Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas (summer beach reads txt) 📗

if you ever said anything to anyone about us?” He pulls on my hair again, and I scream, the force making my eyes water. I swear he’s going to rip it out.

"Deacon. Stop. Please," I beg.

“Stop? Why should I? I’ve warned you and warned you and you go and open your mouth to Kathleen.”

“I—” He yanks again on my hair and slams me into the sink.

“Don’t try to lie to me, sweetcheeks. I hear all. I’m not going to let you get away with what you did to me. You broke my heart. My trust. And after all I did for you. All I wanted was you and you go…” He pauses and grinds himself into me.

“No,” I cry. God, please, no.

"Don't worry, beautiful. I'm not going to fuck you now. Not after Alex has put himself in you. I'll do something much worse." He kisses my cheek and yanks on my hair before releasing me and I fall on my ass. “You’re going to wish you obeyed me,” he growls before disappearing out of the bathroom.

Hot tears stream down my face, but I don’t have time to wallow. I pick myself up and grip the edge of the sink, feeling a little woozy, and when I look in the mirror, I feel like there are three of me staring back. Each of us, red faced, blotchy, worn. I need to get out of here. Go home. Go to Alex. Even if I can’t tell him, even if I’m mad at him for telling Deacon about us. I just want to feel him one last time because now all I want to do is get out of this town for good. I can’t do this anymore. I do my best to wash my face before I head back downstairs.

Pushing through the crowd, I can still feel Deacon watching me, but I don’t care, I just need to leave.

I find Kathleen in the kitchen talking to two girls from her dance team. Annabelle and Joy. Annabelle is sweet while Joy is a vulture who hates me because of things Deacon has said. “Kathleen, I need you.” I yank her hand, pulling her away from their joyfulness laughter and to the front door without another word.

“Ju, what are you doing?” Kathleen shrieks, pulling back and halting my escape. I don’t say anything and tug on her again. "June, what's wrong?" Kathleen grabs my face and runs her thumb under my eye.

"We need to go. Now," I beg her.

"What happened? You're shaking and pale."

"Deacon."

Her eyes dart around the room in search of him. “He’s here?”

I nod.

“Shit.” She takes my hand and pulls me to the door. “Isn’t he supposed to be in Boston?” she asks as we make our way outside into the warm evening. My eyes dart around me as we race to my civic parked across the street. I'm still feeling dizzy and my vision is cloudy, but I'm determined to get back to Aunt Liz's where it's safe.

"What did he do this time?"

I shake my head, not able to tell her as we slide into my car.

“Do you need me to drive? You’re shaking.”

“No.” I just want to get home. “I’m alright.” I turn over the engine and glide out into the road. But I can’t relax yet, not till I see the gravel driveway of the farmhouse.

"You need to tell someone."

"No one will believe me."

I've tried before. I went to the police station once, but Deacon’s dad was there and told me not to report it because it would mess up his son’s future. He also told me, if I did try to do anything nobody would believe me, considering my reputation in town. Deacon later got word I tattled on him, he got mad, forced a bunch of liquor down my throat, and then slammed my face into the concrete. Afterward, he drove me home and tossed me out of the car to the gravel road where Alex found me later. He cleaned me up but thought I was just a stumbling drunk fool.

"That's not true. I believed you, and so would Alex and Aunt Liz. I have your back." I know she thinks Alex and Liz can help me, but it’s never going to happen. I wish she could understand that.

"He...he…" My teeth chatter. “He knew I was with Alex. Alex told him.”

“Son of a bitch,” Kathleen grumbles. “I’m calling Alex now.” She goes to reach for her cell phone and my panic flares.

“No!” I grab her arm to stop her. “You can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“June.”

“Just no!” I plead. “Just leave it.”

An engine revs behind us and the person lays on their horn three times. As I glance behind me wondering what their problem is, their bright headlights reflect in my rearview mirror blinding me. “Shit.”

“Who the hell?” Kathleen looks back, and when I peek to the side mirror, I make out the side of the red Dodge truck speeding closer to us.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." I stomp on the gas and charge forward.

“What?”

“Deacon…he’s behind us.”

Though I have traveled this route a million times and could do it in my sleep, it’s curvy, deer run out all the time, and no matter how well I know it, I shouldn’t be driving it at the speed I’m going. It doesn’t help I’m prickled in fear and feel like my body isn’t my own.

"June! Slow down!" Kathleen screeches next to me. She's gripping the oh shit handle for dear life.

I shake my head not able to answer her. My vision starts to fade as the bright lights come closer. My head feels like it weighs a ton. I make out Kathleen’s fearful cries beside me, and I only pray to whatever god