Rylie's POV
"No! No! Get off me! No!" I yelled, struggling against Logan as he bore down on me. I jerked awake panting heavily and sweating as I opened my eyes and squinted at the light. I fell back in bed and forced myself to relax. I was obviously not in Logan's house which meant I got away, right?
Or maybe I didn't after all and Logan succeeded in raping me! Oh my God!
My eyes widened and breathing became a near impossible task. The room started to revolve around me and I felt dizzy even though I was lying down. My heart pounded against my chest and my throat tightened so I was unable to speak.
Okay okay, Rylie, breathe. You know none of that happened. You got Blake and yourself out of danger, remember? Breathe.
I closed my eyes and relaxed until I was eventually able to breathe again. When I opened my eyes and looked around what I could tell was a hospital ward, the first thing that struck me was the only other person in the room besides me.
My eyes watered and I would have called his name if my throat didn't hurt so bad.
Blake laid on the bed a few feet away, unconscious but clearly breathing. His face looked as radiant as ever and as much I wanted to hug him, I couldn't. Logan hit me pretty hard and I was only now feeling the pain probably hours later.
Still, seeing Blake safe and sound made me feel much more at ease and I was able to fall back into a comfortable dreamless sleep.
Hours later, when I woke up, things were different. Blake was no longer on his bed. Now he sat on a chair by my head, holding my hand while he bowed his head. I assumed he was sleeping until he looked up and smiled on seeing I was awake.
"Hey beautiful," he started, kissing my fingers causing me to turn red all over. Logan had slapped and punched me in the face so much and I could only imagine how I looked. "Mason and Olivia told me what happened. You saved me."
"I wouldn't say that exactly. Mason was the one who broke the door down."
"Yes but you probably would have done it if he wasn't there."
"Yeah. Probably," I chuckled, remembering just how desperate I had been.
"I also learnt about Logan. He and Kristen confessed everything in custody."
At the mention of Logan's name, I couldn't help but shudder. After what he'd tried to do to me, hearing his name made my skin crawl.
Blake noticed and immediately apologized. "I'm so stupid, Rylie. I'm sorry."
"No no. It's okay. It's just– It's gonna take some time to get over it is all."
"I know but just remember that you have me. Okay? And I'll be with you all the way. Always remember that," Blake promised, gripping my hand with a soft smile on his face.
At that moment, Olivia, Mason and both I and Blake's respective families walked in.
"Oh my gosh, Rylie! You're awake!" Olivia exclaimed, running over to my bed and throwing her arms around me. "How are you feeling? Are you comfortable? Do we need to call the doctor?"
"Well, I need you to stop choking me first," I mumbled into her shoulder.
"Right!" She pulled away and chuckled, her eyes twinkling with tears.
Myles, my brother stepped forward and ruffled my hair affectionately.
"Glad to see you finally joined us back in the land of the living, lil sis."
"Don't tell me you missed me, twinnie," I teased him back.
"Missed you. Pfft! In your dreams." He rolled his eyes at me to which I stuck my tongue out at him. "Oh and by the way, I saw what you did to Kristen and he-who-shall-not-be-named and let me just say– I have never been prouder to be your older brother."
"Geez! Thanks Myles." I rolled my eyes at him.
And so it went on with everyone hugging and talking to me which avoiding Logan's name thankfully until it was eventually time to leave.
As I watched them walk out of the room, I thought of the only person who could have made the whole visit better. As though reading my mind, Blake remarked beside me, "I miss her too."
"How did you know I was thinking about Grandma Nellie?" I queried, cocking my head to the side.
"I'm your boyfriend. I can tell." He brushed away tendrils of hair away from my face and cupped my cheeks as he stood from his chair and kissed my forehead. "Happy Christmas Eve, baby."
"Happy Christmas Eve," I replied, grinning cheekily at him. "I'll let it slide just this once."
"Mhmm. Sure you will," I teased, knowing fully well that he couldn't do anything about it.
***
Later that day, after Blake had gone to sleep, I lay awake in bed, playing a game on my phone since I had nothing else to do.
A knock at the door alerted to the presence of a visitor and I responded, "Come in."
I didn't expect that Asher would be the one to come in but I wasn't particularly alarmed either. I sat up and gave him a welcoming smile. He deserved that much considering that he had been the one to save me from Logan.
"Hey Lee. How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing okay considering everything that happened. It's nice to see you, Asher. I never really got to thank you for saving me."
"Meh, it doesn't matter. I don't even deserve thanks," he muttered, looking down at his feet.
"Why do you say that?" I wondered.
Asher paused for a second before exhaling and going on to confess, "You were right, Rylie. About me plotting with Kristen. I never planned to rape you or do anything of that. The aim was just to distract you while she got Blake all to herself, took some pics and sent them to you to convince you that Blake cheated on you.
But I couldn't go ahead with it. It didn't seem right so I told Kristen I wouldn't help her but decided not to tell you or Blake about it either. I guess she found Logan instead. I really never meant to hurt you or Blake. I guess I just got blinded by jealousy at one point."
I stared at him silently still trying to process all the information. Knowing that I had been right about him and Kristen all along didn't make me feel better neither did I feel worse.
"While I am kinda disappointed in you, Asher, you saved me and no matter what, I will forever be in your debt," I told him what my true feelings were.
"If I could take it all back, I would, Rylie, I swear."
"It's okay, Asher. I forgive you if that's what you would like to hear."
"Really?" His eyes widened. Even I was slightly surprised I forgave him so easily but it was true. I had no resentment against Asher in my heart.
"Yes, Asher. I truly forgive you."
"You have no idea how happy that makes me. And now, on to my other reason for coming here, I just wanted to tell you that I'm leaving, Lee."
"You're leaving? But why?" I was a bit concerned and saddened at the idea of Asher leaving.
"Well the only reason I came back was because of you and now that that's all over, it's time I go back and fix some things," he referred to the issue with his parents especially his dad. "Plus Mindy just called and told me she's pregnant."
"Wait, Mindy as in the girl that you know–" The girl he cheated on me with was Mindy.
"Yes, the same person," he nodded.
"Wow! Congratulations, I guess?" I didn't particularly know what to say to him.
He chuckled and said, "Thanks. I have a responsibility to her and I can't exactly continue to hide here."
"Yeah, I get that. Well, it's been nice seeing you, Asher."
"You too, Lee. I'll always remember you. Merry Christmas." He stretched his hand to me and I gleefully shook it. Before he left, he kissed the top of my hand and said, "Send my greetings to that guy over there. Make sure he knows he's the luckiest guy on Earth for having you."
I chuckled and nodded at him. Asher smiled and gave a little wave before leaving the room. Just as he closed the door, Blake stirred and asked in a sleepy voice, "Who was that?"
"Don't worry. I'll tell you later. Go to sleep."
He mumbled something and fell asleep almost immediately. I leaned back in bed and looked at the window just as snow began to fall slowly.
With the past now fully behind me, I couldn't help but feel like this was the beginning of a new era and I was very much excited for what life had in store for Blake and I.