Eight
Parker
"Fine. You have five minutes," she states, then turns to Finn. Tora's hand rests on his chest as she looks up into his eyes. I have a strong urge to rip her hand from him. It should only be on me. Never anyone else. "I'll be right back," she tells him.
"Are you sure? Can you trust him?"
This asshole. "Bradley, mind your fucking business." It's at this point, Eve and Cy find us standing on the sidewalk beside Finn's car. They must have noticed we left. Cy would want to be here if shit went down with Finn. I'm sure he wants to get a solid punch in if possible.
Cy is by my side, Eve's hand on his arm. I doubt she wants him to fight. She likes Finn in a strictly platonic way. I have to give Finn credit. Even with Cy and I standing in front of him, he doesn't back down. If anything, he straightens himself. He's tall, as tall as Cy, but we have more muscle.
Tora turns and motions for me to follow. Finn takes a step forward and so does Cy, while I follow Tora off to a spot between buildings. The city streets are bustling this time of night, and I want to talk with her away from everyone.
Stopping halfway into the alley, she spins to face me and crosses her arms. "Five minutes."
How do I start? How do I tell her everything in five minutes and convey just how bad the situation was? I have to do the best I can and hope it's enough to convince her I never cheated on her. I’m the one who suggested the time limit after all.
"That day, while I was waiting for you to come over, I got a call from Blair." The streetlight reflecting into the alley casts just enough light where I notice Tora stiffen. I push on, not wanting to give her time to say something. We can't fight. Five minutes will go by too quickly. "She was on her way over and was crying so hard I could barely understand her. What I did get from her was that she had been driving for almost twelve hours and was minutes from my apartment. I tried to ask what happened, but every time I did, she only cried harder. I didn't want her to get into an accident, so I told her to drive safe and I'd be there when she arrived."
I take a deep breath and steady myself for what's next. This is the hard part. The part I never talk about. "When she got there, I met her at her car. I helped her out and she collapsed on me, crying. I had to hold her up. Something was wrong. It wasn’t just that she was upset, she was physically weak. I tried to talk her into letting me take her to the hospital, but she insisted she was only tired. It wasn't until I got her inside that I noticed the bruises. They were covering her arms. I was furious. I wanted to know who did that to her and where Brant was when it happened. She sobbed, Tora. She broke down like I’ve never seen someone in all my life. "
Tora's watching me, noticing the pain on my face. I can't explain the anger I felt when Blair was hurt and there was nothing I could do to protect her. Tora's lips part and her hand rests on her chest just below her throat.
"Then I lifted Blair's shirt and saw the real damage." Tora turns away. I gently grip her arm to pull her back toward me. "Let me continue." She nods. "She was pregnant. And her belly...it was slightly swollen with life. I had no idea. Brant never told me. Tora, her stomach was covered with bruises where the baby was growing." She gasps, and I have to fight to keep my tears at bay. No matter how much time goes by, I will never forget the look of Blair's stomach or the pain she was in.
I'm pacing in the small width of the alley. Water splashes at my feet every time I step in one of the puddles left over from the summer storm we had earlier. "I tried to get her to go to the hospital, but she insisted she take a shower first. She said she knew the baby was gone. That she'd been suffering severe cramps the whole drive to Arrow Falls, and there was no way the baby could survive after what happened. She felt dirty. She wanted Brant's scent off her but didn't dare stop along the way to shower. Blair said if I let her shower first, I could take her to the hospital after. I couldn’t wrap my head around all that had happened and was happening. Brant hurt her so badly."
I stop and look Tora in the eyes. She has to see me when I say this, so she knows it's the truth. "When you walked into my bathroom that day, I was helping her into the shower. You didn't see the bruises because they were on her arms and stomach. She had her back to you, her arms cradling her belly. She didn't have any bruises on her face. And I was only in my boxers because I was planning on helping her get clean. She was shaking so bad. She could barely hold herself upright. I already feared she might have broken bones. I didn't want her to fall and hurt herself further."
No words leave Tora's lips. She's stunned silent. I decide to keep talking. "No one knows about this but those involved, me, and my parents. I mean no one. B said I could tell you so you understood what happened and knew that I never cheated on you. She's a friend, Tora. One of my best friends, but nothing more. We've never done more than hug. I swear."
Tora turns and takes a few steps away, then comes back toward me. "You're telling me the truth."
"Yes."
"Did she...did she lose the baby?"
"Yes. After you left, she started to bleed in the shower. I helped dry her off, put her in a pair of my shorts and t-shirt, and took her to the emergency room. She lost the baby that night. There was no way it could have survived the trauma they endured. Blair also had broken ribs and a fracture in her left arm. She drove all those hours with one arm. The adrenaline kept her going. None of the pain hit until we were on our way to the ER. That was when I was scared the most. She got quiet. For a moment, I thought I was going to lose her."
"Parker...I can't...I don't know what to...all this time?" She faces me, and tears start falling down her cheeks. I reach her in two long strides but don't hold her, unsure if she would even want me to. "You weren't lying. You said you didn't cheat and I wouldn't listen. I was so stupid."
She buries her face in her hands and starts to sob. I don't think twice this time and wrap her in my arms. Her hands reach for my shirt and fist the material. Her vanilla scent floats to me, pulling me back in time to when we were happy and together in love. Back before the nightmare Blair lived through. Before life became hell.
"Shhh, it's okay," I murmur.
"No, it's not. It hasn't been okay for four years." She peers up at me; her eye makeup smudged. "And you've never?" I know what she means and can't blame her for asking. A lot of time has passed.
"No, never. She's one of my best friends, nothing more."
Her bottom lips trembles. "I'm sorry. Oh God, Parker, I'm so fucking sorry."
I run my thumb along her cheek to gather her tears. "What happened between us is done. All we can do is move forward. I've never lied to you, Tora. I wasn't unfaithful."
"You tried to tell me so many times. You wanted to meet to talk."
"I couldn't tell you this over text and you wouldn’t answer the phone. It was better if you could look into my eyes to know I wasn't lying."
Her voice shakes. "I believe you."
I offer her a sad smile. I'm about to tell her more, but my phone vibrates in my pocket. I should ignore it, but it could be Blair, and I promised I'd always be there for her, regardless of where I was or what I was doing.
One of my arms remains around Tora as I answer the phone. "B? You okay?"
"Are you busy?" Her voice is light. I was worried for a second.
"Kind of. What's up?"
"I'm stuck."
"Stuck?" I glance down at Tora who is still pressed to me. She doesn't say anything or try and move away.
"Yeah, in this book I'm writing. I need to talk it through with someone."
I groan. "Can't you talk to Eve? Isn't that part of her job?"
"No, it's not, but she does let me bounce ideas off her. She's not answering her phone, though."
I remove my eyes from Tora and look toward the end of the alleyway. Cy is in Finn's face. Eve is trying to push herself between them. Tora must catch my line of sight and rushes away from me to intervene. I can't let her go alone.
"Eve's a little occupied at the moment. Let me call you right back." I hang up before she can protest and rush toward everyone.
Tora is attempting to shove Finn back, but she's having about as much luck as she would if she were pushing a boulder. Eve is tugging on Cy's arm. The men are still face-to-face. I get between them as well, and place a palm on both of their chests. I'm able to move them enough that I can stand between them. Although, Finn is still too close for my liking. What’s worse is Tora is touching him and that ignites a rage that I have to try and tamper down.
"What the hell is going on?" Tora asks, as she breathes heavily from trying to move Finn.
Finn looks down at her. It's then he notices her smeared makeup and tear-stained cheeks. His gaze flicks to mine and I clench my fist in anticipation.
"Oh, no you don't," Tora says, trying to stop something before it happens.
"He hurt you and now he's going to pay," Finn states angrily. I can't help it. I burst out laughing. That throws Finn off. He must think I've finally lost my mind. "What's so funny?"
I laugh as I speak. "The fact that you..." Laugh. "Think that you'll be able to..." Laugh. "Make me pay as you put it..." More laughing. "Is hysterical!"
"You're asking for it." He steps forward and I sober quickly.
"If you think I'm scared of you, then you have another thing coming."
"What did you do to her?"
"I told her the fucking truth. I spoke the words I've been trying to for four years!"
"You admitted you cheated on her?"
Oh, this motherfucker. I pull back my fist and aim at his face, but Tora is there with her hand covering mine to keep me from swinging. "Don't," she says quietly, so only I can hear. She's one of two people who can make me stop what I'm doing. The other is Blair. I'd do anything for either of them. One word from Tora's lips and I still. My arm slowly lowers, though my eyes are back on Finn. I'm watching him like a hawk.
She turns to face Finn and grasps his hand in hers. What the fuck? I don't think, only move. I'm at her back in one long stride, pressing myself against her, towering over her to look at Finn. She comes up to my shoulder, so I have an unobstructed view of the dickhead in front of me.
"Finn, please get in the car. I'll be there in one minute." He hesitates, then does what she asks.
Spinning her toward me, I level her with a glare. "What are you doing?"
She speaks low. "Ten minutes ago, I told him I wanted to date him. I'm not about to tell him on a sidewalk that I've changed my mind. Especially not in front of you, Cy, and Eve."
"I don't want you going with him."
"He won't hurt me. You know that." Fuck, I do. Finn may be an asshole, but he treats women with respect. Still, he could try and kiss her. Put his fucking hands on her.
“He better not touch you,” I growl low.
“There’s nothing between us. I’ve only ever felt something for you. No matter how hard I tried to forget you.” What the hell does that mean? Was she sleeping her way through college like I was through the city? I shake my head. Not the time for this conversation.
"Will you call me later, once you're home and away from him?"
"Absolutely."
She doesn't kiss me—doesn't hug me. She doesn't do anything but smile before sliding into Finn's Benz, not that I thought she would. As soon as he drives out of sight, I peer over my shoulder to find Cy and Eve eyeing me curiously. Well, I guess I have some explaining to do.