The Things We Deserve: Beyond The Boards (Book 1) by M. J. Colter

Author:M. J. Colter [Colter, M. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

Tash hands me a warm cup of tea as she takes a seat next to Chris. They both stare into nothing, processessing everything. I had to tell them, even though I still don’t know all the details myself.

“I’m so sorry Angel” Chris whispers.

I just shrug, there’s nothing him or I could have done to change the way things played out. I can’t change the past, even though I would do anything to make this all go away.

“Where is she?” I hear Steph scream as the front door slams shut.

I brace for impact as my best friend comes flying into the kitchen and wraps her arms around me, “Steph… I can’t breathe” I choke out.

“Sorry” she smiles, “I’m just so glad you’re okay.”

I wouldn’t say okay, alive maybe, but definitely not okay.

“You need to tell her Claire” Chris says quietly, eyeing me from across the table. Steph looks between the two of us confused, trying to figure out what Chris means.

So with the little energy I have left, I tell her the same story I just told Chris and Tash. I watch my best friend fall apart just like my brother, and just like I have the past couple days.

“You need to go to the cops,” she says.

“No.”

Chris slams his fist on the table, and I have to hide the fear in my eyes when he does so, “what do you mean no? He fucking raped you Claire. You need to press charges.”

I don’t think they understand, I’ve done nothing but think about what I’m supposed to do for the last five days. I’ve had nothing but time to figure out my plan… and there isn’t one.

“You don’t get it” I say, “there’s nothing I can do. If I press charges Chris’s reputation will be ruined, my reputation will be ruined. Everyone will know that he’s my brother and everything I’ve worked for my entire life will be gone in an instant.”

Chris shakes his head, and Tash holds his hand, “you shouldn’t be worried about what will happen to me right now.”

“It’s not just about you.” There’s so many things in play right now, it’s hurting my head just thinking about it. “If I don’t win the case, I’ll be the girl who cried wolf, the girl who falsely accused the beloved hockey star of being a rapist. No one would want to work with me, I’d never be able to skate again. Not to mention I don’t have proof.”

“What do you mean no proof? You have bruises covering your body” Tash says. She sounds like she’s in disbelief.

I don’t know how to explain to them that there’s no use. No one saw what actually happened, and no one was up there to hear me screaming for help. It’s my word against his.

“The defence can twist these stupid bruises into whatever sick fucking story they want. They’ll say that I liked it rough, that things got a little too out of hand.” I quickly wipe the tears from my eyes, remembering every sick word he said a couple days ago, “he’s right you know.

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