Free In Control (The City Series) by Crystal Serowka Page B

was a sketch of his literary hero, Kurt Vonnegut. The only tattoo he refused to open up about were the letters on his fingers. He’d said that they weren’t meant for anyone except him.
    “The elephants remind me to keep myself balanced and not let the baggage from my past weigh me down,” he explained quickly.
    “What about these initials right—” I pressed my fingers onto his knuckles.
    “Kingsley, we need to get going.”
    Wren had secrets just as I did, and I had a feeling that because I wasn’t able to open up, he chose not to either.
    “Let’s just get ready to go,” he said as he bent down to kiss my cheek. He picked up my bag from the floor and walked out into the hallway. “I’m gonna put your bag in my car. I’ll be right back.”
    I sat down at my vanity to apply some concealer to my puffy eyes. Looking at my reflection, I saw the little girl that was terrified of the world staring back. Over the years, I’d shut out my past and did my best to forget who that little girl was. She was weak, and I promised myself that I’d never go back to being like her again, but every time I looked at myself, fear resurfaced. Her trembling jaw, her eyes red from endless crying, her heavy heart mirrored in my eyes. I reached out and touched my reflection, wanting so badly to wipe her away, but no matter how many times I tried, I was stuck with her. Every day I was haunted by my past self, reminding me that I’d never get over what happened to me.
    I could feel the panic building in my chest, anxiety flooding my veins. My forehead was covered in a sheen of sweat, and I knew if I let myself sit for much longer, I’d break down.
    “You all right?” Wren’s voice made me jump from my seat.
    I controlled my heavy breathing, disguising it with a smile and a nod. “Yeah. Ready to go?”
    “Car’s all packed.”
    When I walked past him, he stopped me. His eyes searched mine, wanting a more elaborate answer.
    “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked with a hint of desperation.
    I nodded, giving my best convincing smile. “I’m gonna go say bye to Trish. I think she’s still asleep. I’ll meet you down in the car.”
    As soon as I heard the front door close, I ran into the bathroom and cried. This’s going to be great. I’m going to have a good time. I repeated the mantra to myself over and over again.My pep talk wasn’t doing any good; the tears kept on coming. With Wren’s confession, those three words chipped away most of the cement that had been protecting my heart. In the last two days, I’d cried more than I had in years. It was going to take all I had to make it through this vacation without breaking down. I allowed the last few tears to trail down my cheeks and then, with a tissue, removed all evidence. I took one long, deep breath and walked out of the bathroom.
    I lightly knocked on Trish’s bedroom door before opening it. I heard her come in early this morning from her overnight shift, so understood why she was still in bed.
    “Trish,” I lightly shook her shoulder. “Trish?”
    “Hmm...” she murmured.
    “I’m leaving for the Hamptons,” I whispered. I kissed the top of her head and started walking away.
    “Kingsley?” her delicate voice called after me.
    “Yeah?”
    “Have a good time, and be safe.” Trish sat up slowly and smiled. “I love you.”
    “Thanks, me too.”
    Wren was parked in front of the apartments. The car windows were all down, and his music was blaring from the speakers.
    “Mind not waking up my neighbors?” I nagged as I got into the car.
    “Mind not waking up my neighbors?” he mocked.
    I flipped him off and put on my seatbelt. I’d say that someone in this car was going to die on this road trip, but I didn’t know how to drive a stick.

Two days had passed and the bruises on my body were still visible: four splattered on my wrists where he held me down and two on my right hip where he grabbed it to keep me in place. Yesterday, after it had happened, I