Worse for Hope- Book #2 in the WF Series

Chapter 15: Basement

✮Rider's POV:✮

"Did you really have to kick me?" I complain, still feeling the sting from earlier.

"Oh please, I was only wearing my two-inch heel. You'll live," Sapphire brushes off like I'm over exaggerating which I'm definitely not.

What the fuck is her heel made out of? Steel? She could've just whispered to pretend that I hurt my leg, but no. She had to send a sharp, backhand kick with no warning whatsoever. If I'm being honest, at the beginning I thought I had actually broken my leg, but then I saw that guy get busy who she was about to go up to and suddenly, I was healed.

I drop Sapphire off with a promise that I'll throw in a good word for her and Ivy, though I know she only agreed to this because she and this girl Olivia are having a fallout and she wanted to get her mind off of it.

Once she's inside, I make my way back to my apartment with music loudly playing so I don't have to think about driving like this to a place my mind won't let me forget.

When I get to my apartment, I toss my keys on the counter before falling back on the couch.

I think about how fucking perfect Beth looked in that top that made her chest look so damn tight. I think about how plumped her lips looked. Fuck, I think about the slight wetness I could feel through her jeans even though I hadn't done anything.

But thoughts of her can't even make the flashes of entering that shithole every single night years ago completely go away. Maybe the sight of her can, but the thought can only do so much.

The thought can't erase how the metal part of a belt hit the side of my forehead and I now have a scar that reminds me every damn day what happened. The thought of her can't make me forget the chill of the cold floor I was forced to sleep on sometimes while their kids got air conditioning and at least a blanket. And the thought of her can't ease my mind into believing that what I went through was just a challenge in my life or an obstacle that'll go away in time because it won't.

I know it won't.

And even if I were to just magically forget, the scars will never just disappear.

I continue to stare at the ceiling as I remember the popcorn one with a bunch of stains on it I used to stare at.

Flashback:

Friday, October 13

When the hell did I get so inspirational?

"Okay, lightweight questions," I suggest on top of the Ferris Wheel so she doesn't feel so much pressure on her shoulders. "Lightning round. Dream job?"

She smiles like she's embarrassed.

"Nurse," she doesn't seem too sure about that.

"Why don't I believe you." I give her an unsure look.

"Well, I wanted to be a lawyer, but it's never going to happen." She shrugs, completely underestimating herself.

"And why is that?" I question, intrigued.

"I'm not the most...confident person."