I groaned when I woke up. I had to use the bathroom but everything hurt. I tried to take the covers off, but that made everything hurt more. I groaned again.

“I told you that you’d hurt yourself.”

“Shut up.”

Brody startled me, but I wasn’t surprised he was in my room. He’d been hanging around more and more since he showed me proof that Bryce had moved on.

It had been four days, and I still wanted to cry every time I thought about it. I didn’t have any tears left. I sweated them out. Each day was getting harder to keep up the intense workouts, but I was determined the day before to make it my personal best. I guess I succeeded.

I sat up and forced my body out of bed. Each step to the bathroom was excruciating. My muscles hated me. I hated me. I didn’t care if I never worked out again.

“Take a hot shower while you’re in there. It’ll help.”

“You don’t have to stick around.”

He smiled. “Yes, I do. Now get.”

I grabbed some clothes before I did as he said. It was no use in arguing with him. I had learned to pick my battles, and a shower was not worth arguing over. The hot water beating on my sore muscles sounded good anyway.

I let the steam fill the room and took care of a few other needs before I got in. The water felt good, but I wished the water pressure had been harder. I tried to massage my arms and legs as I washed, but it was awkward and not really helpful.

I shut off the water and dreaded going back out there. I resolved to take it all the way if I needed to get out of the situation I was in, but it didn’t mean I’d like myself afterward. I’d be free, but could I live with the person I’d become to get that freedom? It was a risk I’d have to take. Bryce definitely didn’t have anything to complain about. He wasted no time bringing women back to our home. I thought I knew him better than that.

I told myself that there had to be an explanation. Brody went looking for him for the sole purpose of getting that photo. I’d use that photo and my anger to get through the next few days, but when I got out, I’d hear Bryce’s side of the story. There had to be more to it.

I opened the door, and just as I suspected, Brody was still sitting there watching the door. “I said you didn’t have to wait around. I could manage by myself.”

“I heard you.” He stood and walked over to me. “Get on the bed.”

I swallowed and looked at the bed. It had been made, but my pillow was on top of the covers. “Why?”

“Just hop up there. Lie on your belly.”

“Uh.” I took a deep breath and walked to the bed. If I was going to do whatever it took to get out of his house, I couldn’t hesitate if I wanted it to be convincing. “Okay.”

I lay on my front as he said to and made myself relax my fists. I took a deep breath when he came over and pressed on my back.

“This will help you. I promise.” He took the bottom of my shirt and slid it up my back. I closed my eyes when his hands touched my bare skin. It was good it was happening. I had to get used to his touch no matter how much it disgusted me.

“I bet you’ll get that puzzle finished today.”

“That’s my goal.” I knew we were talking about two different puzzles, but I would break his code. I moaned. I couldn’t help it. His hands were like magic on my sore muscles.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you need to sleep today. I won’t get on your case if you do. You need the rest.”

My eyes were getting tired with each knot he rubbed out, but I didn’t want to sleep. I wanted to get to know him and try to create a bond that would get me out of there. “You just want to finish that puzzle by yourself. I’m on to your wicked ways.”

He bent down and whispered, “When you’re ready for my wicked ways, you let me know.”

He moved to my thighs after that and got a little too close for comfort, but I lay still. I knew he’d mastered the art of foreplay and fingering a woman. I didn’t need to be shown again. It was too soon. If I allowed him to make any advances on me, he wouldn’t believe I was falling for him. I didn’t want him to suspect anything.

“You’ll be the first to know, but right now I’d like to get back to the puzzle before you trick me into sleeping.” I rolled out of bed on the other side and smiled as I walked to the table. “Thank you for the massage, though. My back feels so much better.”

I pulled the chair up and ignored him pouting on the bed. It took a few minutes, but he finally followed and moved the seat next to me. If he wanted to sit close, he could.

I looked at him, raised my eyebrows, and went back to the puzzle. “Don’t think crowding my space is going to distract or intimidate me. This puzzle is mine.”

“Is that so?” He scooted closer. “We’ll see about that.”

A few hours had gone by and my back felt like it did when I woke up. The wonderful effects of the massage earlier were gone, and I’d grown stiff. I stretched my back without thinking and saw him looking at my chest out of the corner of my eye. He licked his lips.

I continued with the stretch a little longer than I needed, but I wanted to drive him crazy before I made my move. It was still too early. I needed to learn more about him first.

“So, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

He blew out a breath and tossed the puzzle piece in his hand onto the table. “Women complicate things.”

“Excuse me?”

“You do. My life is complicated right now with you in it.”

“Well, there’s a way to fix that.” I placed another piece and celebrated. “Yes!” I turned to him, smiled, and leaned forward on my elbows on the table. “And how many have you found today?”

“Stop distracting me with questions.” He narrowed his eyes and went back to the puzzle.

“I’m not distracting you. I’m curious. You don’t seem like a bad guy.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Well, what am I supposed to say? You trick me into getting into your car so you can steal me, and three dresses I might add, and you won’t let me know when I can go home.” I shrugged. “That isn’t a great guy.”

“I paid you for those dresses.”

“If no one is going to wear them, it doesn’t matter.”

“You could’ve had it much worse.” He looked around the room. “I don’t think this is too bad. Maybe a little outdated, but it’s still comfortable.”

I looked down and then back to him. He was right. If what I overheard was the truth and my father hired him to kidnap me to break Bryce and me up, I could’ve ended up with someone much worse. I shivered thinking about the men who gave me side looks when my father wasn’t watching. I despised leaving my bedroom when I was still living at home.

“Hey.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to scare you. You’re safe here.” He took his hand off me. “I’m sorry for a lot of things I’ve done to you, but you haven’t been an angel.”

“I’m my father’s daughter. What do you expect?”

That pulled a smile out of him. “This is true.” He went back to the puzzle. “What about your mom?”

“We’ve talked about her. She died.”

“Do you remember anything about her?”

“Yeah, some things. I’d like to remember more, but it doesn’t happen.”

“What do you remember?”

It was a good way to get him to think I was starting to trust him, but I just couldn’t do it. I rarely spoke of my mother even to Bryce because she was so precious to me. I wanted to keep her for myself no matter how selfish it sounded.

“You don’t want to tell me?”

I looked at him and gave him a sad smile. “I don’t want to think about this place when I think about my mom. She’s my peace.”

He exchanged the piece he’d been working on with another piece and nodded his head. “You should keep your peace. Everyone deserves peace.”

I was surprised when he didn’t fight me on it and grateful he let it go. Without giving it any thought, I placed my hand on his. “Thank you.”

He patted my hand with his other and smiled.

* * *

If she couldn’t give me just one story about her mom, it meant she wasn’t coming around at all yet and her getting along with me was just an act. I had to step up my game. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. My mother wasn’t someone I spoke about to anyone. Not even my family.

“These puzzles were my mom’s favorite thing to do.”

Laney hesitated when she picked up a piece, but she recovered quickly. She didn’t expect me to talk about my mom. It was good to keep her on her toes.

“They were?”

“Yeah, she had a spot she kept them all in, and I never cleaned it out after she died.”

“I’m sorry your mom has passed.”

“That’s something I wish we didn’t have in common.”

“Where’s your dad?”

I shrugged and sat back in the chair. “Probably with my sister somewhere. I told you we don’t keep in touch.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve got everything I need.”

“Do you?”

I looked at her and narrowed my eyes. “Yes.”

“I just think you’d be happier with a wife and kids.”

“Nope. I told you kids are messy and cause nothing but headaches. The only thing a wife would be good for is fucking, but I get enough pussy without it.”

She shook her head and continued with the puzzle. I had a lot to learn. The conversation wasn’t getting me anywhere with her. It was driving her further away. I rubbed the back of my neck.

“I would never subject anyone to my demons. Could you imagine living with me permanently? What if Bryce beat you like I did? How would you live with him and yourself?” I shook my head and stood. “It’s better this way. If I’m alone and get angry, I only have myself to take it out on. I don’t have to worry about losing control with someone or taking them down with me if I head toward rock bottom again.”

“What do you mean by that?” She put her puzzle piece down and looked at me.

I slipped my hands into my back pockets. “I’m an addict and an alcoholic. If I go on another binge and start using again or drinking, I couldn’t bring someone down with me. I brought my family down the first time. I won’t bring other people down the next time.”

“Why does there have to be a next time?”

“There’s always a next time for people like me. It’s just a matter of when.”

She shook her head. “You can’t live your life as if you’ll slip up and take people down with you. You need the support of people who love you to help you stay healthy or sober, in your case.”

“This coming from the woman who changed her life to fit the life of a man she wants to marry better.”

“Excuse me?” She stood. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You stopped eating meat because of him. If you wanted to become a vegetarian on your own, I’d have no problem with that. As it looks now, you will do whatever you think you should do to get him to stay.”

She sat again and went back to the puzzle. “There was a time I would agree with you, but I’m not so sure now.”

“If he came walking through that door right now and begged your forgiveness, you wouldn’t take him and his meatless lifestyle back?” I scoffed when she didn’t answer. “That’s what I thought.”

She stood and threw the piece she was holding onto the table. “You don’t just fall out of love with someone. It’s a hard question to answer. Maybe if you’d allow yourself to be in love once in your life you’d understand what I’m going through.”

“He cheated on you.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “Do I need to show you the photo again?”

“No, I don’t want to see it.”

“Why isn’t he looking for you? If you just disappeared and were so much in love before, why is he fucking other women? I would’ve thought he would’ve been pounding on every door trying to find you.”

“Stop.”

“He did.” I brought up the photo again and turned it toward her. “He definitely stopped looking for you because I’m sure you’re not in that bitch’s pussy.”

She shook her head and covered her face with her hands. Tearing two people apart was harder than I thought it would be. Each of them had been shown photos that said the other didn’t love them, and yet, they still hung on to the love they felt. I didn’t understand it.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket, walked up to Laney, and wrapped my arms around her. She startled at first, but gave in and buried her face into my chest as she gripped my shirt and cried.

I should’ve remembered to do it after I showed her the photo that first night. My sister always needed a place to cry after someone broke her heart. The only reason I did it for my sister was to steal money out of her purse when she drifted off to sleep, but I remembered how much better she felt when she woke up.

Not only did I hope Laney felt better, I hoped it helped me to earn a little trust. I was running out of time and needed to get things severed between them for good.