“If you don’t want a man to notice you, don’t act like a whore and flirt with him. I figured you’d like it rough, that’s the only reason I used the scarf and held your hands. I saw it on your face, Arabella. You liked me fucking you.”
I shook my head as tears rolled down my cheeks. “No. No! You’re delusional if you think I liked or wanted that. I’m going to report this!”
He tilted his head and looked at me. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, Arabella, but my dad is a big shot in Washington. He was in the Marines for a very long time. If I tell him I have a bit of a…problem…with a girl from school, well…he won’t think twice about helping me eliminate the problem. He’s done it before.”
My heart dropped as I thought about how many other women he must have done this to. “Are you threatening me?”
He shrugged, took a step back, and smiled. “I’m just saying, I would hate to see your life ruined—or your boyfriend’s. Accidents happen so often to people.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was threatening me and Hunter.
“So if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your mouth shut. And your boyfriend will never know you cheated on him.”
“I didn’t cheat on him!” I shouted.
He laughed. “Tell yourself what you need to. I gotta go, Arabella. Thanks for the good time.”
Turning, he reached for his backpack, then looked back at me. “What would your boyfriend say if he could see you now, princess?”
My hand covered my mouth to keep from screaming at him as he opened the door to the study room, and walked out.
My legs finally gave out. I slid to the floor and cried harder as I fought to keep from getting sick.
Not even a minute later, a girl ran into the study room, rushed to my side, and grabbed my hands. “Did he hurt you?”
All I could do was nod.
“What did he do to you?”
Tears came so fast and quick, I could hardly see the girl in front of me. “He…he raped me.”
I wiped at the tears on my cheeks and met Aiden’s eyes. They were filled with anger, but he also looked pale, as if he might be sick. It was only the second time I had ever told anyone that story. Abby was the first.
Clearing his throat, he asked quietly, “Did you report the rape?”
All those feelings came rushing back again, and I slowly shook my head. “I was too ashamed. The girl…her name was Lori Dexter. She helped me back to my place and begged me to file a report, to go to the hospital, but all I wanted to do was get his scent off of me. I wanted to crawl into bed and pray that it was just a nightmare. I kept hearing his voice saying I’d asked for it. I replayed every moment I’d ever had with him. Had I flirted? Given him any indication I wanted something more? I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
Aiden reached for my hand. “No. No woman deserves to have a man force himself on her. If you say no, it means no. He raped you, Arabella.”
I looked down at my hands in his. “Lori told me if didn’t report it, he would just do it to another woman. But I was terrified! I didn’t know what he meant when he said he’d have his dad take care of me, or that Hunter might have an accident. And I couldn’t stop thinking about Hunter. Would they actually hurt him? I was so scared and confused. I just wanted to forget.”
Aiden nodded, his eyes filled with compassion and understanding.
“But I can’t. I haven’t ever been able to forget it. The next day, I was walking to class and I saw Colby. I turned and ran right back to my dorm. I withdrew from my classes and moved back home immediately. I was going to tell Hunter what happened, but all I kept thinking about was how…tainted I was. Another man had been inside of me, with no protection at all. I was scared to death I would end up being pregnant. I couldn’t stand the thought of Hunter being disgusted by me.”
Aiden shook his head. “Arabella, he wouldn’t have been. He won’t be. You have to tell him.”
I sighed. “I know. I know I do. It’s why I came to talk to you. I want to move on with my life and stop hiding. I want a future with Hunter. I just don’t…I don’t know how to open myself up and tell him. I’m so afraid that when he finds out, he’ll hate me. That he’ll think I flirted with the guy or something.”
“He won’t. I’m telling you right now. You did nothing wrong, Arabella. You did not deserve what that monster did to you. Do you understand? Look at me.”