Forgiven (Forgiven Series)

by Rebecca Brooke

  “Holy shit, baby! What the fuck happened?” Caleb demanded.

  I saw Emily standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry Angie, I tried to stop him.”

  I looked at her, but I was still kind of out of it. She looked so sad and her eyes pleaded with me to forgive her for letting Caleb in. I knew she was worried about me. I also knew I would’ve had to tell Caleb sooner or later—I just never imagined him finding out this way.

  “It’s okay, Em.” I nodded, understanding that she felt guilty for not stopping Caleb from coming into my room.

  “You still haven’t answered my question. What the fuck happened?” Caleb demanded, his tone softening slightly.

  “I’ll leave you two alone,” Emily said, as she walked out and closed the door.

  “Angie, you need to answer me and you need to do it now…before I fucking lose it,” Caleb fumed. I could see him clenching his jaw as he tried to control his temper.

  I looked into his eyes and took a deep breath before starting. “I’m staying with Em this summer, so I went home to pick up the last of the things that I’d left in my room.” I felt the tears starting to run down my face. “I didn’t expect him to be there.”

  Caleb took hold of my good hand. “Didn’t expect who to be there?”

  “My dad…he was supposed to be working.” I started fidgeting with the blanket on my bed. I wasn’t sure how to tell Caleb about this part of my life. “He was supposed to be at work. But he was home,” I whispered. “He was…drunk. I shook my head. “I’ve never seen him that crazy before.” The tears started to blur my vision. I stopped to take a deep breath and get control of my emotions. “He accused me of sleeping around town.” I looked away, embarrassed to admit that. “I’ve never seen him that bad before and he wanted to know why I wasn’t helping him pay the bills.” I put my hands out, willing him to understand. “I tried to explain that I wasn’t home ‘cause I was going to school and he…he…” I started sobbing uncontrollably.

  Caleb got up and sat down on the bed beside me. He pulled me onto his lap. “Shh, baby, it’s okay…don’t cry.”

  He began to rub circles on my back as he tried to calm me down, but it didn’t work. So instead he just held me until my sobs subsided. He tangled one hand in my hair, leaving the other wrapped around me. Then he turned my face towards his and used his thumbs to wipe away my tears.

  “Baby, why didn’t you tell me before?” he asked, the saddest look in his eyes.

  “Tell you what? That my father’s an alcoholic, and I didn’t grow up with a perfect home life,” I said sarcastically.

  He nodded and even though he seemed sad, I could still see his anger, simmering beneath the surface.

  I sighed. “He’s been drinking since my mom left when I was seven. Before now it was always just name calling, usually a…a…a whore,” I stuttered, my eyes tearing up. I looked away from him.

  “He’s never laid a hand on me before.” I pulled my wrist up to my chest, protecting it and trying to ward off the memories. “But he was…different this time. He usually waited until after work to start drinking, but he told me he lost his job…oh, and that I needed to help him pay the bills. He said I should be making enough money on my back.” I couldn’t look at Caleb, afraid of what I would see. I was so ashamed telling him this—I didn’t want him to think less of me.

  “He started hitting me when I told him I didn’t have any money to give him,” I sobbed.

  He turned my face back to his. The look in his eyes was all I needed to see. Caleb wasn’t going to run because of what I just told him. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry. I would have gone with you if I had known.”

  “I know, but I thought he’d be at work and I could just avoid him,” I sniffed.

  He gently lifted my wrapped up wrist. “Is it broken?”

  “No, Emily took me to the ER. They did X-rays and it’s just a bad sprain. They gave me pain meds.”

  He looked nervous about asking his next question. “Did you call the police?”

  “Yeah, they came to the hospital, took pictures…and my statement,” I said sadly.

  He lightly touched the bruises on my cheek. “You’ve been living with this for the last thirteen years? You have to be the strongest person I know.”

  “I told you, bad things happen to good people. I learned a long time ago to forgive—forgive my mom for leaving, my dad for not being able to cope, and the system for not figuring it out and saving me from the nightmare that was my life.”

  He looked at me incredulously. “You are truly amazing.”

  We sat in silence for a few minutes, while Caleb rocked me gently back and forth. “Can I ask you a question?”

  I shrugged, I had nothing left to hide at this point. “Sure.”

  “You’re still a virgin…because of the things your dad accused you of growing up?”

  I felt my face blush. “Mostly, I didn’t want to actually become the whore he accused me of being.”

  “How could you ever think you’d be a whore?” he asked angrily.

  “When you grow up hearing the same thing all the time, it’s kinda hard to think different,” I whispered.

  Caleb cupped my face with both hands and kissed me on the side of my lips, away from the split. “Just remember, if and when you feel you are ready, I would be honored to be your first.”

  I felt the tears pool in my eyes and I smiled at him.

  “You need to get some rest,” he said as he lowered me to the bed. “We’ll talk more when you wake up.”

  I didn’t want him to go. “I know you’re leaving in the morning, but will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

  He gave me a puzzled look. “Leaving?” He shrugged his shoulders and got into bed with me. I was too tired to ask about it. I turned into him so that I could lay my sprained wrist across his chest and before I knew it I was asleep.

  When I got Angie’s text that she wasn’t feeling well, I figured I’d stop by her place and see if she needed anything. Then when I got there and Emily tried to stop me from seeing her, I was livid. I wasn’t sure if Emily was just being bitchy, or if Angie was hiding something. Walking into her room…seeing the bruises on her face…I felt like someone had stabbed me in the gut. How could anyone hurt my Angie?

  I couldn’t believe she had been growing up with this shit her whole life. I just wanted to punch something. I should have seen this coming. Josh had mentioned something about her home life a while ago, but I had been so intent on keeping her at arm’s length that I never truly paid attention.

  No wonder Angie forgave easily—she’s been forgiving her dad for his bullshit her entire life. I’m glad that she called the police, but knowing Angie, Emily probably had to make her do it. I hoped they threw the bastard in jail. I know I didn’t want to run into him—I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my temper in check.

  I watched Angie sleeping on my chest and realized I had never felt so protective in my life. All I wanted to do was keep her from feeling this kind of physical and emotional pain ever again. She looked so battered, I was afraid to even kiss her for fear of hurting her. When her breathing evened out and I knew she was in a deep sleep, I moved her from my chest and slid out from underneath her. I wanted to talk to Emily.

  When I walked out into the living room, I saw Emily sitting on the couch. I could tell she had been crying.

  “How is she?” she sniffed.

  I sighed. “She’s asleep right now. Emily, how long has this been going on?”

  I saw the tears building in her eyes. “The verbal abuse has been going on since she was little, but this is the first time he has ever laid a hand on her.”

  I clenched my fists at my sides. “He will never lay another fucking hand on her again.”

  “I had to make her call the police,” Emily said sadly.

  “I figured as much. It’s not in her nature to do something that will hurt someone else, even if it is in her best interest. Why didn’t she tell me before?” I asked sitting dow
n next to her.

  She sighed. “She didn’t even tell me until near the end of last year. Part of me believes she only told me because I was in our dorm room when she came home from her dad’s house in tears one night.” Her eyes glazed over like she was lost in the memory before she shook her head. “She doesn’t want to be defined by what she grew up in. Besides she’s supposed to stay with me this summer.”

  “I wish she would have told me. I would have gone with her to get her stuff.” I said sadly.

  “I told her not to go,” she frowned.

  I nodded and pulled out my phone to send a quick text to Josh.

  Me: Gonna have to skip the trip

  “I thought you were supposed to be on a cruise with your parents?” I asked. My phone buzzed in my hand.

  Josh: WTF?

  Me: Angie’s sick needs someone to stay w/ her

  “I am…I was. I told them I was going to stay here with Angie. I can’t leave her alone right now,” she replied.

  “She won’t be alone,” I assured her. It didn’t take Josh long to answer, I knew he would be pissed, but he was going to have to get over it.

  Josh: Dude?!?!

  Me: Get Nick to go.

  “You’re going to the coast, so if I don’t stay with her who will?” she asked sarcastically.

  Josh: Fine but you better explain.

  I put my phone in my pocket and looked over at her. “If you think for one moment that I am going on that trip after what happened, you are out of your goddamn mind,” I growled.

  “You’re not going?” she asked, surprised.

  “Do you really think I would leave her?” I asked sadly. “Seeing her like that was like a knife twisting in my gut. I haven’t cared about anyone the way I care about Angie in a long time.”

  Emily put her hand on my arm, “Caleb, you can’t hurt her again. She has been through so much already. I don’t know how much more she can take. Promise me, you won’t hurt her.”

  I looked her directly in the eyes and took a deep breath, “I promise I won’t hurt her. I’m going to take care of her.”

  I was scared to death of the promise I’d made Emily. Angie meant a lot to me and I was not going to fuck it up, but I hadn’t done so well in the past. We sat in silence for a few minutes, as we both absorbed all that had happened in the last few hours.

  “Emily, I think you should go with your parents. You still have time to make it to their house before you’re supposed to fly out tomorrow morning, right?”

  “Yeah, but I feel bad leaving her,” she admitted.

  “You know as well as I do, that if you stay she is going to feel worse, because she’s going to feel guilty that you missed your cruise,” I reminded her.

  “What about your trip?” she asked.

  “It was only a quick trip to the coast, Nick can go in my place. He was supposed to go originally anyway. I know he won’t mind,” I assured her.

  “I guess he bailed after the fight?” she smirked.

  “You could say that. Please go, I’ll take care of her,” I promised.

  She sat there for a few minutes. I could see on her face that she was trying to decide. “If you’re sure, but make she understands why I went, okay?”

  “Trust me she’ll understand, but I’ll make sure she knows. I’m going to take her back to my place tomorrow. That way she doesn’t have to deal with being on campus.”

  Emily got up and started to head for her room, “I need to get on the road then. Call me if anything happens.”

  I got up and followed her down the hallway, “I will, but right now I’m going to go back and lie down with her. I don’t want her to wake up and think I left.”

  Emily turned fully around and gave me a sad smile, “Thank you, Caleb.” She squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. “She was right about you.”

  I nodded and headed into Angie’s room. I wasn’t leaving her side. I pulled off my t-shirt and jeans and crawled back into bed with her. She was still curled up on her side. I carefully lifted her sprained wrist and laid it across my chest as I pulled her to me. She whimpered in her sleep and it felt like the knife was being twisted deeper into my gut. I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

  I was suddenly exhausted. After the day I’d had, I wasn’t surprised and I still had a lot to deal with. I decided to close my eyes and sleep—I was going to need it.

  It was hot, why was I so fucking hot. I opened my eyes and didn’t immediately recognize where I was. As my eyes adjusted, I realized Angie was asleep in my arms. When I saw her arm, the memories of yesterday came flooding back.

  The thought of her being hurt by someone who was supposed to take care of her made me want to puke. I looked down at her sleeping profile. She seemed so peaceful, and I hoped I had something to do with that.

  I felt her start to stir and pulled her tighter to me as her eyes fluttered open. Even with the bruises, she was the most beautiful thing in the world—not to mention how fucking sexy she was.

  She took a minute to wake up fully and recognize where she was. She looked up at me confused, “Caleb? What are you doing here?”

  I looked at her like she was crazy. “Taking care of you.”

  She sat up quickly and winced as she put pressure on her wrist. “But you were supposed to be going with Andrew and Josh to the coast.”

  “You didn’t honestly think I would leave you alone after what happened, did you?” I asked incredulously.

  “You didn’t have to stay. It’s bad enough Em is going to miss her cruise because of me,” she frowned.

  “Emily isn’t going to miss her cruise, because I convinced her to go last night, after you fell asleep. I knew you would be upset that she missed her trip,” I assured her.

  ‘Yeah, but now you’re going to miss your trip. I would have been fine by myself,” she sighed and looked down.

  I put my finger under her chin and tilted her head up until she was looking at me. “There is no place I would rather be than with you.”

  She smiled at me and I realized that was all I needed…to make her happy.

  I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe he’d actually stayed. I’d expected him to run away after he found out about my dad—so far, every time things have gotten emotional he’s bailed. Yet here he was, lying next to me. He’d given up his spring break trip…for me.

  I leaned into his shoulder. “Thank you for staying with me.”

  He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “Always.”

  I felt the tear roll down my face, onto his shoulder. He tilted my face up to his. “Hey, why are you crying,” he said as he gently wiped it away.

  “Besides Em, I’m just so used to being alone when it comes to dealing with my dad. I guess it’s just nice… to not be alone.” I tried to smile up at him, but winced as my lip stretched.

  Caleb got up. “Let me get you something for the pain.”

  I started to move off of the bed. “I’m alright, I can get them.”

  He walked back over to me and sat me back down. “You stay right there, and let me take care of you.”

  He walked out of the room and came back a few minutes later with a few Advil and a glass of water. I took the pills from him and swallowed them down. Hopefully they would help the swelling go down on my wrist. I needed a shower, but it would be difficult with only one hand.

  “I’m going to get a shower.” I stood up and started walking to the bathroom before I realized that Caleb was following me.

  I turned to look at him. “Where are you going?”

  He tilted his head to the side. “To help you get a shower.”

  “Ca…Ca…Caleb” I stuttered.

  He grabbed my good hand. “Look, it’s not like I haven’t seen you with your shirt off before. Besides, you really think that this is the last time I’ll see you naked? We are dating after all,” he reminded me with a smirk.

  I couldn’t argue with him, but it still made me nervous as hell. I’d never bee
n fully naked in front of a guy before—Caleb was the first guy to take my shirt off.

  I think he saw I was nervous, because he put his hands on my shoulders. “Angie, we’re not going to do anything. I just want to help you get your shower so that we can get some more ice on that wrist.”

  I felt the blush move up my face. “Okay.”

  Caleb led me into the bathroom and turned on the shower. He took the hem of my t-shirt between his fingers, he was so gentle, even easing my arms out so as not to hurt my wrist, as he lifted it over my head. He slowly unwrapped my wrist, and when he unsnapped my bra I heard him suck in a breath. I shimmed out of my pajama shorts and panties, before stepping into the shower.

  I felt him step in behind me and without even turning around, I could feel the heat pouring off his body. I turned to face him, but quickly looked away from his obvious arousal. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Sorry baby, you are just so fucking sexy…I can’t control my reaction to you.”

  He stood back up and grabbed my body wash and the sponge. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  He washed my body, before moving onto my hair. I don’t even remember a time when someone else washed my hair for me. After my mom left, I was forced to do all of this for myself. I was getting used to the idea of someone taking care of me. I was glad I let Caleb shower with me. When he washed my hair, he took the time to massage my scalp and it felt wonderful. It left me feeling more relaxed than I had in ages. Plus, I never would have gotten my hair washed with only one hand. After he finished washing me, he soaped himself up before rinsing off. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He had the most amazing body, all lean muscle, and the tattoos on his arms were so, so sexy.

  He turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, before wrapping a towel around his waist. Grabbing another towel, he wrapped it around my shoulders, and helped me step out of the tub. He picked our clothes up off the floor, and we headed back to my room to get dressed.