Page 121 of Losing the Rhythm

“I’ll get you upstairs and then let him out,” Justin said. Gently, he helped me up the stairs and didn’t leave me alone until I was in the bathroom. “I’ll be back with your medicine.”

He didn’t even have to ask.

“Thanks,” I mumbled and turned to the bath, getting the water as hot as possible before filling the tub.

I sat on the toilet seat. As soon as I was sitting alone with my thoughts, it all hit me tenfold.

I had almost been raped. Two men attacked me with intent to sexually assault me. One of my classmates had told them all about me and the rumors. They said as much as they talked about another girl. And the cameras. Holy shit, they were going to film my rape and blackmail me with it.

Groaning, unable to hold it in anymore, I leaned forward and covered my mouth as I cried. Sobs wracked through me hard, making my whole body shake.

I had almost been raped.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Another sob broke out, and I nearly choked, trying to breathe, trying to not cry, shaking so hard I almost fell off the seat.

“Cadence!” Justin’s strong arms wrapped around me and held me against him. “You’re okay. I’m here. You’re okay.”

“A-am I-I?” I stuttered out, unable to ask what I wanted to ask. Talking was too hard. There was not enough breath in me to do it.

“We’ll make it so you can be okay,” Justin replied.

He kept holding me close, talking me through a breathing exercise. He only moved away from me when he had to turn off the water before the tub overflowed.

“Thank you,” I said softly, having trouble meeting his eyes.

“Hey.” Justin knelt on the floor in front of me and cupped my chin, forcing me to look at him. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Shit happened to you, not because of you. And everyone is now trying to move hell to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Aunt Laura is friends with everyone in the police department. Those guys are done for. They won’t be able to just walk away with a slap on the wrist. And Toby just messaged me. He got a text from Mr. Davies for Toby to let you know that he’s helping too. They buried themselves, especially since…” Justin paused, his jaw tightening briefly. He blew out a breath. “Especially since they were recording the whole thing, so they can’t try to explain away anything, not when there’s video proof. They shot themselves in the foot trying to record it all. And the girl who told them about you, they’ll find her.”

I held on to Justin’s words like they were a life vest keeping me afloat before I drowned.

“Okay. Get out so I can take a bath.”

“Take your medicine first.” He pointed to the counter. My pills and a cup of water with ice sat there.

“I will.”

Justin kissed my forehead before standing up. “The others should be here soon if not already. I’ll hold them back while you take a bath. Take your time.”

“Thank you.”

Justin closed the door softly, leaving me alone, but this time, I didn’t feel overwhelmed with the thought.

Slowly, I undressed and crawled into the hot tub, letting the warmth soak through me, driving away the cold that seemed to fill me. I sighed and leaned, too tired to do much else.

Chapter Thirty-eight

~Paxon’s POV~

Rage crashed through me as I tucked Calvin into my car. I was supposed to be on a victory high, planning on where to go to celebrate our win. Instead, when the game ended and we headed toward the locker room only to see all the emergency lights, I was hit with the fact that once again, I wasn’t there for Cadence.

“Paxon,” Toby said in a warning.

I straightened from making sure Calvin was comfortable. “What?”

Toby was looking to our left. I followed his gaze to spot fucking Benji. He was by his car with some of the soccer team around.

Benji looked over at us and smirked. With the parking lot lamps shining on him, it only made it seem even more sinister, especially after what nearly happened to Cadence.

“Seems you guys aren’t enough for her,” he said in a louder voice, drawing in snickers from our teammates. I looked at the small group. Four of them. All talented players. I was supposed to be part of them too, but this year just hadn’t felt right whenever I went to practice.

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