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

“No. You ran off the road.”

“That’s what Deacon and his father said, right? But if you actually looked, if you listened to me, to Liz eventually, you would have known differently, despite the fake evidence that was given to you.”

“You had drugs and alcohol in your system. I saw the tests.” I saw them in black and white.

“That was forged by Deacon’s uncle,” she hisses. “I told you I only had sodas. Kathleen even told you I was clean. I get people relapse, but I was truly nothing to you for you not to even hear me out? You know how horrible it was to wake up to Deacon’s face hovering over me to tell me Kathleen was dead? That he did it and that you wouldn’t even believe me. And how right he was!”

“I—”

“No!” she screams with a piercing shriek, cutting me off. “If you really cared about me like you always said you did, why didn’t you try harder to listen to me? Yell at me and ask more questions. Anything! Not throw me away like garbage.”

“I didn’t throw you away,” I snap. “I went back the next day and was told you ran away from the hospital!”

Her eyes widen in surprise, but she shakes it off. “Were you there to yell at me? Make me feel more like shit?”

“I don’t fucking know, June. I don’t fucking know. Kathleen was dead,” I yell. “What did you expect from me if I did? All I knew was you were driving and I was told you were drunk. That you cheated on me. Give me a fucking break, June. I was hurt. Angry. I couldn’t see straight. But all I know is you left with your tail between your legs. Not able to face the fucking music for the crime you did. Or at least get some fucking help.”

“I ran from the hospital because I was scared. I ran because I felt alone.”

“I don’t know what you want,” I breathe, feeling at a loss.

“All I want is for you to listen to me. Believe me for a fucking change. I’ve been fucking holding this in because I knew I couldn’t trust you. That you would still think his word was gold over mine.”

My eyes close and I feel the world spinning at a million miles an hour. I have no idea which way is up, and I have whiplash.

“But now I’ve come to realize you never really cared about me. I was never important to you. It was always going to be other people.”

“That’s not fucking true!” I yell. “I fucking loved you!”

She jerks back, her face red as if I slapped her. “Loved? No, love is about trust. I look back and I’m not even sure you ever loved me as a sister because you were a shitty fucking brother. A shitty nephew too because you wouldn’t listen to Liz either. And where were you when she needed you?”

My hand slams against the wall. “Take it back.”

“Why? It's true. You listened to everyone else but the people you claimed you loved. Where were you when I needed you? When I would come home covered in bruises? And you want to know where I always was? I was with Deacon, so he could get me drunk, and have his way with me, and I would be too numb to fight him. You.” She stabs her finger in my chest. “You fucking gave him that control when you told him he could watch over me and you just believed him and what everyone else was feeding you about me. Though I was a hot mess waiting for the train to run me over and end me.”

“June.” I step closer to her, bile rising in my throat at her words. I just want her to stop. I just want to hold her.

“No, you’re going to fucking listen. I had to listen for years of you thinking I’m something I’m not, now it’s my turn,” she seethes, and I nod. “He spent years feeding you lies while doing horrible things to me. Those nightmares that wake you up are of him. I can’t close my eyes and not see Deacon. Your best friend raped me. Over and over again.”

No, God, No!

“The scent of motor oil makes me gag because I think it’s him. Sometimes I have to take extra long showers after a nightmare because I can feel his grimy hands…” Tears glisten in her eyes as she turns away from me.

“June, please, stop,” I whisper.

“Why? That’s your best friend. That’s the guy you trusted over me. You know, he would tell me all the time if I ever told anyone he would make sure I paid. The reason Kathleen died is because she knew, but really, it was supposed to be me and I’m sorry it fucking wasn’t. I’m sorry I ruined your fucking life because I didn’t die that night,” she screams, tears running down her face along with her mascara.

“Stop it!” I shake my head, not wanting to hear this anymore. “Just stop.”

“Why? I’m just telling you what you always wanted to hear. Right! You never had to hear the truth. Never had to listen to reason. I understand you were hurt that night. Kathleen died, but after five years I would think you’d have opened your eyes. Listened to Liz, but then why would you? Deacon brainwashed you and I’m seeing more and more you never trusted me. It’s why I didn’t blurt it all out and just tell you because I knew you were so blind you would think I was lying. That’s what Deacon would tell me, and today, in a way, you proved him right.”

My head drops in shame. Fuck. She’s right.

“I mean you did come in here to get even with me. You wanted