Chapter 24
Tori
I had never felt so safe and secure as I had with Ross, and not because he’d pummeled Kevin. I wasn’t sure if it were that whole fatherly vibe, or the animalistic thing in him that protected me, but I had been beaming all day just thinking about the other night. Even though we hadn’t spent an entire night together yet, I had a feeling it was coming. He’d even mentioned seeing if Mia would take on an all-night job for him to do it.
It had been nearly a week since we last had sex and I was half-starved for him. I had gone to work after an early morning date with my vibrator while Ross sent me dirty texts. It was so much fun the way we played, and I was so excited about our relationship starting that I hadn’t thought to ask him if he’d mentioned it to Katie yet. I’d waited all week for her to walk in and tell me how excited she was, but so far, she hadn’t.
It wasn’t my place to say anything, but I was bursting at the seams for him to tell her. We did our reading studies, and the children went to the library to choose another book. I had assigned them to each read the books and then tell me a little about it. Katie was bouncing with excitement when we walked into the library, and she headed straight for the chapter books, which were a little more challenging for her, especially when she read out loud.
I looked over to Jackie who was waving me over with a frown.
“Are you still seeing that old man?” The way she phrased the question rubbed me the wrong way.
“His name is Ross, and yes. But that’s his daughter right over there so I can’t talk about him right now.” I narrowed my eyes and shrugged.
“I need to talk to you about him. Come back on your conference hour.”
“Are we going to lunch?” I turned to check the students, and each was selecting a book from the shelf or making their way to the colorful rug where they were to sit and read.
“I’m not sure you’ll be hungry, I know I’m not.” She turned away and shook her head.
“Jackie, what is it?” I touched her arm, and she took a deep breath. “You’re scaring me, is it something terrible?”
She glanced out at the kids and then back at me. “Find me.” She turned around and walked out, and I was left to wonder, feeling sick inside.
I thought about what it could be and after worrying if she’d heard something about one of his exes, or perhaps that dreadful Mia. I didn’t want to think it was anything bad, so I figured it must be a misunderstanding.
Hours passed, and I finally found myself with enough free time to return to the library. I found Jackie talking with one of the other faculty members, and so I waited out front and looked at the shelves. I saw some of my favorites and decided to take one to read to the class during their afternoon rest period.
“Hey,” I turned around and saw Jackie approaching. “I’m sorry if I freaked you out, but I’ve got something really important to tell you, Tori. I’m afraid it’s not good news.”
“I’ve been terrified, so it better not be something stupid. What does this have to do with my relationship with Ross?”
“Tori, how well do you know this guy? I mean, yeah, his daughter is in your class, but what about his private life?” She turned and led me into the back office where she could still see her counter.
I took a seat in the chair across from her desk and slumped down, already tired of the whole conversation. “I know him, all right? I’ve been to his house, him to mine; we’ve had sex a few times—I don’t get why you’re so upset.”
Her hand clutched her collar. “Did you use protection?”
So, that’s what it was about. She must have heard something like Kevin had and thought that Ross was a cheater. “If this is about that girl the other day at lunch, she’s practically his boss, and he’s admitted that he’s been seeing other women, but now that we’re making things exclusive, he’s severing those ties.” She shook her head, but I interrupted before she could speak. “Look, before you try to villainize him, let me just say, I’m okay with his past, and it’s in the past.”
“Do you know what kind of work he’s been doing lately? What his boss hired him to do?” She put her hand on her hip and gave me a narrowing glance.
“He said it was security work, and that’s why it was at night.” Panic struck me, but I was determined not to think the worst. He could have been doing security. Why would have to lie if he wasn’t? “Just tell me what you know, because you obviously believe it’s true.” I was so upset with her for not giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“Tori, I was talking to my friend Angela who used to be my old roommate. She was always the wild type, and well, she’s the one I’ve told you about that goes to sex parties and conventions.”
“Right, so what? Did she see someone she thought was Ross?”
“She recently went to a bachelorette party with some of those friends, and we were talking. Well, she kind of shares too much, and showed me a few pictures from the event that she’d taken on the sly. She didn’t think her boyfriend would believe she’d been to that kind of event and it’s kind of a thing between them, they like each other messing around, but anyway, she was telling me how this party had a live entertainer. An attractive, older man.”
My heart pounded so fast it was hammering in my ears. “I don’t understand.”
“At this party, the man is passed around like a toy and used orally. Then he had sex with the bride. She took the pictures because he has an impressive penis.” She glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot.
“You’re mistaken; it’s not Ross.” Even though I knew his cock was impressive, I wasn’t about to give up on him so easily.
“I had her forward me two photos. You look at them and tell me I’m wrong. But if I’m right, Tori, you have to get away from this man. He’s bad news.” She took out her phone and found the images and then leaned in to let me get a better look, before passing me the phone.
I knew in a heartbeat that it was him and my face burned with anger and embarrassment so hot that I thought I’d pass out. Even though I wasn’t standing, I gripped the desk in front of me to steady. “What kind of party was this?” I wanted to make sure things were clear, and that I had all of my information so that I could confront Ross. I had to be absolutely sure there was no mistake. In my heart, I wanted it to be, but the photograph didn’t lie and not only had he been stark naked in front of a crowd, but there was women touching him. All of him. And worse of all, he had a big smile plastered on his face.
“She said that she gave him oral with about twenty other women and then he had sex with the bride. She didn’t say if it was protected.” I met her eyes as my stomach lurched and I covered my mouth and ran to the nearest bathroom and heaved.
Jackie ran in behind me and knelt down to help. She put her arm around me as I hugged the toilet and when I didn’t throw up, only because I’d skipped breakfast and lunch, she lifted me up. “I’m so sorry, Tori. I wanted it not to be true. I made her show me all the shots to be certain, and I took the best two to show you. If there was any doubt, I’d never have said anything. I didn’t know how to tell you. I knew you’d be devastated.”
“Thank you for being honest with me. I’m just glad someone was. I can’t believe he did this. He said that he saw other people, but I didn’t think he meant in groups.”
So many thoughts went through my head, and I couldn’t help but think he’d only wanted me for my virginity. His attitude had changed about me then, and the more I thought about it, I was certain I’d just been another cherry to pop, a virgin to deflower, a notch in his belt. I broke down and cried some more, and Jackie stayed with me the entire time rubbing soothing circles on my back and offering advice.
“You need to stay away from him. I wouldn’t say a word. You never know how he might react. You said he beat the hell out of Kevin, which means he’s got a violent streak. I say just stay away.”
“I can’t just stay away. He’ll expect me to talk to him and want to know why I’m not. I can’t walk away and pretend that nothing happened. I have to confront him.” I stood up and went to the sink to wash my face and saw how horrible I looked. My mascara had smeared around my eyes and what little eyeliner I had put on with it, was gone.
I couldn’t go back to the children looking this way. All I could do was set up a substitute for the rest of the day and go home. I looked as sick as I felt, so it shouldn’t be any problem. “I’m going home. I can’t stay here.”
“I think that’s a good idea. You don’t want the kids to see you this way. I should have waited until you were home, but I knew I had to tell you before you got in any deeper with that man.” She said that man as if she wanted to strangle Ross Reed more than I did.
“Yeah, I have to go home and try to figure out what I’m going to do. He always calls me at lunch, but I’ll tell him I’m not feeling well.” It would be believable that I’d picked up a nasty flu or cold from the school and being contagious could buy me a little time until I figured out how to confront him and where.
I would give it a day or two and perhaps meet him in a public place—a nice restaurant; somewhere he couldn’t make a scene. “Could you forward those images to me, please. I’d like to have them, so there is no denying it. If he’s lied, he’s not going to admit it that easily.”
“Yeah, I’ll send them now.” She thumbed her phone’s screen, and in seconds I heard a ping from my phone. “Don’t be alone with him, Tori. He’s some kind of deviant.” She glanced around the room and leaned in closer, even though we were alone. “Did he ever get rough with you, violent, or do strange things?” Her nose wrinkled as if she didn’t want to ask.
“No, nothing I’d consider out of the ordinary, but he was really good at what he did do.” I let out a long sigh.
Jackie shook her head. “Yeah, well, he’s had a lot of practice.”
I couldn’t believe I’d never be with him again. I already missed him, and it was strange to think that the sweet, loving man I thought I knew, wasn’t at all what he said he was.