Reaching Rachel (4 page)

Rachel turned, looking to the entrance just as Kayley, Ben, Emily, and her husband Trevor walked in. Her heart started beating erratically at the thought of introducing Justin to them. What if they didn’t get along? While Rachel had introduced them to many men over the time she had known them, with Justin it was different. He was trying to stick around. She wasn’t sure what her friends were going to think.

Stepping back from Justin and linking her hand with his, she smiled as her friends made their way over to them. Kayley’s eyes looked at her, then Justin, and her eyebrows raised. Rachel knew exactly what she was thinking: 1. The man was hot, and 2. Rachel was holding hands with him.

“So this is the infamous Justin,” Emily piped up, scanning him up and down abashedly. “I can see why you’ve been hiding him in your closet, Rach.”

Rachel’s eyes widened at her friend, but before she could say anything, Kayley beat her to it. “Emily, please! Nice to meet you, Justin. I’m Kayley, and this is my husband, Ben.”

Justin shook their hands, laughing, and they all settled down at the table to eat, drink, and watch the huge televisions on the walls.

“He’s a looker, that’s for sure,” Kayley whispered to her as the men cheered loudly at the television up by the bar, leaving the girls sitting at the table to catch up.

Rachel grinned at her. “I know, he definitely is,” she said, watching him interact with Ben and Trevor. “He seems to be getting along with the guys.”

Kayley rolled her eyes. “It’s sports. Of course he’s getting along with them. He seems like a good guy, Rach. I’m happy to see you committing, feeling comfortable in a relationship.”

“Me too,” Emily piped up. “Look at our men over there. Hottest guys in this whole place.”

“Excuse me?” They were interrupted by a deep baritone voice. The three women turned to see a tall, handsome man around their ages standing next to their table. “Can I buy you ladies a drink?”

The three laughed. “Well, we are actually with them over there,” Emily explained. “But thanks anyway.” The man followed their gaze, then looked back at them.

“Well, they shouldn’t have left ladies as beautiful as you three alone to watch sports. Quite a shame.” Pulling out one of the chairs, he sat down next to Rachel.

Rachel’s eyebrows raised at her two friends, all of them wondering how in the world to get rid of this guy. “Really,” she scooted her chair back. “They will be right back. Thanks so much for the offer, but we’re fine.”

He leaned over, so close that she could feel his breath on her cheek. “How about I get your number? I can promise you that I would never leave you.”

Rachel pinned him with a pointed look. “Listen. You obviously aren’t getting a clue. We don’t want a drink from you, so get lost.”

Before the man could even respond, he was yanked back by his collar off of the chair. Rachel gasped at the sudden movement, and Kayley and Emily scooted back off their chairs, standing quickly. She looked back to see the man sprawled on the ground on his back, Justin standing over him with his chest heaving, his eyes wild, and his fists clenched.

As she watched, unable to move, Justin yanked him up by his collar and got right in his face. “Stay the hell away from my girlfriend, jackass.” He pulled his fist back, as if to punch him, when Rachel found her voice.

“Justin!” she yelled, stepping up to him. “Stop it. Let him go. It was no big deal.”

Justin turned to her, his breath coming in short spurts and his eyes looking around wildly. “You’re
defending
him?” Spit came from Justin’s mouth, hitting her on the face.

Wiping it away, she put her arm on Justin’s. “Let. It. Go, Justin. He just didn’t want to take no for an answer. He’ll leave now, okay?”

He let go of the man, causing him to stumble backwards and fall. Gripping Rachel’s upper arm, he steered her away from the table.

“Let’s go,” he demanded through gritted teeth. Rachel pulled her arm, trying to get away from him.

“Justin,” she hissed. “Let go of me. I have go to say goodbye to my friends at least.” He didn’t respond or even look at her, he just kept walking. Still trying to wrench herself away, she could feel her blood pressure increasing. Looking back at her friends, who were watching her with mouths agape, she tried in vain to stop him from moving. He was just too strong.

Pushing open the door to the restaurant, Justin’s fingers were pressing tightly into her arm, hurting her. “Justin, you’re hurting me,” she whimpered.

He turned his head, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. The look in his eyes scared her, made her stomach drop out of place. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been
flirting with him
, Rachel! Once a slut, always a slut, I guess.”

Her mouth dropped open at the venom in his voice. “What? I was trying to get him away from me! Ask Kayley and Emily! We told him to get lost!” He continued striding purposefully towards their cars, his face set in stone.

“Get in,” he demanded, unlocking his truck and shoving her slightly, releasing her.

Rachel rubbed her arm, the points where he had been touching burning from the pressure of his grip. “My car’s here, remember? I’ll see you later.” She turned to walk towards her car when she felt his hand close around her other arm.

Gasping, she found herself face to face with him again. “Get. In. The. Truck.” Justin’s nostrils flared as he bit out each word.

“What in the hell is your problem, Justin? You better get your damn hands off me, now. I’m getting in my own car and going to my own house, and
you aren’t coming with me
. How about that for making myself clear?” Rachel jerked her arm away from him and stepped back, furious. How
dare
he think he could treat her that way!

Justin studied her for a moment, then sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “Rachel, listen,” he began, his voice soft. “I’m sorry. That guy totally freaked me out in there.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s a pathetic excuse. I’m pretty sure I’ll have bruises on my arm tomorrow. Not to mention that you just completely embarrassed me in front of my friends, and this was the first time they ever met you. Classy, Justin. Way to win them over.” Rachel couldn’t help it, she was pissed. She would never let a man treat her like that. As if on cue, her cell phone started ringing, and she would bet money it was Kayley, checking on her.

“I’m going home,” Rachel said coldly. “Don’t come over, and don’t call. We’re officially done.” She turned away from him, putting the phone to her ear and walking to her car briskly. Sliding into the seat, she quickly locked the door. “Hey Kay,” she answered, glancing over at Justin, still standing next to his truck. Her voice shook slightly as her body processed what had just happened.

“What happened? Where are you? Is everything okay?” Kayley’s concerned voice burst through the line.

Rachel pulled in a deep breath. “Yes. I’m sorry. Justin was being a jealous ass and I’m pretty sure I’m done with him. I’m sitting outside in my car. I’m just going to head home if you don’t mind. I’ve had enough for one night.”

Kayley sat quietly for a moment. “Rach? I’m sorry. He seemed like a good guy. Maybe something was just bothering him? Is it worth talking it over?”

Rachel looked over at Justin, still standing in the same spot where he was when she walked away, looking at her. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach at the sight of him. Maybe Kayley was right, and she was too quick to call it quits with him.
Because I’m always looking for an out
, she admitted to herself. Just then, her arm started throbbing, and her anger returned. He had laid his hands on her, in anger. He had called her a slut. If Kayley knew any of that, she wouldn’t be giving that advice.

“Not tonight it’s not. He doesn’t get to treat me that way. I’ll call you tomorrow, Kay. Tell everyone I had to go.” Hanging up the phone, Rachel revved the engine and sped out of the parking lot, Justin still watching her.

‘Please forgive me,’ the text message said. Rachel rolled her eyes. Justin had left her more than 20 messages overnight. After she had gotten home, she had peeled off her clothes and fallen into bed, her nerves shot and her mind reeling. She knew he was going to try to contact her after she left the sports bar, so she had turned off her phone. She had nothing to say to him.

Ignoring his text, she piled her hair on top of her head in a loose bun, secured it with a clip, and headed for the shower. She didn’t need him, right? She didn’t need anyone but herself. She had to remember that.

She stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom, staring at herself. As she turned, she caught sight of her arm and gasped. She had a huge purplish-blue bruise on her upper arm where Justin had been gripping her so tight. Touching it delicately, she winced at the soreness there. He put his hands on her. Who did he think he was?

Finishing up in the shower and wrapping herself in a towel, she padded to the kitchen to start some coffee, wondering what she was going to do with herself today.

“Hmm, shopping? Or laying out?” she murmured, scooping the coffee into the maker, ignoring the nagging desire in the back of her head to listen to what Justin had to say. “Remember the bruise that you will have to cover now with long sleeves. You don’t want to call him.”

Just then, her phone rang. Scowling, she walked to her phone and looked at the screen, figuring it was Justin trying to continue to plead his case with her.

Smiling, she accepted the call and put the phone to her ear. “Hey, Kay.”

“Hey Rach,” Kayley answered. Rachel could hear the noise of the kids in the background. “I was calling to check on you, see if you were still okay. Did you ever talk to Justin?”

Rachel sighed, stirring some creamer into her coffee. “No, I’m ignoring him. You know me, Kay. I’ve been looking for a reason to dump him this whole time. I just got a really good reason. I mean, come on! He totally embarrassed the shit out of me in front of all of you. Can you even believe what he did?”

Kayley was quiet on the other end, and Rachel knew she was going to try to reason with her. Rachel had never told her anything about the reasons behind why she refused to get involved with anyone seriously. She knew she should, because Kayley was the best friend she had ever had, and if anyone would understand, it would be her. But she just couldn’t. She was ashamed and embarrassed. And she didn’t want anyone to tell her just how stupid she was to throw away the best thing that ever happened to her.

“Rach,” Kayley began, her voice smooth. “Someday you are going to have to open up to me and tell me what has happened to you. You know that, right? I mean, what are you afraid of? That I won’t be your friend? That I won’t understand? You have to give someone a chance. You act like you’re this tough girl, but I’ve seen the pain behind your eyes and in the words you say.”

Rachel’s eyes welled up with emotion at her friend’s words. She struggled to force the words over the lump in her throat. “I know,” she finally managed. “I know that out of everyone I know, you would be the one that I could talk to. I—I just can’t. I really want to, but I just …”

“It’s okay. I’m here whenever you’re ready. But, hear him out, Rachel,” Kayley urged. “Who knows what happened last night, but please—for your own sake, give him a shot. You deserve to be happy, just like you used to tell me. You need to practice what you preach, girl. If I would’ve never put myself out there again, look at where I would be now. I wouldn’t be in the place where I am today if it wasn’t for you and Emily pushing me.”

“I’ll never have a Ben.” It slipped from her mouth before she could even stop it. Closing her eyes, she immediately regretted saying that. It would only cause Kayley to dig deeper, further into why she wouldn’t tell her.

“Rach,” Kayley’s voice was quiet, subdued. “I hate to hear you talk like that. You need to open yourself up again. Whatever happened in the past is the past. You are a strong, beautiful woman with a whole life ahead of you. Even if it isn’t Justin that you are meant to be with, there’s someone out there for you.”

Devin. His name immediately popped into her head. He was the only one for her on this earth. But that was a lost cause, and thinking of him only caused her more pain. Though her stubborn heart didn’t seem to remember that.

“Thanks, Kay,” Rachel sniffled, sipping her coffee to try to distract her emotions from taking over. “I’ll be okay. I promise. And I’ll talk to him. I’m not sure if I really do want to give him another chance, but I’ll hear him out. I’ll call you later, okay?”

She disconnected the call and stood, walking to the sliding glass doors that overlooked the beach. She loved this place. It was her parents’ house but they hadn’t been here in quite some time, which was why Rachel moved in. It was a classic beach house, decorated in pastels, sea shells, and smelled like salt water, but she loved it. She had brought some of her own decorations to it, but she mostly left it alone. She liked feeling like she was on vacation while she was here, and one of her favorite things to do daily was to sit on the back porch and listen to the waves crash against the shore.