Page 90 of Save Me
No normal person would!
“Just give her time and I’ll talk to her, I promise!” I lie.
There’s no way in hell I’m going to talk to her, neither will time convince her that Oliver is a good guy because he’s not. However, my fibs seem to work as I watch his tight expression finally soften and he lets out a long, cleansing breath. After a moment or two, he pulls me into a hug, which I reluctantly reciprocate. Over his shoulder, I look at Leo who throws me a sympathetic look while simultaneously letting out his own sigh of relief.
“Oh, Beth, my darling, you know exactly what to say to make me soften,” he says, “I fear you’ll be the death of me.” He pulls away and looks at me tenderly, then places a fleeting kiss on my lips. “How are you?”
“A little sore.” I blush and look away to the ground, being both embarrassed and angry when I think about the welts on my backside. “Are you always going to punish me like that?”
He at least has the decency to look away with what appears to be shame, but soon shrugs that unpleasant thought away. Instead, he returns to looking at me like he has every right to punish me in any way he deems fit.
“I’m sorry I was so hard on you, Beth. Your grandfather is the highest-ranking member of Mayfield, so he tends to have that effect on me. I was over the top and I shouldn’t have hurt you so badly.” I nod, even though I don’t miss the subtle message that he still thinks I need to be hurt to learn his ways. “Anyway, the purpose of my trip here today was to tell you that, unfortunately, I need to go away for a month.” He looks sorry, but my heart begins to flutter with relief. No Oliver for at least a whole month! “I shall call you daily and will most certainly be back in time for your birthday. I am organizing our rehearsal dinner for that same evening as a joint celebration!”
“Rehearsal dinner? As in-” I can’t even say it out loud without wanting to vomit.
“As in, the day after you turn eighteen, is the day we marry, my darling!” He cups my face and begins to kiss me. He deepens it quickly, but with the crumbling, soul-destroying feeling that is taking over my insides, I find it hard to kiss him back. “The day I can finally have you, all of you!” he whispers, then leans back to give me the most lustful expression I’ve ever seen on him. He kisses me again, but this time, I feel his rock-hard erection thrust against my stomach. It takes every ounce of strength not to sob straight into his mouth.
“See you in a month,” he whispers as he cups my face again. “I’ll call at six tomorrow evening.”
I stand frozen to the spot as he walks back over to his car, muttering things to Leo along the way. Leo nods continuously before opening the door for Oliver to step inside. As soon as he drives away, I avoid looking at Leo’s face, which is no doubt laced with pity. I then run for my mother and cling to her like she’s the last strand of hope before I fall to my doom.
My fate is now in sight.
Xander
I’m pacing back and forth, back and forth, but nothing new is coming into my head. Between trying to convince Beth to come to the cabin with me before she turns eighteen, and trying to come up with a new plan, my head is hurting, giving up the ghost to be able to fight anymore. While I’m frustrated by her refusal to do as I suggest, I also understand why she is unwilling to leave her brother to the mercy of Oliver and her grandfather.
She patiently watches me losing it, but I can tell she’s already resigned herself to being with Oliver, something I just cannot accept. She sighs, long and slow, causing me to stop in my tracks and look down at her small figure that is hunched over at the end of the bed. I see a tear rolling slowly down her cheek and instinctively rub it away with my thumb. Her smile is small, but genuine when she looks up at me. She looks like she could laugh or cry at any given moment; I have no idea how to respond to either reaction right now.
Slowly, I kneel in front of her and take hold of her face between my hands. She leans into my right and closes her eyes in contentment, as though sucking the moment in before these fleeting opportunities to take comfort in one another, run out altogether. When she opens them again, I look at her with intensity, pleading with her to tell me what to do, but she just smiles. When I place a soft, gentle kiss onto her forehead, she grabs at the scruff of my shirt to bring my lips down to her own.
Reaching behind my neck, she deepens our kiss, and shuffles backward, giving me an invitation to crawl up the mattress with her, which I take without hesitance.
“Make love to me,” she whispers, “every day until we can’t anymore!”
Her words cause a lump at the back of my throat, and I end up releasing my own silent tears before falling between her thighs. It’s the first time there’s been no foreplay between us, just me entering her and having slow, gentle sex before we reach an all-consuming high. The sensation is mind-altering for both of us, but it comes with the sad realization that unless something happens, these moments are limited and coming to a fast-approaching end.
“I promise!” I answer her earlier request.
I keep my promise. Everyday. Right up until her birthday.
Chapter 30
Beth
He’s coming for me.
It’s the day before my birthday, and coincidently, the last one of the Spring Term. Xander thinks he has one more night with me, but Oliver texted me this morning to inform me that he would be collecting me from school today. My things are packed and already waiting for me at my new, permanent home. After hours of mental anguish, of debating whether or not to tell Xander, I decided not to; to let him live in blissful ignorance. Part of me also feared that he would try to do something stupid, something that would risk his safety. I love him too much to let him get hurt for me.
It’s now social sciences, and the last lesson of the day. Funnily enough, I am sat next to Casey of all people. We have developed a friendship of sorts, and although we are like chalk and cheese, I can see why her friends are loyal to her. She’s very protective of the ones she cares about, particularly her brother. I’m not sure if I’m here for my own merit, but I guess we will never really find out. My time has run out.
Mr Dalton, my happy-go-lucky teacher who is always grinning and reminding me of a witty and intelligent golden retriever, beams at the class who are waiting expectantly for their monthly debate. The most anticipated lesson of the month.
“Ok, guys,” he says while rubbing his hands together, “I’ve decided not to give you a debate.” The class sighs and boos at him, prompting the puppy of a man to laugh with wicked delight before finally raising his hands to silence them all. “Instead, I want everyone, and I mean everyone, to tell us what they wish for in their future. Most of you have your college acceptance letters and it’s not long before you all graduate…even Kyle!” he says, with a round of chuckling from his audience, including from the boy himself. “I guess I’m also feeling gushy for the holidays too. So, who’s up first?”
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
My heart thuds with the torturous movements of the second-hand edging around the clock, bringing forth my sentence.