Chapter 22 coming soon! Here is a short sneak peek: (Maya's P.O.V.)
"Thanks, but how are you, honest?" Danny pulled back, his gaze searching mine with that empathetic depth, his hand lingering on my shoulder like an anchor.
"Could be better if you really wanted to know." I laughed dryly, the sound hollow in my chest, "It's just hard. How is he? He doesn't look great." My voice cracked, the sight of Jacob's hollow eyes flashing back, stirring twisted memories of his assault—the unwanted press of his lips, the booze on his breath, the betrayal that still stung like fresh cuts.
"I know this is all really hard on you. He's doing as well as he can be. He knows he lost you, and his knuckles are bruised and bloody because of that." Danny's voice softened, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, his hand squeezing my shoulder tighter as if to steady us both.
I gasped, the sound sharp in the quiet room, my hand flying to my mouth. "Wh-what are you talking about? What happened?" The fear spiked anew, mingling with guilt— 'Did I do this? Push him to that?'
"After you called, I told him what you wanted. He proceeded to try and break his hands on a tree, punching it over and over, calling himself... an almost rapist." The tears formed in his glowing hazel eyes, which echoed my feelings too, as he swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly, adding, "I've done everything I can to shake him out of it, Maya, but your rejection was the only thing that brought him to terms with what he's actually screwed up and lost. He knows he doesn't deserve it." His voice broke slightly, the pain raw on his face, his grip on my shoulder tightening as if sharing the burden.
"No, no, he doesn't, but he still shouldn't be destroying himself like this. I still believe he can change." I whispered, tears spilling over, the conflict tearing at me—empathy for Jacob's pain clashing with the betrayal that still burned, my hands shaking as I wiped my face.
