I wipe tears from my eyes. “Carly, please enjoy your honeymoon. Don’t worry about me. God, you barely know me.”
“I know you, Jada. Believe me. You’re a lot like me. If you need anything and I mean anything, message me.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Bye for now.”
She ends the call and I sit there on the kitchen floor, my back against the wall.
Holy shit. Shane’s in jail.
I feel a strange pain but also a sense of something else. I think it might be relief. I’ve been worrying about him for so long. So damn long.
I feel guilty, too, because jail? What if he gets hurt?
But what if he gets better, gets his life together?
He’s going to have a record. He’s lost freedom for at least a little while.
The phone rings and I rise, deciding to look for Austin. There’s a long number on the screen, way too many digits, with no caller ID. I find him in the master bedroom staring out the window. He turns as I come in the slightly open door. I guess he was giving me privacy and hears his phone ringing.
I pass him his phone, not making eye contact.
I get out of there to give him privacy for his phone call.
10
Austin
I end the call with the doctor in St. Kitts.
That bitch Sienna did drug me.
When I get off the phone, I’m livid. I knew it, but having the evidence, I’m ready to tear things apart.
I still only have vague memories of seeing two of her as she climbed on top of me and started jacking me off to get me hard enough to get me inside her.
I storm past Jada, who tries to talk to me, raising my hand and saying, “Save it,” as I storm out. I jump into a cab and head back to my hotel so I can call our lawyers.
After I get on the phone with one of them, I send a text to my father.
“I now have proof Sienna Greer drugged and date-raped me in St. Kitts. I’m pressing charges. Just wanted you aware.”
I make a call to my mother.
“Hello Austin. Are you in New York?” she greets.
“You tell Roger Greer to get ready. I’m having his daughter charged with date rape.”
“Wh-what?”
“You heard me correctly, Mother.”
“I… Austin, are you certain?”
“Am I certain? I woke up naked with her in bed and then vaguely recalled a dream where she climbed on me and had sex with me, only it wasn’t a dream.”
“You were drunk at that reception, and…”
“And? Really, mother? You think I’m making this up?”
“No Austin, I don’t think that, it’s just-”
“I had lab tests that confirmed GHB, a date rape drug, was in my system. I can’t believe you’re doubting me.”
“Of course not. I’m sorry. I’m just shocked. So shocked. I’ve known that girl since she was a small child.”
“I said as much at the hotel that morning,” I remind her.
“I know. I thought you were just covering things with Aiden. I… is there any way we can let this go?”
“Let this go?”
Unbelievable.
“Roger is very worried about his daughter. She hasn’t taken her parents’ pending divorce well. He’s trying to get her into counseling. She’s upset about Aiden’s wedding, and – ”
“And clearly she went to St. Kitts with the intention of giving Aiden that drug and fucking up his wedding, but Roger gave her the wrong venue and she was too late, so guess she decided to fuck me over instead. Any way to stick it to our family.”
My mother holds the phone and says nothing for a minute.
And I’m seething. Why is she being protective of the Greers and not me, her son? If I were a woman, would she be reacting like this?
“How would you react if Xander Greer had done this to Adele, Mother? Tell me that? Would you ask her to let it go?”
Maybe she would. Anything for her precious Roger?
We grew up with Xander, too. He’s a douche bag who Adele gave her virginity to. He dumped her two days later.
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I’m so sorry, Austin.”
My phone beeps and I pull it back to see the screen. Dad is on the other line.
“Whatever, fuck. I gave you the heads up. I’ve gotta go. Dad’s on the other line.”
I end the call without waiting for her to say her goodbye and switch over.
“Are you all right, son?”
“No, Dad. Not at all.”
He sighs. “Okay. Anything I can do, you let me know. I’m very sorry, Austin.”
I swallow down a lump. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Your mother argued with me about this, after you left. I knew there was no way you’d do that to Aiden. No way in the world. That girl opened her hotel room door in a blanket with a smug smile on her face when she was greeted by your brother. She’s a piece of work.”