contrast between his dark confession and the intimate feel of him washing me is completely messing with my head.

“Your uncle? The one who owns the record label?”

“Technically, he doesn’t own it. It’s mine, well, the family’s, but he runs it.”

“Why aren’t you running it?”

“Because…”

He trails off, and I stare up at him. Comprehension dawns slowly.

“Did you give it up for me? Is that what you meant?”

“It was worth it,” Kelly mutters.

The world shifts and shifts again. Kelly gave up his family legacy for me? For broken, pathetic me? And never even hoped that we’d be together?

“I don’t understand. You didn’t like me when you met me again.”