Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow

Author:Lauren Runow [Runow, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Justine

A strong hand reaches around my shoulder.

It grips me hard, and my body feels like a lead weight being pressed into the ground.

I can’t breathe. Can’t speak.

My throat closes as the pressure builds inside from the weight pushing down on me, harder, more sinister, more—

“No!” I spring out of bed, screaming.

My breath is labored, and my chest is tight as I take in the windows that show me the beautiful lake surrounding us.

When I feel a hand softly touch my arm, I turn in fear, but I am calmed when I see Tucker there with a concerned expression on his face.

Everything comes together quickly. I’m not in New York. I’m not being attacked. I stayed the night with Tucker after having the best sex of my life.

I close my eyes and take a deep inhale.

Tucker sits up and wraps his arms around me. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, bringing my knees up to my chest and placing my arms on them so I can rest my forehead there.

He scoots closer, moving his body to engulf mine. “Breathe, baby. I’m here.”

Calming my breath, I keep my head down but move my arm to reach for his hand, needing his comfort more than ever.

He rubs his other hand on my back, and with every stroke, my breathing comes back to normal. Once I feel a little more stable, I lie down and curl up in his arms.

As he runs his fingers through my hair, I move closer to him.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks barely above a whisper.

I pause, not sure if I should say something.

My parents keep saying I need to talk about it, but to who? I don’t really have anyone I want to open up to, that I want to relive those moments with.

Of course, my friends in New York know but not anyone else. My friends here think I’m home because I lost my lease and decided to come home for the summer months before finding a new place to live.

To be honest, I didn’t know what my plan was. I just knew I needed to get out of New York. I didn’t feel safe there anymore.

I glance at Tucker, and for the first time, I feel secure enough to talk about it.

I inhale a deep breath and begin to tell the story in full for the first time since that night. “When I was in New York, I lived with my boyfriend, Jimmy, for a few years. I thought we had a great relationship and that I knew every aspect with his life.”

I feel him hold me a bit tighter, giving me more strength to go on.

“I didn’t even know he had a gambling problem. I knew he was really into sports and would get passionate about whatever game he was watching, but I didn’t know there was more behind them. I thought it was normal, and he just enjoyed it.” I inhale before whispering more to myself, “I really didn’t know.”

“A gambling addiction is real.

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