Surviving Broken(31)
JC interrupted his well-rehearsed speech. “Thanks for the offer, but the last time I checked, my bedroom is now decorated with dinosaurs.”
“We have a guest room. Just because we bought the house from Mom doesn’t mean you can’t stay with us for a while. Shayla would love it, so would the boys. I want to ask you questions, but my wife keeps putting me in my place, telling me to be patient, that you need time to heal. It’s not easy for me to sit back and let him walk away with no consequences.” His hard scowl drove a deep V between his brows. John’s fists curled into tight balls resting on his thighs. “Tom said you made him pinky swear not to kill Luca. I won’t be suckered into that. If he ever comes near you, I’m going after him.”
“Please don’t talk like that, John. He’s not worth the trouble.”
John kissed her forehead. “Whatever you need, JC, just ask. Love you.” He growled several curse words as he shut the door.
****
JC took time over the next several months to heal. Her lip mended and bruises faded, but the nightmares replayed almost nightly, leaving her sore and fatigued. Her Mom and Tom were exhausted too. Every night JC woke up kicking and screaming, and within minutes, one of them would be by her side. She appreciated their love and support, but apologized saying, “You must feel like you just had a newborn baby. I keep waking you up at night.”
Tracy and Vincent visited several times over the next few months. Her Mom and Tom suggested that JC see a therapist, but she assured, “I am. She’ll be here this weekend.”
When Tracy came to visit, JC drug her by the hand into her room, slapped a hundred dollar bill on the dresser and lay down on her bed. “Apparently I need to start paying you to get better results. If I don’t start sleeping at night, Mom and Tom think they’re going to take me to a shrink.”
Tracy climbed into bed with her sister. “Maybe you should see a therapist.” Tracy’s words hit a sore spot.
“Are you out of your mind? That’s what I have you for. You know me better than anybody.”
Tracy turned on her side and snuggled up to her sister. “I know, but all I’m really doing is listening to you, JC. Letting you share your story. It’s not like I know how to advise you.”
JC furrowed her brows. “Bullshit. You always give me good advice and you never sugarcoat anything. Now listen. You simply need to add a few catch phrases like, ‘Hmm. Let me ask you this?’ Or you can say, ‘That’s interesting.’ Or you can say, ‘How does that make you feel, JC?’ If you say those idioms, you could seriously be my shrink.”
“He’s a piece of shit, JC. A leach. Cockroach. He was trying to drive a wedge between you and your family to control you. You can’t get over that without help.”
The mood sobered, blanching her humor. “I love you, Tracy.”
“I love you too.” Tracy entwined her leg around JC’s. “I wish you would have told me. Don’t ever hide anything else from me, okay?”
Ugly memories that sifted through her nightmares crawled to the surface. She grimaced, working up the courage to unload the burden and pain. “He called me a whore. And a slut. He even accused me of having a thing for Benny and Tom.”
“I didn’t think I could hate Luca anymore than I did ten seconds ago, but I hate him more.” Tracy’s face contorted with anger.
JC’s lip curled with resentment and discomfiture. “So what if I’ve had a handful of lovers.”
Tracy smirked and raised her brow.
“Okay maybe two handfuls.”
The brows raised higher creating a defined point.
“Big fucking deal! So what! Fine! I’ve slept with seventeen men and a couple halvsies. Give or take a few. I didn’t start till I was eighteen. If you do the math, it’s less than three guys a year.”
“I have never judged you JC. You’re an amazing woman,” Tracy assured tenderly.
“The number could be triple that…at least! I say no a lot. Honestly, I think I’m fairly particular.” She rambled on in a defensive rant. “I can’t help it I like men. I always have safe sex. I never use men for material things! I don’t date men who have girlfriends, wives or kids. Does my entire reputation come down to how many lovers I’ve had? I’m a good person. I just don’t want—”
Tracy interrupted, “JC? What’s a halfsey?”
JC exhaled with a chuckle, shaking her head mockingly. “I was…nice a couple of times.”
“Nice?”
“A halfsey. You know, a blowjob.”