I took a big gulp of wine when he mentioned that. I tried not to think about what Boyle had wanted me to do. Deep breath in, and out. He’s gone, I told myself as I focused back on the conversation. “Really?”
“Yes. Some people like to play more often and more publicly. I make it easier for them to do so.”
“That’s nice of you,” I said, taking a bite of food.
“Is everything okay?”
I nodded curtly, reached for the dish the broccoli was in, and put some more on my plate.
“Alright, now I know something is wrong. Tell me, please.”
I sighed, knowing that I wasn’t going to get out of not explaining. “Boyle wanted to… take me to his… doctor friend,” I said, in a whisper. I didn’t like talking about these memories, let alone actually thinking about them. It had been such a horrible time of my life. Who wants to revisit their darkest memories?
“You didn’t want to go?” Robert asked, taking my hand in his.
I nodded, feeling the tears forming behind my eyes. They always seemed to come whenever I thought about the past. “That was the f-f-first time that he t-tied me up and l-left me.” I pulled my hand away from Robert’s to try and wipe the tears away from my eyes, but they just kept coming. I hated crying and it felt like that was all I did anymore.
“Hey. It’s okay. He’s not going to hurt you anymore, baby girl.”
“He could c-come back!” I said, feeling my heart start to pound. That was my worst fear. I didn’t know what I would do if he ever came back.
“Come here, sweetie.” Robert said, pulling me into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me and I instantly began to feel safe and my worries subsided.
Why does this feel so good?
I stayed there for several minutes until I calmed down. “I’m sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry about. As much as I’m sure you hate crying and thinking about what happened in the past, I think it’ll help you get past everything that happened. That’s why I think that you should see a therapist or just talk to someone you can trust.”
I nodded, knowing deep down he was right. I just didn’t get how I could sit down, meet someone for the first time, and spill my guts to him about how I felt and about past experiences.
“You also have to know that if Boyle ever shows his ugly face around here again, he’ll have to deal with me and Mark.”
I pictured the three of them in a fight and knew that Boyle wouldn’t stand a chance in the least. Heck, even if Boyle tried to fight Mark or Robert alone, he would get crushed. I giggled at the thought of him getting crushed within seconds.
“I love your laugh, Juliana. It’s so soft and carefree.”
I blushed at his compliment. “Thanks,” I shyly said, hiding my gaze from his.
“Here, I want you to eat some more food,” Robert said, forking a piece of chicken and pasta from my plate and bringing the food to my mouth. I ate the bite he offered me.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said, trying to get off of his lap as another fork filled with food came towards me.
“I know that I don’t have to, but I want to. Besides, I like you sitting in my lap,” he said, a big smile on his face.
“Okay,” I said, leaning my head against his shoulder and accepting the food.
I had to admit that this was the oddest first date I’d ever been on. Most guys would have been itching to get the date over with after the woman started crying over her ex-boyfriend. But instead, Robert pulled me onto his lap and began feeding me like I was his little girl.
Why a little part of me got excited about being treated as his little girl, I didn’t want to even think about.
Chapter Six
The rest of the meal with Juliana went great. She kept letting me feed her, until finally she turned her head away and I knew she was truly full. Then I let her off of my lap and she helped me put away the leftovers and clean up.
Once we finished that, we walked into her living room and sat down on the couch, deciding to watch TV. As I was flipping through the channels, Juliana placed her head on my shoulder and yawned. I glanced over at her and she looked so cute. Wrapping my arm around her, I continued to flip through the channels, but stopped when she laughed at an infomercial.
“What’s so funny sweetie?”
“That hairbrush!” she said, pointing to the brush on TV. The advertisement said that the brush would be able to get the tangles out of any type of hair. “I bet a million bucks that hairbrush couldn’t get all the tangles out of my hair.”
“Juliana, I’m sure that any hairbrush could get the tangles out of your hair. You just have to brush your hair slowly and be patient if you encounter a tangle.”