CHAPTER FIVE

I take a deep breath, trying to lift my body that’s numb from the medication I must be on.

Pain spears me in the chest as I remember his face, my cries for him to stop, and the pain down there and throughout my whole body.

I just don't understand how I hadn't seen him for what he really was until that moment. I was so blind. I cover my face with my hands in an effort to gather my scattered thoughts.

“He came home really angry...I tried to talk to him, but then he hit me and I must have blacked out because when I woke up I was in his bed. He...Oh, God..."

My voice cracks as I realize the three words that I can’t seem to wrap my head around. He loved me, I know he did, but last night, God, he was just...a monster.

Kel squeezes my hand and with her eyes full of sympathy and love, urges me to continue.

"He forced himself on me, Kel," I say in a shaky voice, grasping onto her as she wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight, allowing me to finally let go of the overwhelming emotions that threaten to smother me.

***

Present Day

My hands are shaking from the force of the memories, the darkness that looms around me from my broken past.

Lucas squeezes my shoulders from behind, bringing me back to the here and now.

“You okay, Sophia?" Lucas asks over the brim of his second Corona Light. I blink, shaking my head to clear all thoughts of the past.

I look to see Kel hurriedly setting out party platters, hanging streamers from the ceiling, and placing buckets of beer bottles on the tables in the living room.

That makes me smile. She’s in her element right now. Planning a party, making the individual platters, and setting the decorations up, that’s something she loves to do.

“Wow, she’s excited."

He laughs, a light sound that I haven’t heard in far too long. When he hands me a Blue Moon from the cooler, I look over to him and grin.

“She loves a party, huh?"

“She wouldn’t be Kel if she didn’t love this, right?” His eyes go to my sister, softening when Kel winks at him from across the room. He’s so good for her. Just what she deserves.

I nod, lifting the beer to my lips.

"We invited someone today. We met him at the studio." Lucas is in the middle of raiding our fridge when he looks up, raising an eyebrow at me. His eyes narrow at me.

He thinks I’m kidding, since for most of the time he’s known me, I have refused to even think about men.

But now I want to. I want to be open to the future if that happy-ever-after is still a possibility for me.

"What?" His voice is incredulous, but he already has that grin across his face.

And then, he erupts into a wide, no-holds-barred smile. One I’ve never seen before.

Setting his beer down, Lucas wraps me up in a hug and squeezes too tight.

"You’re finally getting back out there! That’s great, Sophia. Who is he?"

I blush and look away, not wanting to think about how bad I like Gavin, how close I came to leaning into his touch today. It's crazy and it scares me how much I reacted to him when we met.

"His name is Gavin. I don’t know...after what happened with Bryce, I don’t..." He steps up to me and squeezes my shoulders. It’s reassurance.

"Any guy would be damn lucky to have you, Sophia. Okay?"

I nod, giving him a smile, and run to catch up with Kel as she balances two trays in her hands. I hastily grab one from her and set it down on the kitchen island.

“Careful, sis”

"You ready, Kel?" Lucas calls from the living room, well into his third beer.

She grins at him, narrowing her eyes. She’ll never say so, but she is totally smitten with that man. It’s only an hour later that we have everything set up and the DJ we hired for tonight arrives.

I do my best to get him squared away at the table near the bar in our living room and find Kel on the couch with Lucas, deep in discussion.

Needing a minute of fresh air, I open the doors to the balcony and close them behind me, taking a deep, fortifying breath. Then my phone rings.

"Hello?" It’s an unknown number, which makes me nervous, as if Bryce would call me after all these weeks.

Would he? Would he come back and look for me after all this time? God, what would I do…?

"Hello, my name is Peter Piers. I’m with Grayson Dance Academy. I'm calling about a spot in our program. How are you today, Ms. Jones?"

Relief and elation swim through me. This is the call I’ve been waiting for, praying for. Excitement quickens my pulse.

I’ve been waiting for this call for weeks. I auditioned for his dance company, the very company that is known throughout the performance arts world as the most esteemed dance company in the country.

"Yes, thank you for getting back to me. I’m good. How are you?"

I’m proud that my voice doesn’t crack with the nervousness I’m feeling at this moment.

I remember how nervous I’ve been all season about this program.

It’s a modern dance fellowship and at the end of it I could possibly have a position with any one of their world-renowned studios. It’s been my dream since high school, hell, since the very first time I danced.

“I wanted to speak with you about this position. Are you still interested in a full-time spot with our Modern Dance program?"

I beam in excitement, practically jumping in the heels I’m wearing.

"Absolutely." It’s every dream I’ve ever had. My dance.

"Good, we’re honored to have you. The footage I saw of you was phenomenal. You’re a very talented dancer, Ms. Jones."

His voice is filled with awe and I know he means every word. Having the praise of the Peter Piers means so much.

"Thank you, Mr. Piers,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut from the sting I feel from the tears that threaten to fall.

"I'll send the orientation paperwork to you as soon as I can. Welcome to the program!"

"Thank you. You won’t regret this." It’s a vow.

I hang up and jump when I see Kel at the door. She beams with such happiness and I know she’s heard everything.