Page 21 of Camila's Dom
She was careful to be quiet until she got out the back door, and then she stayed in the shadows and breathed a sigh of relief when she found a secluded bench surrounded by trees and bushes.She sat down, tucked her hands between her legs, and stared down at the ground.
What the hell was she going to do?Normally, she would have run to Drake, but she couldn’t this time.She couldn’t tell him about that night.It didn’t matter that she was drugged, and it was against her will.He had thought she was innocent when he married her, but if he knew what had happened, he might not be able to look past it, and then she knew she would lose everything she held dear.The fact that her sisters planned to post pictures on Facebook and Twitter made it even worse.The last thing her husband needed was for the people in his life to know and judge them.
Camila wished she remembered more than she did.She was vaguely aware of seeing her sisters and mother undressing her, but was paralyzed.She couldn’t even talk or plead with them.It was the most frightened she’d ever been.
She was in and out of consciousness.There was very little she remembered, but she was certain she’d heard two men’s voices she didn’t recognize.Ones she’d never heard before.She remembered how quickly her fear rose, and then nothing again until she woke up the next day.
It had taken her several minutes to understand that she was in her old bedroom, naked on the bed, and her head felt like it would explode.
All she knew was that she had to leave as fast as she could and without her family knowing.She wasn’t sure why she was so afraid, but her instincts were pushing her to run.
Camila had made it out of town but had to pull over when her limbs started shaking uncontrollably.She parked behind a store, closed her eyes, and made herself relax.
When she gained some control, the urgency to be farther from them drove her to leave town as quickly as possible.She planned to stop and fill up her tank, get coffee, and pick up Tylenol for her headache, but she wanted to be at least a hundred miles away from there before she stopped.
It had taken her two days to get back to her apartment, which she shared with Mandy.In that time, she tried to remember more, but everything was blank, and her head would start throbbing again.
She was hoping her friend was at work because she was still too confused, and a sickness had settled over her.She knew it wasn’t from a germ or virus, but her core feelings that she was a decent, moral person were shattered.She went over several scenarios, and they all made her physically sick.Not knowing everything that happened was one of the hardest parts.The fact that her family could do that to her was the ultimate betrayal.
After she showered, she dropped into bed.She heard Mandy get home and then pretended to be asleep when her friend opened her bedroom door, so she didn’t have to answer any questions.
Camila woke up early the next morning and got ready for work.She was out of the apartment by the time Mandy was up.
She was able to hide for three days before Mandy caught her at home.
“What’s going on?”Mandy asked, leaning against the bathroom door jamb.
Camila finished brushing her hair while keeping her back to her friend, with a towel wrapped around her torso after showering.“Nothing.”
Mandy turned her around and studied her.“What happened?”
Camila blinked several times, afraid that if she started crying, she’d never stop.“It was fine.”
Mandy crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at her.“I don’t believe you.I can see that something bad happened in your eyes.”
Camila looked down.“I ...I can’t.Not yet.”
Mandy stayed silent for a moment and then nodded.“Okay.I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”
Camila relaxed.“Thank you.”
Mandy hugged her quickly before stepping back.“I’m glad you’re back.How about ordering pizza?”
Camila nodded, thankful for her friend’s support and the fact that she was acting naturally with her.She wasn’t the least bit hungry.She hadn’t been since she’d run from her childhood home but wanted to feel normal for a few hours.“That sounds good.Can we watch a chick flick?”
Mandy grinned.“Sure.How aboutHope Floats?”
Camila smiled for the first time in days.“How many times have we watched that movie?”
“About twenty, but it never gets dull, so we’ll watch it a few more times.”Mandy chuckled as she walked away to order pizza.
She was grateful to have at least one person who cared for her.It was enough for the moment.
Camila had no idea how long she had sat in the garden before she heard someone coming her way.She debated hiding, but it was too late when her husband came around the corner.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Drake said, and crouched on his haunches and laid a hand on her thigh.“What happened?”
Her throat felt tight, and her heart galloped hard in her chest.“They’re gone.”
