I woke up in so much pain, I didn't know if I could walk, let alone dance and I had to meet Gleb at the studio in an hour. Cole was gone to work by now so I was alone in the house. I pulled myself up carefully and then walked into the bathroom to take a shower. I let the hot water run over my body while I looked around my stomach and sides. The bruises were dark and they hurt so bad. I didn't know how I was gonna explain this one.
I climbed out of the shower and got dressed into black leggings and the baggiest grey t-shirt I could find of mine. I threw my hair half up and then walked out of the house. I climbed in my car and drove to the studio all while thinking back to last night before I got home. The kiss Gleb and I shared was amazing. It was one I had never, in my entire life, felt before. I sent shivers down my spine, tingles to my toes. It made me want more. It made me want to kiss him all the time. But I couldn't. And I couldn't let him kiss me either.
I parked the car in the parking lot and then grabbed the bottle of pain killers before taking a couple. I took a deep breath and then got out of the car before walking into the studio. Gleb was sitting on the couch looking at me. "Hey." he said as he stood up.
"Hi." I replied. "Listen, about last night, I'm sorry."
"Let's just forget it happened, okay?" he asked. "You clearly didn't like it and I didn't mean to push it on you."
"You didn't." I said as I stepped closer to him. "I liked it. It's just, I'm with someone and it's complicated. I wish it wasn't because the kiss last night was amazing. It was the kiss I could feel in my toes. And it left me wanting more." He stepped even closer to me but I held my hand out to stop him. "I agreed to Dancing With The Stars because I thought it would help me build up the courage I needed. The confidence in myself to know my worth and what I deserve." Here goes nothing. I had to tell him. Because right now I had so much courage it was spewing out of me. I put my stuff down and lifted my shirt to reveal the bruises. Gleb's face changed to shock.
"What on Earth? Who did this to you?" he asked as he stepped closer to me.
"The complication." I said. "I didn't know when I was going to have the courage to tell anyone but last night when you kissed me, I realized that I deserved better than what I have now and the only way to get it is to put it out there. So I'm telling you. I have been living in an abusive relationship for a year."
He looked at me shocked. "All those times you showed up with bruises just like this they were from him?" he asked. I nodded as a tear rolled down my cheek. "Why have you stayed with him all this time?"
"Because I was scared." I said. "He told me that he would kill me if I tried to leave and I know what he's capable of. I couldn't risk it."
"So nobody knows?" he asked.
"Natalie does." I said. "She figured it out the night we went out to the club. I made her promise not to say anything." I sighed. "Last night when I got home he accused me of wanting you and I had to lie to him because I knew that if he knew the truth, my bruises would be a lot worse. I had to tell him that I didn't want you. But it's not true. I do want you. I have since club night. I was just scared to say anything."
He cupped my face and pressed his lips to mine once. "Nobody should ever hurt you. Let me help you. Please." he said. I nodded. "Call Natalie. Tell her to go pack up your stuff and take it to my house."
"What?" I asked in disbelief.
"There's a key under the mat. She can take it in and set it by the door." he kept going.
"Gleb." I said making him stop talking. "I am not moving in with you."
"Then just stay with me." he said.
