Then He Came Back (Love From Austin Book 2)

by Chris Campillo

  But, he pressed forward again. This time it was worse, and she couldn’t stop from crying out. She felt as if she’d been cut. She opened her eyes, needing to see him. “Trey.”

  His eyes were almost shut, and he couldn’t seem to focus. Through a shaky breath, he rasped, “There we go. God, you feel so good.” He pressed forward again.

  “It hurts, Trey.”

  “Almost there, baby.” Before she could stop him, he groaned and pushed all the way in. The pain was unbearable.

  “Stop!” She pushed against his chest. “Trey, stop!”

  His body shook. Through harsh breaths, he moaned, “I’m sorry. Suz, I’m so sorry.” He started to pull out, which almost hurt as much, but then he groaned. “Oh God!” His body jerked, and he slammed forward again, collapsing onto her, trembling.

  The discomfort of his weight was nothing like the pain searing between her legs. “Trey, take it out . . . please!”

  He slowly lifted himself and pulled out, easing the pain somewhat. She didn’t realize she was crying until she saw the horror-stricken look on his face.

  “Oh, baby. I’m sorry. God, I didn’t mean to . . . I tried . . . I just, God, I’m so sorry.” He wiped at her tears. “Please don’t cry.” He pulled her up and sat her on his lap, resting her head against his shoulder. He held her tight and rocked her back and forth. “It’s going to be okay.” His voice broke. “I’m so sorry.” They clung to one another for some time.

  Finally, she leaned up and wiped away her tears. She could see the pain in his eyes. “I’m okay.” She obviously didn’t sound very convincing because he hung his head. It killed her to see him feeling this way. She lifted his face. “I’m glad we did this.” And despite the terrible pain, knowing she would’ve suffered that with someone other than him, her words rang with truth this time, and he smiled at her tenderly.

  He took a strand of her long, golden hair and placed it behind her ear. “It won’t hurt so much next time.” As soon as the words left his mouth, his smile dropped. They both knew there wouldn’t be a next time. Not with each other. She took a deep breath to press down the pain that was far worse than what her body had experienced.

  It was then that she realized she was dripping blood on his thigh. She jerked up. “I’m bleeding on you.” They looked down and saw the dark stain. Then, she noticed the condom.

  “Shit!” He’d seen it, too. The condom that had fit so snug over him earlier was now bloody, and the end was open, torn.

  “Oh God, oh God, oh God!” She pressed her fingers to her lips to keep from screaming. He pulled off the condom. There was definitely a rip in the tip.

  “Shit!”

  “Trey! Do something!” She stared at him, waiting for an answer, but he seemed as freaked as she. He looked around the car, as if he’d find some solution to undo the accident.

  “Here.” He grabbed his shirt and pushed it at her. “Wipe off as much as you can.”

  She rubbed herself roughly, still sore, but too scared to care. Tears fell, then she started sobbing. “What are we going to do? Oh God! This can’t happen. Do something, Trey. Do something.”

  But this time, he had no answer. He was wild-eyed, rocking back and forth, repeatedly running his hands through his hair and cursing. She continued to wipe the shirt against herself, as if by rubbing hard enough, she could wipe away the whole, horrible nightmare. Her sobs grew until she was coughing. It seemed to break him from his haze because he stilled and looked at her.

  “Ssh, sssh.” He grabbed her and held her tight. “It’ll be okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “But what if—”

  “No! Don’t say that. It won’t happen.” He tightened his hold on her, almost hurting her, but she needed it, needed him.

  After a bit, he let go. “When did you start?”

  “What?”

  “When was your last period?”

  “Last week. Is that good?” She searched his face, looking for hope, but all she could see was his frustration.

  “Fuck, I don’t know. Didn’t you pay attention in Sex Ed?”

  His harsh tone smacked her in the face, bringing more tears to her eyes. “Don’t yell at me! I can’t think when you’re yelling me. This isn’t my fault.”

  He glanced at her, and just for a flash, she saw accusation in his eyes. Pain knifed into her heart. She was terrified, hurt, and now totally alone. He had no answers, and he was putting the blame on her shoulders, which was crazy. He’d been there, going for it, having a good time, and she’d definitely received the short end of the stick. Or in this case, the long, thick, too-big end of the stick.

  He punched the headrest of the front seat and cursed. Then, he did it again, four more times in rapid succession. She’d never seen him this angry. She had to get away from him. She was scared, she didn’t want to be alone, but she couldn’t be around him knowing how he felt. It just made everything worse. She fumbled around the floorboard, feeling for her clothes.

  After a few minutes, he spoke. “Suz.” His voice was softer now. “Stop.” He tried to grab her hands, but she pulled away.

  “Leave me alone.” Her voice was adamant, which was a joke considering she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted him. Wanted him to hold her and make everything better, but he couldn’t do that, wouldn’t, which made his presence that much more painful. “Take me home. I want to go home.”

  She searched in vain for her panties. She’d found all her clothes but those. She started to weep again. “Where are my panties? I need my panties.” She squeezed down onto the floor board, frantically feeling for the small piece of cotton covered in daisies.

  “Stop, baby.” He pulled her up to the seat beside him. Staring into her eyes, she could see the panic, the fear, but this time, she also saw his love. He brushed her hair off her face and wiped her tears away. “I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure if he was sorry for the way he’d treated her or for the situation. Truth be told, she craved the former. “I’m sorry I’ve been an asshole.” He searched her eyes. “Please forgive me.”

  Fresh tears fell down her face, but they were tears of relief. Her Trey was back, and no matter what they faced, she could handle it if he was with her. She nodded, then lunged forward, and he wrapped her in his arms.

  “You know, I think we’re overreacting,” he said into her hair. Her heart skipped a beat, hearing his words of hope. “Condoms probably break all the time, and I doubt all those women end up pregnant.”

  “Really?”

  “It makes sense, doesn’t it? Odds wise.” She pulled back and searched his face. He appeared confident, but she noticed a twinge of doubt in his eyes. It was the same doubt chasing her in circles. She chose to ignore it, needing to believe that they were safe. That she was safe.

  She nodded and took a deep breath. She hadn’t realized how tight her shoulders were. She rolled her head from side to side, and he gently rubbed her neck. “Everything’ll be okay. I promise.” His comforting words eased her.

  “I found your panties,” he said with a chuckle. She opened her eyes to find him reaching into her shorts and pulling them out. She giggled, and he laughed louder, escaping into the bliss of the carefree moment.

  After they dressed—thank God, he had another shirt in his gym bag—they moved into the front seat. As he started the car, he suggested they get something to eat. Her nerves were still on edge, she couldn’t think of eating, but she didn’t want to go home. “Maybe something. Not too much.”

  “Got the perfect place,” he said, pulling onto the main road.

  He took her to Al’s Donut Shack and bought her a donut with pink sprinkles. She barely finished a bite, but he wolfed down four. The entire time, he kept one hand on her, squeezing her knee, stroking her back, pushing her hair behind her ear. He knew her. He knew she needed the reassurance.

  It wasn’t until he pulled into her driveway that they acknowledged the night and all that it meant. This was the last time they’d see each other. Or at least that
had been the plan. Trey swore that he would come back if the rare chance happened that she was pregnant, but he assured her that wouldn’t be the case.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, when I land, to see how you’re doing.”

  She nodded, barely able to speak.

  He cradled her cheek. “I’m going to miss you like crazy.” He wiped away a tear with his thumb. “I’ll always love you, Suz. One day—”

  “Don’t,” she said, pressing her fingers to his lips. “I love you, too.” She could no longer hold in her tears or her sobs. He held on to her as if their lives depended on it. It was a good-bye, a mourning of their loss.

  When he finally walked her to the door, he hugged her, and said, “I’ll call you tomorrow.” She didn’t say anything. They both knew this casual good-night was the only way they could walk away from each other.

  “Honey, is it that bad?” The woman’s sweet voice yanked her from the memory.

  “What?” she asked, looking over at the lady next to her.

  “Here, take this.” The woman handed her a tissue.

  Sue realized she’d been crying and quickly wiped her tears. “Thank you.”

  “The pain must be pretty bad.”

  Pressing her lips together, she nodded. “Yeah.” She stared out the window. “I think I’ll feel better when I get home.” Away from Tahoe. Away from Trey.

  Chapter 34

  Sue’s hands were clammy. Her heart raced. She’d been messed up since she’d returned from Tahoe, mostly because of Trey, but this was another issue that had been gnawing at her. Was she really going to do this? She sat in her car, staring at the door with the number fifteen on it. The extended stay motel was in decent shape, in a nice neighborhood close by to her place, but it still seemed sad. At least it wasn’t The Happy Pines Motel. She shivered remembering that horrible place and the scary-as-hell experience. But some good had come out of it.

  She couldn’t ignore her mother any more. Facing possible death in the squalor of a closet put some perspective on life. She needed to . . . she wanted . . . God, she didn’t know what she wanted with her mother, but she needed some kind of closure. Avoiding her, knowing she was literally blocks away, was just one more brick pressing on her, and thanks to Trey Harrison, she already had about twenty too many.

  Time for your big girl panties. She dried her hands on her jeans and got to it. At least she’d given the woman the courtesy of a heads-up. As soon as she knocked, her mother opened the door with a smile on her face.

  “Come in.” Her mother opened the door wide, as if welcoming her into a mansion. “It’s tiny, but it works. Why don’t we sit in the kitchen?” The woman laughed as she pointed to the tiny table with two chairs, situated a couple of feet from the bed. “Can I get you anything? There’s a Keurig. I’ve got coffee, tea, and cocoa. I’ve got bottled water as well.”

  “Nothing right now. Thank you.” Her stomach was rioting enough as it was. It didn’t need any more action. They settled across from one another, each clasping their hands. Now what? She should’ve thought this through. She had no idea what to say, where to start?

  “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve wanted to talk with you for so long. I think—”

  “Mom, I don’t think talking is going to lead to what you want. I’m not sure I can have a civil conversation with you. But I don’t want to fight. I just want . . . I . . .” What could they even try for at this point? “I want to stop hating you.” There was that.

  Silence was her answer. What had she been thinking? Peggy Brinkley couldn’t handle confrontation or anything close to it. She looked down at her hands, trying to give her mother a break to compose herself.

  “I want that, too.”

  Sue looked up, surprised to find her mom sitting up and facing her head on. The woman wasn’t cowering. That was progress for the woman she remembered. “I want that, desperately. And I want us to have a relationship. I want that with Wes, too.”

  Years of resentment jumped up, taking the lead. “You don’t deserve it.” The pain in her mother’s eyes didn’t deter her. “How could you do it? How could you kick us to the curb? I’m your child. Your child. I would never do that to Wes. Never.” She stood up, overwhelmed with fury and pain. Why had she thought she could do this?

  “I know you wouldn’t. You’re a good mother. Mimi has shared so much of what you’ve done. I’m so proud of you. Of your courage. I never had your courage.”

  Her mother’s weak excuse pissed her off. “It’s not about courage. I was scared shitless. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew that baby needed me. That as his mother, I had to get over the fear and do right by him. I would never desert him.”

  “I didn’t desert you.”

  What the fuck? She almost stormed out of the place, but she hesitated, curious how her mother would try to support such an audacious claim. “Kicking me out of the house, what do you call that?”

  “I knew you had Laura. I knew she would take care of you. Give you what I couldn’t. I didn’t desert you. I gave you up.”

  “So you’re the martyr, huh?” She let out a sick laugh. “Good god, you have some balls after all.”

  “Susan—”

  “You were so scared of upsetting that man you wouldn’t help me. Was there something I was missing? Did he abuse you? Or was he some wonderful husband that was just too good to give up over your own child? Because I sure as hell don’t know why you would stay with—”

  Her mother smacked the table. “He would’ve kicked us all out. How could I take care of you or Wes? There’s no way I could’ve kept a roof over our heads. I had a high school diploma. No skills to earn a living. But Laura had the resources. She had the freedom, the luxury to care for you and love you both like you deserved.”

  Sue stood silent. Angry, confused. She still couldn’t imagine treating Wes that way, but then she’d had Laura. Mimi. Her godsend in such a scary time. Her mother could’ve gone to Laura. Laura would’ve taken her sister in. But her mother wasn’t a teenager. She was a grown woman. Temporary wasn’t security for an adult with no resources. A flare of sympathy caught her off guard, but she forced it down.

  “Susan, tell me what—”

  “I don’t know what to say to you.”

  “You don’t have to say anything. You owe me nothing. But know I’m here for you, for both of you. It may be too late, but I’m here.”

  Sue felt more confused than when she’d walked into this place. “I have to go.” Before she opened the door, she stopped. “Don’t reach out to Wes unless you hear from me.”

  “I won’t.” Her mother’s voice rattled. “I love you, Susan. Please call me.”

  “We’ll see.” She headed straight home but sat in her car for a long time. She needed the quiet, working through her mother’s explanation. For years, she’d viewed her mother’s choices as fearful and weak. To think the woman had thought out the repercussions of her choices—for all of them—was unsettling. It cast a whole new light on the woman she’d judged all these years.

  So much for freakin’ closure. Maybe she wasn’t ready to shut that door after all.

  Chapter 35

  “Here you go,” Trey said, handing over the wallet.

  “Oh, man! Thanks. I looked everywhere. I thought I left it at security in Reno.” Wes stuck the leather wallet in his back pocket and led them into the living room. “Thanks for bringing it over.”

  “No problem.” Thank you. When Trey had found it that afternoon, his own relief must have overshadowed Wes’s. He had an excuse to come to Sue’s. Of course, he would’ve made up another one if need be.

  Right before she’d left Tahoe, she’d pulled him aside and, in true Sue fashion, informed him that the vacation was over and things would go back to normal.

  He had smiled but refused to accept her mandate. He knew there was no going back. Tonight, he hoped to convince her to drop her house rules and give in to what was best for the both of them. She might play tough, but she couldn’t hide
from what they’d shared.

  He’d left her alone for four days. Hadn’t called her despite pulling up her number every day, wanting to hear her voice, her sass. But now he was back, and it was time to talk.

  He hadn’t told them he was coming over. He knew she’d find some reason to keep him away. But when he’d found Wes’s wallet on the floor of his car, he realized God had given him the perfect entry. And the fact that Wes was staying over at his friend’s house only made it all the sweeter.

  He sat on the couch, across from Wes. “So, what are you and Ryan up to tonight?”

  “A girl on his block is having a party. We’ll probably head over there for a bit.”

  Trey laughed. “Probably, huh?” Wes wouldn’t look at him, but he had a smile on his face. “Smart thing to do, staying close by.” Wes looked up as if waiting to be lectured, but Trey kept it simple. “Beats driving, right?”

  Wes nodded and looked relieved. “Yeah, we won’t drive.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.” Wes was a smart kid, but still a kid. Yes, he’d promised he’d never drink again after his drunken episode, but Trey remembered high school parties. He’d breathe easier knowing Wes and his friend weren’t on the road.

  “What are you doing tonight?” Wes asked.

  His mind jumped to Sue. “I don’t have any plans, I might—”

  “Hello, Trey,” she greeted him coolly while walking into the living room. But that was the only cool thing about her. Damn, she looked hot.

  A silky, blue dress clung to every curve on that delicious body. It gathered at her neck, leaving her smooth shoulders bare and calling for his lips. The bottom ended mid-thigh, showing off those sexy legs he’d been buried between less than a week ago. When he caught the stiletto heels, he had to make a quick adjustment.

  “You look fantastic.” He jumped up and headed right to her, but she froze him in his tracks, with a quick nod to Wes. Right. Not cool in front of the kid.