Page 43 of Betraying Bexley

Freedom accepted her.

“Here.” Alé wrapped a warm blanket around her shoulders. “You look so happy right now.”

She felt happy. “I could stay here forever.”

“Yeah,” he whispered. “I understand. So could I.”

She snuggled into his embrace, taking in the moment. The warmth filling her chest spread through her. This was what it was like to be wanted. To be seen as an equal, not as someone in the way. She glanced up at him then followed his gaze out to sea. Did he see what she did? Did he understand her? In some ways, they—Bronx and Alé—were like her. They were cast outs. They were foster kids who probably came from broken homes where no one loved them. She understood them. People like her gravitated toward others like her.

“Let’s go. I bet Bronx has everything set up now.” Alé nudged her toward the stairs going toward the beach below.

“W-What?” Bex grabbed the railing on the way down, so not to trip and fall.

“You’ll see. Trust us.” Alé kept his hand on her back on the way down, giving her a boost of security, she needed.

When she came to the sandy edge of the staircase and beach, she took a tentative step onto it and gasped. Her foot sank into the sand, yet it held her weight. The give changed with each step she took and when she lost her balance, Alé picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. The words for him to let her go and to not take his offer of help, sat on the tip of her tongue. She’d been so used to doing everything on her own, having someone help, again, was foreign to her.

“There, look,” he whispered. The sound of his voice vibrated in his chest and Bex closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.

“Took you long enough.”

Bex's eyes flew open. The giant blanket Bronx laid out had strategically placed lanterns around it holding it down. Though the wind whipped up on the cliff, down below it settled into a mellow breeze, yet still cold as hell. Bronx sat in the middle of the blanket with her feet tucked under her and her shoes beside her, so as not to get sand onto the blanket. When Alé placed Bex beside Bronx, she took off her shoes and did as Bronx did. Surprisingly, the blanket was warm too.

“H-How?”

“It’s a portable heated blanket. I thought it would be perfect for something like this.” Bronx scooted closer to Bex. “So, what do you think?”

“I d-don’t want to g-go home.” Sitting there, she could forget about how shitty her life was and enjoy herself.

“Yeah, I said the same thing the first time I came here.” Bronx nodded. “I’ll make a pact with you. Whenever you want to come here, provided it’s not raining or snowing, we’ll come.”

“O-Okay.” Bex swallowed hard. “N-Now w-what d-do we do?”

“I’m glad you asked.” Alé turned her face so her attention was on him. “I enjoyed our kiss earlier.” He brushed his lips over hers. “You were our good luck charm this afternoon.” He kissed her again, this time settling in.

Bex fisted her hands in her lap while Alé moved his lips over hers. It was hot and made her tingle. She itched to touch him, but held back, unsure of what he wanted. As if sensing the war she waged with herself, he rested her hands on his thighs. She clung to him, inching closer. Then, she pulled back. The last time she’d done anything of the sort, it ended up online. She’d become the laughingstock of the school and lost her leg in the proceeding events. No, she wouldn’t allow that to happen again. She lost so much afterward.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Bronx whispered. “You’re here with us.”

She shook her head, her hand pressed to her mouth. “I-I c-can’t.”

“Is it the video?” Alé hedged.

She whimpered. They knew. They’d seen it. Tears burned the corners of her eyes. “W-We s-s-should g-go.”

“We don’t care,” Bronx said. “It’s fucked up you got filmed. You shouldn’t have been violated.”

“I-I-I—”

“We’d never make you do anything you don’t want to do or do anything to make you feel uncomfortable.” Alé took her hand. “I hate it. I want to kick their asses all over again for you.”

“Y-You s-s-should h-hate m-me.”

“Pfft.” Alé smirked. “Not even close, chiquita.”

“D-Did y-you c-call me a b-banana?” Bex hiccupped a laugh.

Bronx laughed. “Smooth one, Alé.”

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