by Keyes, Janae
“Normally, I picked her up, but instead, my dear brother went in my stead. Once she was in the car, he--”
“Spencer, please, stop,” I heard Megan choke out from the doorway.
Without another word, I stormed to her side, and pulled her into my chest. I hated seeing her cry, and although I had nothing to do with it, I knew the tears were my fault. I’d lost my cool, and almost announced to everyone something she had kept locked up since she was sixteen. She had just barely had the courage to tell me, and now I was about to have a case of angry word vomit, with her life.
“I’m here, Peaches, I’m here. No one will ever hurt you again,” I cooed into her hair as I ran my hands up and down her back. Her gentle sobs against my shirt tore at my heart.
“Who hurt you, Megan?”
“What the hell is going on?”
With the exception of Chase and Marian, everyone behind us spoke up, wondering what the hell was happening, and as much as I wanted to spill the beans, if Megan didn’t want me retelling her story, I would respect her decision.
“Megan, baby. They should know,” I whispered in her ear. “You should be the one to tell them, if you want.”
When she looked up into my eyes, my heart broke a little more for her as the tears cascaded down her face.
“I can’t do it, Spencer. I can’t repeat it again,” she sobbed.
“Ok, Peaches. You don’t have to say anything.”
“Well, someone better start saying something,” Megan’s dad, Dexter, roared.
“Oh darling, it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with,” Marian said, standing and placing her hands on her husband’s arm.
“It doesn’t sound like nothing, Marian, and no one is going anywhere until we get to the bottom of this,” Dexter said, putting his foot down, and not letting her talk him out of it.
“Dexter, they were kids, it’s nothing. Everything is fine. Megan is fine, Chase is fine,” Marian whispered to her husband.
The tone of her voice made me physically sick to my stomach, and although I promised Megan I wouldn’t say anything, I was having a hard time keeping that promise.
Without warning Megan pulled out of my arms, and stepped around me.
“It’s NOTHING, mom? Nothing?” She screamed, an anger I didn’t even know she had been harboring had boiled over and spilled out. Her face, still coated with tears, raged as she lashed out at the woman who should have protected her.
“MEGAN REESE, you get rid of that nasty tone immediately,” Marian fired back.
“Go ahead, mom, tell them what Chase did to me. Tell them how he pinned me underneath him in his car. Tell them how he tried to rip off my panties and take advantage of me, tell them how he ALMOST RAPED me. Tell them how you covered it up. GO ON, MOM, TELL THEM!” Megan screamed, inching her way towards her shocked mother. “I was sixteen years old! You were supposed to protect me!”
Everything around us was silent as a loud THWACK resonated through the air. The atmosphere was so tense, and my vision was so blurred by my anger for Megan, I didn’t have time to stop Marian from backhanding her daughter.
“I did protect you, you ungrateful child. How can you blame Chase for acting like he did, when you dress the way that you do,” she spat, motioning towards Megan’s current attire.
With her hand still holding her cheek, Megan lost the little bit of ground she had gained, and sunk to her knees. The sobs wracking her body destroyed me as I kneeled down behind her and took her into my arms.
“And YOU, Spencer Grant, you stay away from my daughter!” Marian screeched.
“Like hell, I will,” I retorted, picking up Megan and walking away from the scene. “If you ever touch her again, Marian, so help me God, if you ever--” I couldn’t finish the sentence, for fear of ending up in jail for my words, or worse, for my actions.
I didn’t listen as Dexter, and my parents, faced off against Marian and Chase, although the screaming could probably be heard back in Atlanta. My focus was to get Megan alone, and remind her that no matter what, I was there for her, and she didn’t have to go through this alone.
Megan
My face pressed to Spencer’s warm chest, my tears soaking his shirt as he carried me. The perfect Fourth of July weekend I expected was in complete shambles all around me.
The moment we entered Spencer’s beach house, he sat on the couch and continued to hold me close. I could never have wished for someone better in my life to be with me through the hardest thing I’d ever faced, standing up to my mom and exposing her for the person she really was.
“Hey Peaches, I’m here, okay?” Spencer whispered, his fingers trailing through my hair.
“I know,” I breathed through my lingering sobs.
“I’m thinking we should head back to Atlanta. Get away from all of this,” Spencer suggested. It was as if he read my mind. I couldn’t stand to be there anymore in the same vicinity as my mom and the man who tried to take my innocence. “When we get back, you’re moving in with me. I know I live in my parent’s pool house, but for now, I think it’s the best option. I’m not letting you live in the same house with that bitch.”
“Okay,” I answered, not even bothering to defend my mother anymore.
For the first time in the last few minutes, I moved my face from Spencer’s shirt. I was slightly embarrassed as I’d stained it with tears, make-up, and possibly a bit of snot. I peered up into his sapphire eyes. No matter what, the look in his eyes always made me feel safe.
He took my face in his hands. “You don’t have to do all of this for me,” I whispered.
“I don’t have to. I want to. I want to take care of you. You’ve become the reason I wake up and tackle life. I’m always going to make sure that you are okay and I will go through any challenges with you Megan, always. I love you.” His lips pressed to mine, a warmth filling my belly. I knew every word he spoke was truth because he mirrored my exact feelings.
Spencer gave me a few minutes of quiet and time to calm down before he went back to the main house with me. I was getting my things from the bedroom. Spencer had texted Kyle for he and Joe to get their things and we’d all head back to Atlanta together.
Approaching the house, I spotted Heather and Steve right away, huddled together on a couch, Heather clearly upset. Her eyes shot up and met mine right away, a sadness washed over her as she stood.
“Megan,” she started as she came right to me and pulled me into her arms. “If I had known, you know I’d never let him get away with it, even as my child. I’m so sorry, from the bottom of my heart.”
“It’s fine,” I whispered.
“It’s not, you had to live with that secret. You’ve seen him on several occasions after. I can’t imagine how it must have been for you. I thought I raised my children better than that,” she cried.
Spencer joined us. “You did, mom, you did the fucking best you could. Don’t blame yourself. He’s a piece of shit.”
“Megan,” I heard Steve’s voice. I turned in his direction. “I’m wearing my lawyer hat here. The statute of limitations in Georgia is up this year, as you were 16 at the time. You can still press charges if you’d like.”
“Thanks Steve. Right now, I don’t have it in me to go through that. Right now, I just want to go home,” I told him honestly. I knew everything that would come along with a case like mine. A classic he said-she said. I didn’t have the energy to relive that nightmare over and over again. I knew I had until the end of the year to change my mind and I’d give it thought.
“Yeah, we’re going back to the ATL,” Spencer informed his parents. “Just getting Megan’s things and we’re out. She’s moving into the pool house with me, by the way.”
“That’s fine with us. We already love having you around and now, as Spencer’s girlfriend, we’ll love it more,” Heather cheered as she gave me another hug, this time with a smile on her face.
“We’ll see you both in a couple days. Enjoy your time alone,” Steve said as he gave
Spencer a pat on the back.
Spencer laced our fingers as we entered the house. I heard my parents’ raised voices as soon as we entered. I cringed at the sound of their fighting, I’d never really seen or heard them fight in my life. Taking a deep breath, I headed towards the stairs with Spencer. Getting out of that house was the first thing on my mind.
“Megan!” my dad’s voice shouted. He jogged towards me and right away pulled he into a bear hug. “Why didn’t you tell me, Pumpkin?” he asked, his voice cracking.
I inhaled as the sound of my dad’s cries; he’d only ever cried in front of me once, when my grandma died. Having him cry was oddly comforting. He was in pain because of my pain.
“Mom told me not to,” I told him through my own tears.
My dad held me close as he turned his attention to Spencer. “So, you and my baby girl?”
“Yes, I suppose so,” Spencer said, giving me a soft smile to comfort me.
“Take care of my little girl. She needs all the care she can get,” my dad sternly noted to Spencer.
“I will, she’s my top priority. Don’t worry, I’d never hurt her. I promise,” Spencer promised.
“Megan, we need to talk,” arrived the nasty and demanding voice of my mom. I moved away from my dad and looked her directly in the eyes as she stood, hands on hips, not showing any remorse, only anger.
“Don’t you talk to her. Don’t you dare, Marian,” my dad growled, milliseconds before Spencer could chime in.
“Peaches, Baby, let’s go get your things,” Spencer said as he took me by the waist, leading me up the stairs.
“Spencer Grant, I thought I told you to keep away from my daughter. She doesn’t need the influences of someone like you,” my mother sneered. “Now Megan, we need to talk about all of this nonsense.”
“I can’t believe you have the audacity to even talk to her after all you’ve done!” My dad yelled.
“All I’ve done? Really, Dexter? I made a little girl into a strong woman who will be an even stronger lawyer,” she insisted.
Spencer pulled me away from their argument and towards the bedroom that had been designated for me.
“That’s all you want. You want a project in Megan. You didn’t even want her. Weren’t even going to tell me you were pregnant and you were going to get an abortion. I begged you to keep her.” Hearing my dad’s confession, I froze in the middle of the hall, tears streaming down my face. They say, what’s done in the dark, comes to light.
“Damn right, I didn’t want her! I wasn’t prepared to be a fucking mother. I made the most of it for us, for our marriage!” Spencer pulled me into the bedroom and closed the door, not allowing me to hear the rest.
I sat on the bed, face in my hands, crying. No wonder I never felt a connection with that woman, she never wanted me in the first place. I only didn’t understand then why she didn’t cast me aside. She’d pushed me my entire life to be the best, who does that to a child they didn’t want?
“If I wasn’t raised right, I would have punched that bitch right in that trap of hers,” Spencer grunted under his breath. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” He was quick to apologize to me.
“It’s fine, I understand your sentiment,” I said weakly, forcing a small smile to my face. “Okay, I’m done crying. I swear,” I sniffed. Spencer tugged me to him, his arms holding me tight, his lips planting a kiss on my forehead. “Let’s get my stuff and get out of here. And we’ve got to get some ice for your hand.”
Spencer’s knuckles were bright red from the punches he landed on Chase. I ran my hand over his bruise, the remnant of a wince coming from him. He’d defended my virtue in such a gallant way. I pressed my lips gently to the back of his hand, showing my appreciation.
* * *
The five hour drive to Atlanta was surprisingly good. Joe and Kyle were cuddling in the backseat, while in the front, Spencer was holding my hand while he drove. I swear he never let me go, he did everything he could to reassure me that everything would be okay. I was the luckiest girl on the planet, despite the challenges and bullshit, I had someone who truly loved me for who I was and not for who they could make me.
Dropping off Joe with Kyle, Spencer took me to my parent’s house. I grabbed a suitcase full of stuff with the intent on going back for more. Being the gentleman he was, Spencer brought my things into the pool house. I hadn’t been in there since I was a kid, playing hide and seek on the Grant property.
“Make yourself at home,” Spencer told me as he took my suitcases into his room--our room.
My stomach clenched. Besides my dorms at school, I’d never lived anywhere besides my parents house and I’d never lived with a boyfriend. Instantly, I was nervous about virtually playing house with Spencer.
Slipping off my flip flops, I ventured into the bedroom, where I discovered Spencer making space in his dresser for my things. I leaned onto the wooden doorframe, smiling at him as he hadn’t noticed my presence.
He worked to rearrange his clothes and make drawers empty for me. He paused for a moment, his face in his hands, a groan coming from him.
“Get out of your head, Spence, you’ve got this. Megan’s great, you’ll be fine together. Quit with the nerves,” he whispered to himself. I grinned, knowing he was as nervous as I was. I loved how Spencer could be so calm and collected on the outside, a trait I wish I could possess.
“Knock, knock,” I said. Spencer jumped and turned to me.
It was impossible to not gape at the man in front of me. His t-shirt, tight, hugging his chest and abs, the edge of his tattoo just showing from under his sleeve. He motioned for me to join him.
Wandering to the bed, I sat down on the edge while Spencer finished up at the dresser. Spencer came to me, spreading my legs, standing between them. Hands on my face, peering down at me before bending to kiss me.
The pure strength of the kiss crumpled the barrier of any resistance. Leaning back, I allowed Spencer to straddle over me, his fingers grazing my skin under my shirt.
Our kiss breaking, Spencer looked down at me under him, my chest heaving up and down, out of breath. I tried to think back to what changed, how my childhood crush and I became this, a reflection of love.
“I have no idea what I’ve gotten myself into, but I love it,” I said as Spencer laid me on the bed. He joined next to me and pulled me into his arms, his face nuzzled into the nape of my neck. “For the first time in a long time, I’m not filled with anxiety. You know, my anxiety has always been an issue as my mom always demanded more of me than I should have been able to handle. After everything happened with Chase, she got tougher on me and I always felt like I was drowning in demands and anxiety.”
“You don’t have to worry about her anymore. You never have to be more than yourself. I fell for Megan and not the carbon copy of Marian, that Marian was trying to create.” Spencer always seemed to be extremely honest with me and I loved it. His honesty helped me feel secure.
“Thank you,” I whispered as Spencer lifted his head and peered into my eyes. I gave him a soft smile. “We still have work, but knowing mom, she won’t make a scene at the office.”
“That’s a relief.”
Spencer tucked a stray hair of mine behind my ear, his hand ran down over my cheek, fingers traced my lips. My stomach clenched attractively.
“I love you, Spencer Grant.”
A grin spread across Spencer’s mouth before he greedily took my lips for his.
Chapter Fourteen
Spencer
Neither of us were ready to return to work. After getting back from the shitstorm of Fourth of July, we had a few days to be alone and get to know one another on a deeper level. Yes, we had grown up together, and we knew a lot about each other, that much was obvious, but there was a world of things to learn about someone you loved.
I knew Megan had wanted to be a dancer, but Marian had put the chop on that dream early on, but I hadn’t known just how deep her love for dancing had actually gone. I could see it in he
r eyes every time one of us brought it up in conversation. The sparkle was completely consuming when she spoke of the way she felt with each move her body did.
Even now, our second night back in Atlanta, our conversation had gone from one thing to another, but we had landed back on her dancing.
“Show me,” I asked, laying naked beside her on our bed.
“What? No. You’re silly,” she laughed, tossing a pillow at me.
“I’m serious, Megan. Show me.”
“Wow. You must be serious. You called me Megan.”
Sitting up in bed and turning away from me, I watched as the sheet fell from her body, and pooled at her waist. Her slender back spoke to me, begging me to worship it, cradle it, and love it, as I had her front. Her curves entranced me, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
“Perv,” she laughed at my gawking face.
“Only for you, Peaches.”
As she stood, I took that opportunity to roll closer to her and smack the firm mahogany ass I’d just been admiring.
“HEY! You really are a perv, Spencer.”
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to resist, I put out my bottom lip and pouted at her. The puppy dog eyes I threw in were only for show.
“Ugh, fine!”
Sitting up in bed, resting my back against the headboard, I waited for my show to begin. I didn’t know what style she was going to do, and frankly, I didn’t give a shit. Just watching the way her body could float around my room grabbing articles of clothing to put on was enough to make my cock hard as diamonds. Once she added in the element of dance, the fluidity I knew she had, possessing her limbs, making her move in ways that would sear into my brain for eternity, then I would really be a goner.
With only a pair of skimpy pink panties on, and a small tank top, Megan flitted over to the dresser where my sound system was set up. Popping in a CD I hadn’t seen her grab, she found the right track and hit play.
Almost as if a completely different persona had entered her body, as soon as the music started and Megan began moving, she transformed. No longer was there a trace of the shy, awkward girl I had grown up with. In her stead was a confident, statuesque woman, whose moves were astoundingly beautiful. I watched, enraptured, with each spin around the oversized room. I didn’t know what kind of dance she was doing, only that the music was soft, and melodic, and her body moved in time with the steady and sensual beat.