Page 17 of Undefeated

“Okay?” she laughed.

“Would you two like to order?” the waitress asked.

I held my index finger in the air and focused on Kace, “Give us a few minutes, please.”

“I’ll check back in a few,” the waitress smiled.

“Okay, I’ll start at the beginning,” I took a deep breath, exhaled, and shoved my hands deep into my pockets of the hoodie.

“I’m going to guess, based on the fact that there was an empty yogurt container in the trash at your desk, and there was a plastic spoon in the container, that you normally eat at your office. You probably save all of the money that you’re supposed to eat out with and use it for yourself. I’m also going to guess that what I thought was an iPad that your douchebag boyfriend smashed in the parking lot was a Kindle. And the Kindle in your purse was one that you bought to replace the one that he smashed,” I took another breath.

“And you probably read as much as you can - to dream. To dream of what could be. You live through the characters in the books that you read, and it allows you to have some form of solace, some form of peace in your otherwise worthless existence of a life with douchebag,” I paused and looked at Kace.

Her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open, she stared at me - speechless.

“He’s controlling, isn’t he?’

She nodded her head like it was on a spring.

I shook my head from side to side and pulled my hood over my head. As I pressed my hood against my face, I clenched my jaw.

“Are you…” she rolled her eyes and tilted her head to the side.

“Mad…” she paused and took a short shallow breath.

“At me?” she said softly.

This woman was the definition of beauty. Clearly. She also possessed every quality that made her as adorable in regard to personality that one could ever wish for. Even through her little speech problem, she maintained a smile and a positive attitude. I wanted to crush the asshole that was abusing her.

I shook my head slowly and accidentally growled. Just a little.

“No, not at all. I’m sorry. It makes me angry when I find out that someone is abusing a woman. Well, women, kids, and old people - people that are incapable of providing much resistance. I couldn’t even tell you how many women I have talked to that are just like you. The eating at work, saving money, hiding things for fear of getting in trouble,” I paused and rolled my eyes.

“You’d be surprised at how many women are in relationships just like yours. It makes me sick,” I clenched my jaw in anger.

A slight frown washed over her face. Obviously she had become embarrassed.

“Let’s talk about something else,” I said as I pulled my hands from my hoodie pockets.

She shook her head from side-to-side.

Loudly, she tapped the table twice.

“You want to talk about this?” I asked.

She tapped the table once.

“How long have you been with him?’

“Sixteen,” she responded.

I shook my head, “Ever been with anyone else?”

She shook her head slowly and took a drink of her water.

“You guys ready?” the waitress asked.

I looked at the waitress and back at Kace. She nodded and smiled.