Page 70 of Retaking the Shot
I saw Ford swallow, and he hesitated. I didn’t know why he’d broken up with Tyler and I wasn’t sure why it mattered, but I let him keep going.
“You see”—he rubbed the back of his neck—“you’d just gotten your camera for your upcoming photojournalism class and you said something along the lines of using it to take pictures of us in your bedroom.”
“Okay?” Tyler and Hayden shared a confused look, but I finally understood where Ford was going with his reasoning.
Ford took a deep breath. “When I was in high school, my best friend at the time filmed me without me knowing while he …”
I grabbed Ford’s hand and laced our fingers.
“He got me drunk and we fooled around. I’d never done anything like that before and I was curious. When he wanted more, I said no, except I drank so much that I passed out while we watched a movie. When I woke up, he was …”
I squeezed his hand again, and he looked up at me with sad eyes. I knew it was hard for him, but he kept going.
“He was raping me.”
All I could hear was the thumping of my heart in my ears as Tyler and Hayden let Ford’s words sink in. I was instantly pissed and wanted to beat the shit out of Tim again.
“He recorded us messing around and sent it to everyone at school.” Ford took a deep breath, then when no one said anything, he continued. “So, when you wanted to take pictures of us, I freaked out because the memory came flooding back. I had to get out of?—”
In a rush, Tyler stood and engulfed Ford in his arms. My hand dropped from Ford’s as he and Tyler hugged.
“I had no idea that happened to you,” Tyler stated.
“No one did.”
Tyler pulled back. “But you have to know I would have never done something like that to you.”
“In hindsight, of course I do, but in that moment, I was still broken. Still scared.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me pictures weren’t your thing?”
Ford shrugged. “Since I was betrayed by someone close to me, I felt as though I couldn’t fully trust anyone. Not until Coop.” We smiled slightly at each other. “The camera had triggered me and I couldn’t move past it.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Ford,” Hayden added. “But are you also saying that’s the reason you reported me to the dean?”
“No.” Ford shook his head. “I did that out of pure spite because I was jealous of you. I’m extremely sorry.”
I cleared my throat and everyone looked at me. “Since I’ve known Ford and have known of his past and trauma, I know he is being very real with you both.”
“I am, and it’s not only because I’m dating Coop, but also, it’s for me. For my healing.”
“And what happened to your knuckles?” Hayden asked me once again.
I glanced at Ford and beamed. “I kicked the guy’s ass last night.”
“The guy who raped you?” Tyler asked Ford.
Ford nodded. “Yep.”
“Holy shit,” Hayden breathed. “What happened?”
“How about I tell you two about it while we eat?” I suggested.
I knew it would take time, but it finally felt as though everything between the four of us would work out, and that was a damn good feeling.
21
Ford
