Ian's POV
The gall. The absolute audacity of Hailey's mother and of Juan was baffling. It had left me with a deep fury, threatening to overtake me. It's time. Hailey needs to tell Liv.
Having watched Juan and Hailey's mother, whose name I still need to learn, leave, I turned to the woman who held my heart. Her eyes were glossy and tears were silently spilling, sliding down her beautifully sculpted cheeks. My heart both broke and felt enraged for her. Never in my life have I known a mother to be so...so...stupid. I don't know a better word for it. What she had done was beyond reason. I mean, who thinks that of their daughter?
'You can't yell rape,' what the fuck is wrong with her? The rage was eating away at me, begging to be released on Juan once more. My knuckles still throbbed with the reminder of the punches I was able to land on that arrogant son of a bitch's face. I clenched my fists once more before letting go, calming myself back down so that I could better comfort her. She's what is important- not me or how I'm feeling, but her. Feeling she could use a hug, I pulled her close, letting her bury her face in my chest.
"Let it out," I reminded her, because for some strange reason, she thinks she needs to be strong. Not with me, Hailey. With me, you just need to be you.
She sobbed heavily on me for a while, letting me carry her back inside away from prying eyes. The food was growing cold, but I will eat every last bite of it, even if it's frozen by the time we get to it. She worked hard today to make the perfect meal, and I wasn't going to let it go to waste.
I held her close on the couch, where she curled into a ball around me and cried a while longer. Not only had she come face to face with her assaulter, but her mother accused her of something so grotesque. She took that man's side and his word over Hailey's. Her heart was breaking because of her mother, while her body fought to process having to see Juan again. She grew smaller yet again today, but I promise that with everything in me, I will have her shining brightly once more.
The sound of her sniffles told me she was done crying, at least for the moment. I looked down at her, lifting her chin to see her melted chocolate eyes, bloodshot and pink from her sobs. I kissed her forehead, gently caressing her face as she kept my gaze. She was calm enough for me to speak with her. The only problem is that I know she's not going to want to hear what I have to say. Or, really, she's not going to want to do it, but she needs to.
"You need to tell her, Hailey. It's time."
"What?" She pushed back, trying to escape my arms, but I wouldn't let her.
"Don't play coy. You know what I am talking about. She needs to know, Hailey. You need her. I love you with all my heart, but I can't help you through this the way she can. Tell your best friend," I encouraged her.
"She has problems of her own- bigger problems. I can't burden her with mine."
"Yes, you can. You and I both know that she will come running. Tell her."
Hailey pressed her sweet, dusty rose lips together as she contemplated what I was asking of her. I could see the acceptance slowly cross her face as her body caved and her head fell. She seemed to feel guilty, knowing Red would probably be upset she hadn't told her sooner. Red is protective of her friends and this is something she will be furious about.
"Fine, but you can't leave my side."
"I wouldn't dream of it." I squeezed her tight, keeping my arm around her as she dialed Red's number.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Hailey began, placing the phone on speaker so I could hear everything as well. She knows me well enough to see that I wanted to be included in this conversation as well.
"I thought morning sickness got better with each child. It's a lie, Hails. A damn lie," Red swore, making me smirk at the way she phrased it. My heart ached at the thought of her cancer and the battle she's struggling with as she grows a whole human.
"I am sorry. Have you gotten anything for the nausea yet?"
"Yes, but it's not helping much."
"Take some B6 and Unisom. I heard that helps. Oh, and munch on some ginger candy from the Asian market. Those should help soothe your stomach."
"You hear that?" Red asked, letting us both know she was not alone as the question was not directed towards Hailey. "Will you please? Thank you, my Knight."
"Hi, Lucas," Hailey smiled, already knowing he wasn't far.
"Hey, Hails. Bye Hails," he responded, sounding like he was running out of the house to get what Red needed.
"Can you wait just a minute? I need you to hear this, too," Hailey asked, surprising me. I didn't know she felt that close to Lucas to want him to know this dark piece of information, too.
"Sure, what's up?" He sounded closer to the phone as he responded.
"Before she says anything, I just want you to know she didn't tell you sooner because she was worried about you, Red."
"Ian?" Red asked, sounding shocked to hear my voice.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Okay, well, now I'm starting to worry. What is it, Hails? What happened?"
Hailey looked like she was ready to cry again, and cry she did as she told them both everything that had happened. Concluding with how things went today. The conversation was long and by the end of it, both Red and Lucas were seething.
"I'll fucking kill him!" Red seethed, her voice laced with deep hatred. It sent a fear through me, despite her threat not being directed at me.
"Liv, you're pregnant and you have cancer. Now is not the time to kill anyone," Hailey cautioned her, causing Red to let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine, but I'm coming over and we're going to talk about why you didn't tell me sooner."
"I'll be there after I get her what she needs and speak with a certain someone who can take care of this scumbag," Lucas added, letting me know he was going to take care of Juan whatever way he could. For the first time since meeting Lucas, I felt truly grateful to him. He always takes great care of Red, but now I see that it's not just with her. He cares for his friends and family just as much.
"Don't do anything that will get you in trouble for my sake." Hailey shook her head as if they could see her.
"Who said anything about getting in trouble? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"We'll be there soon. I love you, Hails. Thank you for telling me."
"I love you, too, Liv," Hailey whispered as she got emotional.
"Ian, are you still going to be there?"
"Yeah, I'll be here. I'm not leaving her side unless she sends me away." I held her closer as if to prove my point, having her rest her head against me.
"Good." Lucas was the one to answer this time.
"We'll see you both soon," Red said, hanging up and leaving us in silence for a moment.
"Are you okay?" I asked Hailey, unsure of what exactly she was feeling.
"I will be. Thank you for making me tell her. I am glad I did." Her sweet gaze met mine, locking me in place as I admired her beauty once more.
"I'm going to warm up the food you made. I am sure Red would love to eat your food." Hailey smiled so wide at the idea, causing my heart to soar once more.
"She has no idea I can cook now." Hailey seemed almost excited as she got up with me, heading towards the kitchen. "She's going to be so surprised."
"We could wait until after she's eaten to tell her you made it," I suggested, seeing her excitement grow.
"Ooh, yeah, that's a good idea. Then I'll know what she really thinks of the food."
"I told you, you would get there one day. Look at all this delicious food you made on your own, Mi Luz," I decided to call her my light in Spanish, liking the sound of it better. Hailey's eyes shot back up to me with her mouth slightly agape.
"Say that again," she demanded.
"Mi Luz? Am I saying it wrong?" Worry filled me as I began to panic that I had butchered the word and ruined the whole sentiment. Hailey shook her head so vigorously that I was surprised she didn't make herself dizzy.
"No, no. You said it right. It's just- " she paused, staring me dead in the eyes. "It's fucking hot when you speak Spanish. New rule, you can't call me anything else unless it's in Spanish, too."
I laughed, loving how much she enjoyed my use of her language. She bit her lip as she continued to look at me. I knew what she had in mind and felt it too, but now wasn't the time. Not after everything that happened.
"I can live with that. I'll be sure to follow your rule, Mi Querida."
"Mmm, I like that one, too. But Mi Luz is going to be my favorite." She beamed her bright smile at me, easing the pain I had felt for her earlier.
"I love you, Mi Luz."
"I love you too, Mi Amor."
She called me her love. I'm her love.