Page 73 of Echoes of You

I sank onto the couch, and my eyes went wide. “This is like sitting on a cloud.”

Grae jumped and landed next to me. “I know the importance of styleandcomfort. We just need some photos around here.”

Wren sat on my opposite side. “There’s plenty of time for that. And we can help you pick out frames.”

I looked at both of them. I didn’t deserve either of them, but I was so danged glad I had them anyway. So, I did what I should’ve done from the beginning and spilled my truth.

“Adam was abusive.” I squeezed my hands tight, watching the blood disappear from around my knuckles. “It didn’t start out that way. I don’t even know when it started.” I released my grip, and the blood came rushing back. “Little things. Putting me down, questioning who I was talking to, making me believe he was the only person I truly had in my corner.”

The room had gone deathly silent, and I forced my gaze toward my friends. I saw grief streaked across Wren’s expression, but Grae’s eyes were full of fury. “Did he hit you?”

A tear escaped. I quickly wiped it away but nodded. “Right before I left, he threw me into a wall and broke three of my ribs.”

“That mother trucker, I am going to castrate him with a butter knife,” Grae growled.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. I laughed so hard tears trailed down my face. “You terrify me, you know that? You and your obsession with knives.”

“It’s him I want to terrify.” She breathed deeply, bracing. “Tell us the rest.”

So, I told them everything while we huddled close on the couch.

I let out a shuddering breath. “I was so ashamed.”

Wren’s eyes flashed. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. Asshole Adam is the only one who deserves to feel shame. You know what? He doesn’t even deserve a name. I’m just calling him Asshole from now on.”

“I’ll go with Douche Canoe since I’m trying to keep it mostly clean for the little monsters,” Grae said.

I worried the corner of my lip. “I let it happen to me again.”

Wren took my hand in hers. “It’s easy to let your mind get warped by someone who paints pretty lies.”

Shadows passed over Grae’s eyes. “And it’s easy to believe a relationship is something it isn’t just because you want it so badly.”

Grae’s words were heavy with experience that I wanted to ask her about, but the shadows were gone a second later, and she was leaning closer to me. “It’s going to take time to heal and see the truth as it really is. But we’ll be there for you every step of the way.”

“We will,” Wren echoed.

And I believed them. I leaned into Grae. “Have I told you lately that I love you guys?”

She wrapped me in a hug. “Maybe. But it’s always nice to hear it again.”

24

NASH

I wrappedmy arm around Maddie, tugging her close and breathing in that faint peach and vanilla scent. I didn’t give a damn that we were standing outside The Brew, and locals would likely gossip about the two of us. The need to hold her was too strong.

I hated the idea of her working here unprotected all day. But Maddie was determined, which was nothing new. My girl was stubborn and refused to let anyone down.

“I’ll be fine. I promise. I’ll be surrounded by people all day. It’s not like Adam will do anything in public. He values his reputation too much.”

But hewoulddo something in private. Those were the words Maddie didn’t say. That hehadhurt her.

That was never going to happen again.

I pulled back so that I could meet Maddie’s gaze. “You’ll call if you see him?”

“Promise.”

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