Page 77 of What Is Love
“Where is she hurt?” Roe questioned with a hint of disbelief. “I didn’t…” He trailed off as he thought it over, probably remembering all the times I had winced today.
From the heavy sigh Wyatt let out, I knew he was going to answer him. “She has bruises all over. There’s a really bad one on her side where her ribs are.”
Roe went a little pale before he got very angry. Every inch of him went still except for his hands, which fisted. “Was it Brandon?”
Freaking out, I didn’t immediately deny it.
He ran his hands down his face. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
The fear of him doing such a thing gave me the courage to say, “It was Clay.” My voice came out cracked and just above a whisper.
Roe looked at me, scowling. “What?”
I knew his rage wasn’t directed at me, but it was still hard to see it. “It wasn’t Brandon. It was Clay,” I said a little louder.
Wyatt came to stand next to Roe. “Who is that?”
“My mother’s boyfriend,” I answered numbly. I couldn’t run—I couldn’t handle what was happening. So I was shutting down. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“I think you all should table this for now,” Reid said, shocking the hell out of me. He was the last person I would’ve expected to suggest that.
Roe didn’t look like he wanted to.
The floor creaked and Reid appeared next to me. “Why don’t we go for a walk, Roe.”
Roe was about to protest, but Reid spoke before he could. “She’ll be fine here with Wyatt.”
Hearing his name, Wyatt perked up and inched toward me. “Have you ever cooked before?”
I shook my head.
“Then you can sit on the counter and watch, because apparently I suck at teaching,” Wyatt said with a fake grumble.
“He acts like Gordon Ramsay if you cut one thing wrong,” Reid said.
“If you don’t cut the veggies the same size, they don’t cook evenly,” Wyatt argued.
I knew the two of them were trying to lighten the mood. To see even Reid trying made me feel like this was all a bad dream.
Reid put his hand on Roe’s shoulder. “Let’s get some air.”
Roe was clearly still reluctant, but the two of them left through the front door.
“Would you feel better sitting in a chair?” Wyatt asked. “I can bring one into the kitchen if you want.”
“I’m fine standing,” I said.
“You sure?”
I nodded. “I just need to use the bathroom first.”
“All right,” he said, and watched me head down the hall that led to the bathroom and bedrooms.
I flipped on the light and shut the bathroom door without going into it. Right next to it was Roe’s room. I dashed into there, leaving the lights off. I knew my phone and keys were on his desk. I was able to find them in the dark right away. Before goingback into the hall, I listened. The sound of the fridge opening and closing told me Wyatt was back in the kitchen. As quietly as I could, I snuck down the hall, back into the living room, and out the front door.
When I didn’t see Roe and Reid right outside, I knew they had actually gone on a walk. I got into my car and didn’t waste any time driving away.
Chapter Twenty-One
