He eyes the brochure prefer it’s coated in anthrax and releases an enormous sigh. “Yeah, Pres. I’ll give it some thought.”

I hand it to him and raise on my toes to put a kiss on his lips. “I really like you.”

He pulls me into his robust arms and rests his chin on the highest of my head. “I really like you too, darlin’. Greater than something.”

Chapter Twelve

Presley

“Come sit down, honey. I made your favorites: banana chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and hash browns.”

I slowly make my manner into the kitchen and sit on the desk. My abdomen rumbles when my mother units a heaping plate earlier than me. I inhale the scrumptious aroma for only a second earlier than pushing it away.

“Do you by probability have any scrambled egg whites or turkey bacon?”

My mom frowns. “I may handle the egg whites, however the one bacon we’ve is the sort sitting proper in entrance of you. What’s the matter? Do you not like pancakes anymore?”

I don’t know. I haven’t had pancakes in over a decade as a result of my private coach had me on a strict low-calorie, low-carb weight loss program. If my measurement zero pants bought a bit comfortable, he dropped my calorie allowance even additional, tacking on an additional forty-five minutes of cardio to my exercise.

“Um… no, it’s not that. It’s simply, I…”

“It’s simply what, honey? Eat up. You’re losing away. I haven’t seen you this small in… nicely, in all probability not because you had your first interval.” She gestures to my clothes. “You had been tiny in highschool, and but, you’re virtually swimming in that outfit.”

I sigh. After I dug via the dresser for some previous garments, I used to be shocked after I noticed all the scale fours. Folks used to inform me I used to be too skinny again then. I can’t think about what they’d say in the event that they noticed me now. I don’t know why I’m making such an enormous deal out of it, anyway. It’s only one meal. I slide the plate nearer to me, choose up a fork, and take a tentative chew.

“Oh, my God,” I mumble round a mouthful of heaven.

My mama preens. “See? They’ll’t be all that dangerous in the event that they put that smile in your face.”

Was I smiling? I attain as much as contact my cheek however suppose higher of it after I really feel how swollen it’s.

My mother takes the seat throughout from me with a sigh. “Speak to me, Presley. Please. That is killing your daddy and me.”

I end chewing earlier than talking once more. “The place is Dad anyway?”

“He had enterprise up in Macon. He didn’t wish to go away with out saying goodbye, however you had been taking so lengthy within the bathe, and I assumed possibly it will be simpler so that you can open up if it had been simply the 2 of us. Now, inform me what occurred, sweetheart. Who did this to you?”

I take one other chew, stalling so long as I can. Sadly, after solely 5 bites, my abdomen can’t deal with any extra meals.

I can’t bear to see the look in her eyes after I say it, so I fastidiously research the tabletop. “Sebastian. Sebastian did this.”

She doesn’t say a phrase, so I lastly search for and meet her tear-filled eyes. “Has he… performed this earlier than?”

“By no means this dangerous, however… yeah. Fairly a number of occasions.”

“How lengthy, Presley?” she croaks. “How lengthy has he been puttin’ his fingers on you?”

I hold my head in disgrace. “Nearly the entire time.”

My mother gasps. “Oh, child, why didn’t you say something?”

I raise my good shoulder. “I used to be scared. And ashamed.”

“I’m going to kill that son of a bitch in case your daddy or brother don’t get to him first.”

I shake my head. “No, Mama. It’s important to promise to not do something. To not say something. I do know you need to inform Dad, however I simply need this to go away. I simply wish to transfer on with my life.”

“How will you say that? You possibly can’t let him get away with this, Presley! I discover it onerous to consider you’d even take into account it. I raised you to face up for your self.”

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