The Model Couple

🌻 Chapter 62

🌻

Max is hugging me for dear life and despite my squirming, he isn't letting me go. "Max, what are you doing here?" I can hear the wariness in my voice.

He finally pulls back but keeps my shoulders in his hands. His eyes look intense, "I came to talk."

I look behind me and my mom doesn't look surprised by his arrival. "Honey, Max asked if he could talk with you while you were home and your dad thought it would be nice." Of course he did. I roll my eyes, something old Brooklyn rarely did.

"So Dad took Ry on a 'tour' to get me alone. Nice." My voice is dripping in sarcasm.

Max turns me back to face him, "I don't like this new attitude, Brook." He looks like he tasted something sour. "This isn't you. We just want to remind you about who you really are." How dare he?

My mouth is set in a line, "Max, this IS the real me. I was obedient and subservient to you and my dad for my whole life but that wasn't my true personality. I was just trying to be good. I actually like who I've become, Ryland likes who I am."

Max shakes me a bit, "Don't talk about him! He's a flash in the pan, someone who will be out of your life now. What you have with him is nothing like you and me. We are the long game, the ones destined to be together." His voice is growly with frustration. "I miss you, Brook, and I know deep down, you miss me too."

With these crazy words, it dawns on me that I need to be fighting this more. Why am I letting him manhandle me? I pull away harshly and move back by my mom. I look right in his eyes with determination. "Max, weeks ago I made myself clear to you. We are done. I can't predict how long Ry and I will be dating, but I do know that I will NEVER get back together with you. You're living in a dream world if you are hoping that is ever going to happen."

I see the anger overtake Max like lava creeping over his shoulders. His eyes getting darker, his stance getting more aggressive. "Shut up! Just shut the hell up!" He takes two steps forward and grabs my wrist harshly. "I tried this the easy way. I wanted to give you a chance by talking, but you obviously need something more severe."

I turn to my mom for help, surely she won't let him hurt me. But my heart sinks as she looks down at the floor. Max twists my arm behind my back. I cry out in pain, leaning over, "Arghh! Mom, please don't let him hurt me like this!" She takes a step back and that's when I realize, I need help and it won't be coming from her.

"Ruth, get me a zip tie." She turns towards the utility room and I feel the jolt of panic down my chest. Please don't let this really be happening. Think! How do I escape this?

"Ahhhhh! Help! Help me! Please!" I scream as I twist and turn, but his hold is too tight. 

My mom comes back and doesn't even look at me as she hands the zip tie to Max. "Please Mom, if you ever loved me at all, please help me." Her cheeks get rosy but her eyes stay firmly away.

Max harshly holds my arms in front of me, while linking them with the zip tie. "Duct tape," he says to her and she leaves again. With the zip tie fastened, he looks down at me. His anger is palpable. He bites off each word as he says it, "Your mom does love you and she knows this is for the best. You'll never be happy without me. You just need to be reminded." I can see the craziness in his eyes, he actually believes what he's saying. 

My fear deepens. If my dad is in on this, Ry could be acres and acres away in the sunflower fields right now, Savannah and Phee with him. Austin though is just down the hall in his room. He can't hear my screaming but if I knock something over, he could feel the vibrations. 

Max is placing a strip of duct tape over my mouth, then he wraps it around my head to secure it. I squirm but his hold just becomes harsher, making it more painful. I reach out with a foot and try to hook a kitchen chair. I just get my toe around it, with a flick of my leg it starts to topple. I hold my breath as I see it fall but unfortunately it bumps into the chair next to it and sits cattywampus, leaning, with no intention of falling to the floor. No thump to get Aussie's attention.