Inevitable Detour (Inevitability Book 1)(31)

I try to divert him by saying, “So, Haven went as a Sex Kitten—”

“I don’t even want to know what that costume entailed,” Farren interrupts. He rolls his eyes.

I laugh, and recalling Haven’s barely there black bustier, red micro-mini, and five-inch stiletto heels, I agree, “Yeah, you probably don’t.”

Shaking his head, he says, “So, what did you go as?”

I knew he was going to ask. Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Something stupid.”

“Come on,” he says. “It can’t be that bad.”

“Oh, it is.”

“What was it?” he asks, trying again.

“Don’t laugh.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise?”

“Essa, just tell me.”

I scrunch my eyes shut and blurt out, “I went as New Moon Bella.”

“Who?” he asks, completely baffled. “What the hell is a New Moon Bella?”

I am not about to go into a long, detailed explanation. If he missed that phenomenon, there’s no sense in trying to explain.

So I just say, “She was a character from a popular series of books that were being made into movies at the time.”

“Okay.”

Before he starts digging for more detail, I hurry the story along. “The costumes aren’t important, anyway.” I wave my hand. “So, we went to the party. But somehow Haven and I got separated. I was kind of wandering around when this cute guy asked me if I needed a drink.”

I pause, remembering my na?veté back then. “I’d heard of date-rape drugs, of course,” I say softly. “But I never thought someone would actually slip me one.”

Farren reaches over and touches my jean-clad knee. “Essa…”

“Nothing happened,” I say in a rush. “I mean, not really.”

I’m visibly shaken, even two and a half years later, and Farren says, “Essa, you don’t have to say anything more.”

“But I want to. I have to.” My eyes find his. “I want you to know.”

“Okay.” He nods in a way that lets me know he understands that sharing this story—with him—is important to me.

“Sometime later,” I go on, “I woke up in a bedroom of the house. I was on a bed. I knew then that I’d been drugged. My head felt so heavy, and everything was out of focus. Anyway, the cute guy was with me. He didn’t look so cute anymore, though. He was on the bed next to me, already undressed. And he was in the process of taking my clothes off.”

I can’t look at Farren, so I close my eyes as I recount the foggy, disjointed memory. “I wanted to push him away, and I tried. But I couldn’t make my arms move. I remember him getting mad when he started pulling off my skinny jeans and one leg got stuck on a navy Ked he’d left on me. He gave up on getting the jeans off completely. He just pushed the denim material aside, left the one shoe on me, too. He ripped my shirt open, snapped open my bra.” I take a stuttered breath and whisper, “And then he spread my legs.”

My eyes remain shut. I hear Farren swear softly under his breath. He laces his fingers with mine.

“He was climbing on top of me, Farren, pushing my underwear aside. I knew I was done for, and I started to cry. And that’s when Haven busted in.”

Farren squeezes my hand, the small action so comforting that I feel safe enough to open my eyes as I finish recounting my story.

“Haven started screaming at him,” I continue. “She startled him so much that he jumped off of me before anything happened. And then, with no hesitation, Haven took off one of her stilettos and whacked him right in the balls with the sharp heel.” I can’t help but chuckle. “She was amazing, Farren. Her move was so smooth, like some ninja-girl thing.”

Farren lets out a laugh. “That’s my sister,” he states proudly.

“Right, and once the guy recovered, he grabbed up his clothes and took off.”

“So you were okay?” Farren’s voice is back to being concerned.

“I was.” I sigh. “But I wouldn’t have been if it hadn’t been for Haven. She saved me, Farren. She stopped that guy. He could have done anything to either of us. He could have hit her, attacked her, too, anything. But she was fearless.” Suddenly, I break down. “I miss her, Farren. I love her. We have to find her. It’s my turn to save her.”

Farren soothes me with soft words. “I know, sweetheart. I love her, too. And I promise you we’ll find her.” He leans across the console and wraps his arms around me.

I welcome his embrace, but the console prevents us from getting close. “Damn this thing,” I mutter.

And then I climb right over the console and on to Farren’s lap until I’m straddling him. He moves his seat back accommodatingly and holds me to him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I shouldn’t have asked you so many questions earlier. I trust you. I do.” I lean back and stare into green depths. “No matter what you’re involved in, Farren, I know you’re one of the good guys.”

Farren smoothes hair I wore down today—specifically for him—away from my face. He doesn’t confirm or deny anything. And his expression remains inscrutable.