Where We Belong (Carolina Rebels 6)

This is something I’ve been thinking about as well. I’m not too sure what went wrong with Julie and her parents, but she hasn’t spoken to them since she kicked them out of her hospital room.

“Or at least tell him why I don’t talk to them.”

“What about tell me?” I ask hopefully.

That makes her smile, but for only a second. “I don’t want to talk about it just yet.”

“But you’re doing better?”

She nods and I relax a little more.

I, myself, finally seem to be trul

y stabilizing. Questions and reports are still swirling about my mental health. Most players don’t discuss these kinds of things until they retire. The team gives the same statement every time they are asked about it. I’ve been told the ball is in my court as far as if I would like to speak about it.

Cal has been curiously silent with his opinion. Julie is lost in her own issues. I’m undecided, which is a change from before when I knew I’d never speak of it. Possibly speaking out will be one of our topics of discussions in therapy tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe I’ll come around and make this one of my missions to be an advocate for as well. That seems like a lot of pressure and a big decision. Once it’s made, there’s no going back.

“What are you thinking about?” Julie asks.

“Things I’m going to talk to Trace about tomorrow.” When she quirks a smile, my eyes narrow. “What?”

“For someone so set against therapy, you sure do seem to look forward to it now.”

I gently nudge my elbow into her stomach. “Leave me alone; no one ever said I was the smartest Kessy.”

She laughs and it’s the greatest sound I’ve heard today.

“Do you want to discuss your parents first or read the report?”

They both sound like horrible ideas. However, the issue with my parents will be less traumatic, so I choose them.

“I know why you don’t have anything to do with your sister, but you haven’t really explained what happened in the hospital room or why you don’t want anything to do with your parents right now. Let’s hear it.” Trace leans back in his seat and waits.

Three words. Three words weigh down so heavily on my tongue I’m not sure I can bear to say them aloud. I don’t want to admit it. I don’t want to believe it. I want to keep ignoring it in the way that I have. But if I want to put this mess with Dwight behind me, then I need to take this step.

“It’s their fault,” I whisper.

“What is their fault?”

“Dwight.”

Trace understandably looks confused.

“I asked him why he met me and he said…” I close my eyes and shake my head. “It was my parents. He told me some elaborate story about how he met my dad and then saw a picture of me. He conned them into giving him all the information he needed to run into me and it snowballed from there. They even once suggested how they should set us up on a date.” A gag involuntarily emits from my throat. “They had a part in this,” I mutter, completely heartbroken.

“And then, they walked into that hospital room, acting as if they cared, and all I could think was they gave him what he needed to know. They are the reason he found me in North Carolina!” I shout, unable to hold in my outrage any longer. “He called them,” I explain, tears flowing down my cheeks. “He said that we had been secretly dating, but I got mad and took off. He asked where I might go and they told him about Collin. I could’ve been safe if not for them. I could’ve been safe.” As those last four words leave my mouth, I completely break down into sobs.

Trace gets up. I don’t know what happens, so lost in my crying, but a moment later, a pair of arms wrap around me.

“Jules, it’s okay,” Collin whispers. A feeling of safety immediately engulfs me. “It’s okay,” he repeats. “What happened?”

“Can I tell him?” I hear Trace ask when it’s clear nothing but jibber emits from my own mouth. All I can do is nod. I can’t say those words again. I do what I can to block out the sound of Trace telling Collin, who Trace apparently wanted on standby for my inevitable breakdown.

“Jules,” Collin says softly when the story is complete. “Can you imagine how they feel right now knowing what happened to you because of the information they provided?”

I lift my head from his shoulder and glare at him.

He rests a finger over my mouth. “They are your parents, Julie. They didn’t know. Had they known, you know as good as I do that they never would have put you in danger like that. You need to talk to them. I’m sure they want to apologize.”