I Choose You

Chapter 40: Reassurance

           Sloane opens the door to her apartment, Liam looking around it for the first time. He shuts the door behind them.

          "Do you need help with anything?" Liam asks.

          "No," Sloane looks at him and then sitting on the couch.

           He follows, sitting down beside her. "Do you want me to stay here?"

           "No, it's okay," she says nervously. "I'll be fine."

          Liam leans over and softly kisses her. Sloane kisses him back as her fingers run down his arm. The door opens, and Hope walks in and looks at Sloane. She almost starts to cry.

          "Hope I'm fine," Sloane smiles a little at her.

           "Oh my god, what happened to you?"

          "It's a long story. Just don't worry about it. I'm okay," Sloane assures, getting up and walking to her bedroom.

          "What the hell? One minute she runs out of a wedding to you, the next she looks like an MMA fight loser."

          "It was Kyle. Eric's friend that works for me."

          "That construction guy? Yeah, I've met him."

          "Yeah, it was him. I guess he tried to rape her or something and Eric told him no but walked out so he could beat the shit out of her."

          "They are both losers," Hope grabs two beers from the fridge and hands him one. "I don't care how much money he has, he's an asshole."

          "Yeah," taking a sip of the beer. "I fired Kyle today."

           "Good. He's an ass. Is she going with you?"

          "Well I mean she said she loved me..."

          "I mean now. Is she staying with you?"

          "I tried asking her, but she said she wanted to stay here. She's not letting me. I offered."

          "Why are you worried? She'll be fine. She's been through worse."

           "Worse? That's pretty bad. What do you mean?"

           "Shit, um nothing," Hope smiles and drinks her beer.

           "Hope, please because she's taking getting beat like it's nothing."

           "I shouldn't."

           "Hope, please. If not here and right now can we go out and get dinner and you tell me."

           "Her dad's the same way. He beat her all growing up. Got a B- he beat her because it should have been an A. Was two seconds late, he beat her because she wasn't on time."

          "Wow," Liam sighs.

          "So yeah, it's a normal thing for her."

          "Did she tell you about me?"

           "No why?"

           "I'm not exactly perfect," Liam laughs a little. "But she's still talking to me so I guess I can't be that bad in her eyes."

            "No one is bad in her eyes. That's the problem," Hope smiles.

           "I uh went to prison."

           "Mhm."

           "Did she tell you why I went to prison?"

           "No, she didn't."

           "I uh killed my dad."

           "Oh," Hope says. "Well her dad is probably worse," Hope sighs as Sloane walks back out.

          "Hey," Liam smiles.

          "Hey, what are you two talking about?"

           "Nothing important," he smiles. Sloane grabs a bottle of water. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

          "Do you want to stay?" Sloane asks.

          "I would feel more comfortable."

          "You stay if you want too."

           "I'll sleep on the couch that's fine."

           Hope laughs, walking to her room.

           "Why would you stay on the couch?"

           "Is sleeping in your bed the right thing right now?" he smiles.

           "What do you mean?"

          "Where else do you want me to sleep?"

          "With me," Sloane says softly.

          "You sure?" Liam smiles.

          "Why wouldn't I be sure?"

           "I was just asking," holding out his hand to her. He pulls her up, the pair walking to her room. It's the first time he's seen her room. A bed in the corner, a huge bay window, desk and dresser, and closet. Sloane gets about four steps away then turning and looking at him.

          "Are you coming?"

           Liam smiles walking over and sliding his hand down her side and to her lower back, pulling Sloane into him. He leans down, pressing his lips to hers. Liam lays her on the bed gently, pulling her shirt off, kissing over her bare shoulders, her bra coming off next and softly pecking her lips before slowly pulling down her jeans, all the bruises coming into view.

          Sloane bites her bottom lip, feeling his eyes. "You shouldn't have to see the bruises," pulling a blanket around her.

          Liam smiles, reaching over and turning the lamp off beside the bed, darkness overtaking the room except the moon illuminating the sky through her window. "Now I can't see," Liam smiles, pulling the blanket away from Sloane.

          She smiles in the dark, letting the blanket go and sliding her hands down Liam's chest.

         "What are you thinking?" Liam smiles.

         "Why you asked me to dance on my birthday."

         "That's been a while," he smiles. "Truth?"

         Sloane nods.

          "I thought you were pretty cute. I mean you were looking pretty good in that black dress then I found out you were a tequila girl and, woo you swept me off my feet," Liam winks at her.

          "And the thought that I might have sex with you didn't cross your mind?"

           "Actually, to be honest, no it didn't. I saw you, and it was different. I wanted to get to know you, not just take you to bed right away," Liam smiles.

          "Guess you got both."

           "I guess I did."

           "Liam," Sloane says quietly, reaching for the blanket.

          "Sloane look at me," he sighs, stopping the blanket. "You're beautiful, and I love you regardless of all this. Somebody that does this to you isn't a man. He's a coward. I'll be here to help you get better. I promise I'm not going to let those bastards get near you again, okay?"

          "Okay," she nods smiling.