I Never Gave My Consent by Holly Archer

Author:Holly Archer [Archer, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471157035
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

10

Beaver

I was standing by the roadside, about half a mile from the Wrekin, when Beaver drew up in his car. I suppose I should have maybe been a little wary – he’d already exposed himself to me, after all – but I was so relieved that I didn’t have to walk all the way home that I just jumped in. He was playing Asian music on the radio and he smiled, exposing his distinctive teeth, as I slid into the passenger seat.

‘Hello, Holly,’ he said. I nodded by way of response. It had only been a few months since we’d first met but so much had happened that it felt like years had passed. The car was warm and, on the back seat, there was a pile of takeaway pizzas. Beaver had obviously found a job as a delivery driver.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a text to Mum, telling her I was going to Carly’s for dinner. She texted back, saying something about how I’d been out a lot that week already and shouldn’t I come home for once? But I just ignored it. I imagined Phil had been kicking off again about how I was never in and I couldn’t deal with the hassle.

I expected Beaver to drive me back to Telford, so I was surprised when he turned the car back in the direction of the Wrekin. Maybe I should have been scared, but I wasn’t. For some reason I felt weirdly safe with him. He just seemed a bit bashful and silly. I didn’t think he could really do me any harm and I was just glad not to be walking home alone in the dark.

Beaver parked up and, in his broken English, asked where I’d been and who I’d been with. For a moment I thought I might cry again, as I described Mr Khan and how he’d abandoned me, but I managed to hold it together.

‘He has sex with me,’ I said. ‘Nearly every day. And I don’t like it.’

I said the words slowly, hoping Beaver would understand what I meant. It sounds strange now, but I couldn’t bring myself to use the word rape, because I still didn’t feel like a victim. I still blamed myself for what was happening because I’d taken Mr Khan’s money and allowed him to buy me a few takeaways. It would be a long, long time before I’d be able to accept that he was abusing me, even though I hated every minute I spent with him.

Beaver shook his head. ‘Stay with me,’ he said. ‘Don’t see him.’

I let out a sad little laugh – if only it were that easy, but Beaver looked so earnest that it seemed almost sweet. He told me that he would protect me, that I could call him instead of going with Mr Khan, and for a moment I really wanted to believe he could save me from all of these horrible men. I didn’t give much thought to the fact that he was married, and way older than me.

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