Make Me (Bully Me #2) (2 page)

"Probably," Kaine agreed. "But you never know. That being said, can we talk about something else?"

"Sure," Layla said. "Did you see Project Runway last night?"

"No. The only shows I get to watch anymore are Yo Gabba Gabba and Dora the Explorer."

Layla burst out laughing. "Maybe I am glad I don’t have kids yet."

Kaine got into her car and checked her watch. She had 45 minutes until she had to pick up Adam. She pulled into Celia’s Lingerie and glanced around before getting out and hurrying to the door. Not that it was a trashy shop, but she didn’t need any parents to see their kid’s teacher walking into a lingerie shop.

Kaine browsed the lingerie. She was excited to spend time with Shane tomorrow. Their sex life wasn’t lacking by any means, but they didn’t have much time for fun stuff or romance. She finally settled on a black lacy bra and panty set that looked like the one she wore when she lost her virginity to him. As an afterthought, she grabbed some thigh highs. It drove him crazy when she wore them under her work skirts.

Stuffing the bag under her car seat, she drove to the hospital to visit Josh. She still couldn’t believe he had gotten mugged. They lived in such a safe area.

After finding out what room he was in, she walked down the quiet hallway. This was the same hospital where she had given birth to Adam. It was also the same hospital that she had gone to after Camden attacked her. She pushed those thoughts out of her head and quietly opened the door to Josh’s room. He looked up and smiled sleepily at her. She gasped and her eyes filled with tears at the sight of him. His face was bruised and swollen and it looked like half of his body was in a cast. He was almost unrecognizable.

"Hey, Kaine."

"Are you ok?" She asked. She shook her head. Of course he wasn’t ok. What a stupid question. "Sorry," she apologized. "How do you feel?"

"I feel okay," he answered. "But I’m on lots of painkillers."

"What happened?" She asked softly, sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

"I got jumped," he said. "I’m ok, Kaine. Really. Don’t cry."

"I’m not crying," she sniffed.

"Yeah, but you’re about to. I know you."

She couldn’t help it. The sight of her friend looking so broken and helpless was heartbreaking. "Did you see who did it?"

He shook his head. "No, not really. It was dark and he was wearing a mask."

"You didn’t see anything?" She asked.

"I did turn around before he smashed me in the face. I know he was about my height. That’s about it."

Kaine let out a sigh of relief. Camden was a good five inches taller than Josh. Not that she had thought that it was him. Not really. "How long are you going to be out for?" She asked, shaking away her thoughts.

"Hopefully no more than a month," he said, yawning. "I don’t want the kids to see me like this. The school is being really accommodating. I don’t think they want the kids seeing me like this either."

Kaine agreed. It was hard enough for her at twenty seven to see him like this.

"Have they found a long term sub for me yet?"

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Yeah."

"What’s that look for?" He asked.

Kaine had to smile. "You’re almost better at reading me than my husband is."

"I know. It’s a gift. So tell me what’s wrong with the sub. Is she a bitch?"

She shook her head. "No. It’s someone I used to know. Camden Lawson. We have something of a history."

"Go on," he said when she paused.

She looked at her hands, trying to decide how much to tell him. "I went to high school with him. Before I started dating Shane, I had the biggest crush on him. He was so nice. And so handsome. At least I thought he was. Shane was..."

"Was what, Kaine?"

"He was awful," she blurted out. "He used to call me names and treat me horribly."

"Are you kidding? Shane?"

She nodded. "I know. I hate talking about it. I hate even thinking about it. On the last day of junior year, Shane got all hopped up on steroids and ripped off my shirt and groped me. Camden found me and gave me his jacket."

"Are you serious?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Kaine, I’m sorry, but how did you end up with Shane after he did those things to you? That’s crazy. How could you even stand to look at him? Weren’t you scared of him?"

"I was. At first. He tried to tell me it was a prank, but he looked...scary when he was doing it. I was scared. I didn’t know he was messed up at the time."

"So then what?"

"You know how my dad married Shane’s mom. I never thought I’d have feelings for him. I hated him at first. He was an arrogant jackass. But...he wasn’t. Not really. Not deep inside. He was sweet. Like the guy he is now."

"I would never have thought he was capable of hurting you like that. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Like you’re the only thing that matters in his life."

"I know," she said softly. "He’s a great guy, Josh. He’s so good to me and Adam. It took a long time for me to really forgive him for what he did, but I have. Please don’t judge him on that."

He shrugged. "If you say he’s changed, then I’m sure he has. People make mistakes, Kaine. I get that. What happened with Camden?"

She snorted. "I don’t even know where to start. I went on a date with him. My first date. I’d had so many fantasies about going out with Camden Lawson, and he asked me out. I should have been ecstatic, but I wasn’t. I think that’s when I knew I was starting to have feelings for Shane. The date was kind of boring, and I didn’t really feel anything for him. He started showing up where I was, acting like it was a coincidence. I finally confronted him and he admitted he was following me."

He was silent, waiting for her to finish.

"So Shane’s mom and my dad got married, and Shane and I...well, you know. We had the whole house to ourselves for the weekend. You can imagine."

"Yeah, no need to elaborate," he laughed.

"I remember Camden coming over and yelling at Shane, telling him that he wasn’t good enough for me. We had gone for a run that morning, and Shane carried me home on his back." She smiled, remembering how in love she felt with her arms wrapped around him. "I thought we must have ran past Camden’s house, because I had a bunch of texts from him freaking out that I was with Shane. I went downstairs and told Camden that I was in love with Shane and to leave me alone. He got angry and left. We went upstairs and...you know. I told him to pick me out an outfit while I showered. I came out and saw him looking at a camera in my closet."

"Oh, shit."

"Yeah. I remember feeling like my world was crashing down. I was so in love with him, and he had been recording us having sex. I just kept picturing him showing the videos to his friends and laughing about it. I freaked out at him and tried to avoid him for the next few days. Camden apologized to me the next day, and told me that he just wanted me to be happy, and if Shane was what made me happy, then he would leave me alone. I felt bad for thinking that he was being an asshole when he was just trying to look out for me. I thought he must have known that Shane would do something like this. I felt stupid. I went to Camden's house after school to try to avoid Shane. It’s hell trying to avoid someone you live with." She paused, swallowing hard.

"It’s ok Kaine. You can tell me."

She sighed. "It’s hard to talk about. I’ve had so many nightmares..."

His eyes widened. "Did he hurt you?"

She looked at the floor. "He had pictures and videos of me on his computer," she finally said. "Of me and Shane and just me alone. The camera was pointed right at my bed. He saw everything." Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the humiliation she felt. "I was so sure it was Shane, and it was Camden who had put the camera in my closet. He had been watching me since the wedding. When Shane’s family first moved in, I had him help me install a new doorknob that locked, and he had taken one of the keys without me knowing. That’s how he planted the camera. He had taken the key before anything had even happened between me and Shane. Before I even went on the date with him." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "He saw me looking at his computer, and he freaked out. He threw me on his bed and...he was like a different person. I couldn’t fight him. He was too strong. I tried, but he hit me. Hard. He said that I liked it rough with Shane so he was going to do it like that. He ripped my clothes off. I remember him pulling out a condom and knowing that he was going to rape me and I couldn’t get away. I screamed, but he clamped his hand over my mouth so hard that I had bruises of his fingerprints on my face," she sobbed.

"Oh my god, Kaine. I’m so sorry."

She shook her head. "I hate thinking about it. I remember it so well. I wish I could just forget about it."

"It’s ok, sweetie," he soothed her. "Don’t cry." He held her hand while tears spilled down her face. "What happened?" He gently asked.

She wiped her eyes. "Shane found me. Before he had a chance to rape me. He knew I was with Camden, and that Camden was the one who had put the camera in my closet. He pulled Camden off of me. I remember Shane punching him. I kind of blacked out after that. I remember being in an ambulance and Shane being with me. I had to go to the hospital. This hospital. I got a restraining order against Camden. He moved away soon after that."

"So why is he back now? He can’t work at the school if he has a record and if you have a restraining order against him."

"I didn’t press charges. And the restraining order only lasted for five years."

"Why wouldn’t you press charges after what he did?"

"Because he was on steroids," she said. "He was seventeen at the time. I wanted him to get help. That was part of the deal. I wouldn’t press charges if he got help right away. I saw how Shane was when he did them. I didn’t want to ruin his life. I just wanted him out of mine. But now, I wish I had pressed charges. I didn’t ever think I’d see him again."

"Jesus," he muttered. "Did your entire school have a steroid problem or something?"

She shrugged. "I don’t know. Maybe the whole wrestling team did. I do know that Camden and Shane used to shoot up together. They were friends before me."

Josh was silent for a moment. "Are you going to tell the school board?"

"I don’t know. On one hand, he needs money and I feel bad taking this opportunity away from him. He hasn’t had the easiest life. On the other hand, I don’t entirely trust him. I know he was on steroids when he attacked me. But how much of it was the steroids and how much was him? He wasn’t on steroids when he planted the camera and lied to my face about it. He wasn’t on steroids the entire time he was following me around. The thing I’m most worried about is telling Shane. He’s going to flip out."

Josh snorted. "Do you blame him?"

"No, not really. But I’m still not looking forward to it. The best case scenario is that he makes me tell the school board about what happened with Camden. Worst case scenario is he finds Camden, beats the shit out of him and gets himself arrested."

"So don’t tell him."

Kaine laughed. "That’s not an option. We tell each other everything. And I have a terrible poker face. He’s going to know something is wrong right away. Also, I’d want him to know. Just in case."

"That right there means you should tell the school board. You’re scared of him, Kaine."

"I’m not scared," she protested. "I’m just...being careful. What if it wasn’t a coincidence that he ended up back here?"

He frowned. "Wait, do you think it was him who mugged me?"

She shook her head. "No. He’s taller than you are. Much taller. It couldn’t have been him."

"Maybe he hired someone."

Kaine laughed. "Maybe we’re getting a little carried away. I’m sure it will be fine." She checked her phone. "I have to go pick up Adam. Thanks for listening to me, Josh."

"No problem. Thanks for visiting."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left to pick up her son.

Kaine pulled into Anna’s driveway and got out of her car, smoothing her skirt. Anna was a retired schoolteacher who now ran a daycare out of her house. She was sweet, smart, and Adam loved her. She quietly opened the door and smiled when she saw Adam playing with Sophia on the floor. Her and Shane joked that Adam was going to marry Sophia when he grew up. They were already inseparable. She watched him play for a minute before he saw her. "Mommy!" He screamed, running to her. She crouched down and held him close, kissing him on the head. "Hi, baby. Did you have fun today?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "I painted a picture for you." He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the kitchen. "It’s a spaceship," he said proudly, thrusting the picture at her. She smiled at the scribble. "It’s fantastic," she said. "I bet daddy will love it." She said goodbye to Anna and loaded Adam into the car. "Are you excited to see grandma and grandpa this weekend?" She asked.

"Will Uncle Jay be there?" He asked hopefully. Kaine smiled at him in the mirror. "I’m sure he’ll make a special stop just to see you."

Adam talked the entire way home. As she pulled in her driveway, he was still talking animatedly. She turned on the TV to Yo Gabba Gabba and Adam immediately sat down, fascinated. Kaine chuckled. Thank God for this ridiculous show. She chopped up carrots and celery, thinking about how to talk to Shane about Camden. Maybe he would be ok with it. It had been almost ten years since Camden had attacked her. More than anything, Kaine felt bad for Camden. Life had dealt him a pretty shitty hand. Maybe Shane would realize that and leave it alone.

Fat chance.

Her phone buzzed and she looked down at it.

Kaine sighed, frustrated. She was used to Shane having to work late on important cases, and she knew that there was nothing either of them could do about it. He didn't like it any more than she did. Still though, she wished he had more time for her and Adam.