When Insecurity Knocks

Chapter 30

Eli grips Jenson by his shoulder and throws him away from me. Oh my goodness! He's here! He turns my way and I run into his arms, hugging him tight. He holds me close and kisses my head, "I missed you baby" he whispers. I shut my eyes as if that will stop my tears. "I missed you too" I cry.

What is he doing here! He isn't supposed to come back until next month. "How are you here" I ask. "I told you that if someone hurt you I'd have to come down here to kick their ass". He turns to Jenson who is holding his arm. "I heard you've been spreading rumors about Lace and I don't appreciate it at all". "I've been telling the truth" Jenson says. "You've been spreading her business". "So what". "It's not your business to tell". Jenson crosses his arms, "so you're not mad at all about what she did", "nope. But I'm pretty pissed at you. How DARE you treat her like she's trash. And HOW DARE you put your hands on her" Eli shouts.

He hasn't been angry like this since he found out I was pregnant last year. It frightens me.

"I can have you arrested for this", "why?". "For attempted rape. You touched her, she has the bruises to prove it. You have nothing to support anything you have to say against it". Jenson rolls his eyes, "I see, you're tryna use that lawyer shit on me". Eli folds his arms, "no, I'm telling you straight up facts about the law.". "Fuck outta my face. Enjoy your little whore" Jenson says and walls away. "You were the one tryna get with her" Eli says and Jenson slams the door behind him.

Eli grins triumphantly and picks me up. I hug him as tightly as I can and when he puts me down I kiss him all over his face. He kisses my lips passionately, holding my waist and I caressing his face. He pecks my cheek then brings me close for another hug.

He pulls back and takes me in, "look at you, 21" he sighs. "24" I say to him and rub my fingers through his hair which is hanging down at his chin. "You need a haircut, badly" I joke. He smiles and holds me again, "so do you. And those hips are coming in nicely". I rub his chest, "I can't believe you came down here for me. If you hadn't shown up Jenson would've hurt me". "I keep telling you I'd do anything for you" he reminds me, stroking my cheeks. He kisses me briefly and takes my hand. "We need to have a talk, you, me and Tobias" he says leading me out of the gym. "OK".

We find Tobias at a vending machine in the main hall, rocking it back and forth angrily. Eli let's go of my hand and walks up to Tobias. "Hey" he says calmly. Tobias looks shocked. "Sup... What-", "I came down to talk to you". Tobias becomes afraid, "look man, I swear I would never touch her on purpose...". "Can we just... go talk". He nods. Eli holds his arm out to me and I walk over and grab his hand. We head to Tobias's room. "My roommate is rarely here" he explains as he flicks the light on. He kicks aside clothes on the floor to clear a path to the bed and throws things off of his bed and onto his roommates.

We all take a seat. "So, just start from the beginning and tell me what happened". Tobias starts, "Brette and I took her to a bar for her birthday because we knew she didn't drink. We kept taking shots and just drinking and drinking until we were wasted. I slightly remember her sitting on my lap and saying how the stools were too hard.", "is that all", Eli asks. He shakes his head, "no I'm trying to remember, I have a really faint memory of... You know...". Eli nods. "Was she saying things like... 'Yes' or was she cursing or...." Eli asks and Tobias nods. I swallow nervously. This is really embarrassing. "Why" I ask. "Because that's what you say when you like it". Eli's frown grows longer and he seems troubled, but he quickly erases the expression. "Do you remember anything" he asks me.

Some memories have come back, but I don't want to talk about them. I look up at Eli then Tobias then down at the floor. I nod. "What happened" he asks. I shift uncomfortably and crack my knuckles to distract myself. "Lace?" He says. I open my mouth slightly and hesitate before I speak. "He was whispering in my ear..." I sigh. Tobias looks like he remembers and takes a silent, deep breath. "Do you know what he said" Eli asks. I look at Tobias and nod. "He said he was going to give me a baby..".