Page 57 of What Is Love
“Are you all ready to order or should I wait until Roe gets back?” the waitress asked.
Reid told her that we were ready and looked to me to place my order first.
“I’m fine with just having coffee,” I said.
Bonnie nodded.
Wyatt shook his head. “Nope. You can’t come here and not get their famous waffles.”
“It’s lunchtime. Coffee is all I want,” I insisted. As hungry as I was, I couldn’t gain weight. If I did and Mother noticed—and Mother always noticed—she’d probably starve me for a week. It had been great trying all the wonderful foods and the drinks last night with them, but I had to be careful.
“You see how skinny she is,” Reid said to Wyatt. “Why are you so surprised?” Reid then quickly placed his and Roe’s orders, which were all breakfast food.
Wyatt also ordered breakfast and an extra side of waffles, which I knew he ordered for me.
After writing it all down, Bonnie left and we all noticed she had a little limp as she walked.
“Looks like Nate doesn’t even care that people know he beats her,” Wyatt said.
Reid nodded. “It’s because she won’t leave him.”
I didn’t like the judgment in his voice. He’d said “won’t” like he knew exactly what was happening behind closed doors. “Who is Nate?”
Just before taking a sip of his own coffee, Reid answered, “A Haven’s Rebel and her husband.”
His hate for the club was obvious. It was like he had to add the fact that he was a member of the Haven’s Rebels, like it explained why Nate was evil.
“I don’t get it. She should have left his ass the first time he hit her. It’s been years now of him doing that shit. She needs to pack a bag and leave,” Wyatt said.
Reid set down his mug. “It’s because she’s weak.”
His words ignited an anger I’d never felt before. Not to that magnitude. “You think it’s weak to stay with someone who beats you?”
Reid’s face hardened. “She could choose to leave, choose to fix her situation, but she doesn’t.”
“You really think she hasn’t thought about it a million times? What if she can’t leave? What if he has financial control over her? You can’t get far without money. Does she have anyone to help protect her from him when he comes looking?” I shot question after question at him.
“She could call the police,” Wyatt said.
“What if they don’t make it in time? What if they get there and they can’t do anything because it’s his word against hers? What if the reason she hasn’t tried to leave is because she thinks he’ll kill her if she ever tries?” So many questions I’d asked myself millions of times. Now they were out in the open and still they went unanswered. Both Wyatt and Reid just sat there staring. My anger dulled and raw defeat took over. “Is it really weak to live in fear every day because someone who is supposed to love you would rather hurt you?”
They didn’t answer right away. I looked from Wyatt to meet Reid’s whiskey eyes and I saw rage burning in them.
“What would a spoiled, entitled rich girl who’s never had to go without or struggle a day in her life know anything about it?” he seethed.
Everything in me seemed to shut down, snuffing out my anger. I nodded as I looked down. “You’re right. I don’t know anything.” I scooted my chair back and stood.
“Lottie,” Wyatt said as he glanced from Reid to me, looking torn.
I pulled some money out of my wallet to pay for my coffee.
“We don’t need your money,” Reid snapped.
I set the ten dollars on the table anyway and headed for the exit. I passed Roe on the way out.
“Lottie?” he said. “Where are you going?”
I didn’t answer and walked out the door.
