Page 28 of Ruined
Another batch of tears filled my eyes as I recalled how humiliating and invasive those exams were. I could still feel the cold sheets beneath me, gloved hands on me. Could still hear the endless questions. All I’d wanted to do was yell at them to leave me alone, so I could curl up and just be.
“He said I liked it rough.”
“I can’t freaking believe this,” she mumbled to herself. Pushing to her feet, she started pacing in front of me. “So he simply gets to walk free and do what?” Kenzie stopped mid-step, her mouth slightly ajar, her eyes wide. “The threat to the gallery, that was him?”
“Yes,” I finally admitted. “He’s been stalking me ever since. Of course, I can’t prove anything.”
“But you said he sent you a message.”
With a sigh, I raked my fingers through my hair. “He is using software to hide his IP address, and somehow every message he sends me disappears soon after I’ve read it.”
“This is bad.” She reached for the butterfly pendant around her neck, swishing the delicate insect back and forth. “How are your parents taking this?”
My tongue slid over my suddenly dry lips. “They don’t know. I couldn’t bring myself to tell them when they’re already on the verge of insanity. This thing with Adam hit them hard.” I loved my parents dearly; they were the best a girl could have. Unfortunately, whenever anything bad happened to either me or my brother, they’d blame themselves. Hell, to this day they thought it was their fault that—
“Zoe, you have to tell someone.”
Shaking my head, I asked, “What good is it going to do? People have already made up their minds about me.”
I blinked and Kenzie was crouched down in front of me. “This isn’t you. You’ve never backed away from a fight before.”
Pushing past her, I got to my feet. As I turned, I caught sight of my reflection in the full-length mirror. “Yeah, well, people change.” Wasn’t that the truth? I hardly recognized the woman staring back at me. I’d always been a little bit broken, I’d accepted it, embraced it. But now I was lost, too. Most days, I didn’t know up from down.
I closed my eyes, took a breath and turned to face my friend again. “Kenz, I don’t want you to try to fix this. This is my mess and I must get out of it on my own. Promise me you won’t do or say anything.”
Her eyes glistened as she shook her head, “You can’t ask me that.”
“Promise me,” I insisted.
I held her gaze as the silence stretched between us. If she thought for one second that I would let her jeopardize her newfound happiness for me, she was wrong. Kenzie had fought her way through enough of her own demons, I wasn’t going to let her join in on my fight too.
She must have seen the determination in my eyes because, with a heavy sigh, she finally said, “Fine, I promise.”
The bell above the door chimed, startling us both. Still holding on to the door, Harper stood on the threshold, her confused gaze flitting between me and Kenzie. “Uh, you said…” She shook her head. “Is this a good time?”
Kenzie glanced at me, I was certain she was checking if I was okay. My suspicion was confirmed when her shoulders visibly relaxed when I nodded. “Your timing is perfect,” she chirped as she walked to the entrance to hug Harper. “What brings you in today?”
“Oh,” Harper said. “I was cleaning up this morning and found that coloring book Molly has been looking for. Somehow it had landed in Flynn’s toy bin.”
“Poor kid has been looking for it for days.”
As I listened to the pair of them, something felt off, almost as if their conversation was scripted. Or maybe it was just my imagination.
“I was hoping you’d be able to give it to her,” Harper went on. “It’s going to be a busy day at the shelter, I don’t think I’ll have time.”
“I’m pretty swamped myself,” Kenzie said. “But maybe Zoe can give it to Eli at the station.”
And there it is. Crossing my arms in front of me, I narrowed my eyes and glared at the two women expectantly staring at me. “No.”
“Come on, the sheriff’s station is just down the road.” Smiling wide, Kenzie batted her lashes.
Harper nervously looked between my friend and me. She then shoved the book into Kenzie’s hands. “I’ll just let the two of you sort out the details. Kay, bye.” I’d never seen anyone make such a speedy exit.
“It’ll only take a few minutes. Pretty please?” Begging did not suit my friend at all.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you are doing.” Pivoting, I started walking toward the little kitchen in the back, but Kenzie intercepted me.
“So I want to get you and Eli in the same room…Where’s the harm in that?”
I stopped walking and threw my arms up in the air. “Did you conveniently forget everything I just told you?”
She had the audacity to roll her freaking eyes at me. “No, I didn’t. I happen to think that Eli and his daughter are exactly what you need right now.” She looked down at the book in her hands before shoving it against my chest. “When you leave my shop, turn right. The sheriff’s station is on the corner of Main and South Street. You can’t miss it.”
Without another word, she spun on her heels, marched to the back room and shut the door behind her.
With furrowed brows I looked down at the book in my hands, Kenzie’s words ringing in my ears. Spending time with Molly had definitely lifted my spirits, and Eli…well he was Eli, the only man that had been able to stay firmly lodged in my mind.
Maybe Kenzie was right? Where was the harm in spending time with someone who made you feel…normal?
