The car ride was quiet except for the low hum of the engine as Jaxon drove, his grip firm on the steering wheel. Lena sat in the backseat with Ethan beside her, arms wrapped tightly around herself as if holding herself together.
Ethan shifted, his gaze flicking to her cautiously. "Lena... what happened back there?"
She hesitated, pressing her back against the seat. The night's weight pressed down on her, suffocating. She could feel Jaxon's presence in the driver's seat, tense but silent, waiting.
"Ryan happened," she finally said, voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"
She took a breath, staring at the blur of streetlights outside. "I mean, he grabbed me. Wouldn't let go. Kept pushing even when I told him to stop."
Ethan's fists clenched on his lap. "Did heâ"
"It's not the first time," she cut in. The words left her before she could stop them, raw and heavy. "Back when we were together... he had a habit of not listening. Always needing control. Always pushing."
Ethan sat back, exhaling harshly. "IâI didn't know."
"I never told you," Lena said simply, her voice steadier now. "I didn't tell anyone."
A thick silence filled the car.
Ethan's voice came quieter now. "Did he hurt you?"
Lena hesitated, then shook her head. "Not the way you're thinking. But he... he made me feel like I didn't have a choice. Like saying 'no' wasn't an option."
Ethan's eyes dropped to the floor, regret tightening his features. "I should have seen it. I should haveâ"
"You're here now," she murmured, exhaustion seeping into her tone. "That's enough."
Jaxon glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "You don't have to talk about this anymore tonight, okay? Just... we'll get you home."
But before silence could fully settle, Lena's voice broke through, soft but certain. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
Jaxon's hands tightened on the wheel, his eyes flickering to her in the rearview mirror. Ethan turned his head, brows furrowing slightly. "Lena..."
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep going. "I justâ I don't want my parents to see me like this. Not tonight."
A beat of silence passed. Then, without hesitation, Jaxon spoke. "Then you're coming with us."
Ethan nodded. "Yeah. You can stay over."
Relief flooded through her chest. She didn't need to explain further. They understood.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before shifting slightly, then held out his armsâa silent invitation. Lena's breath caught. She hadn't expected that. For a second, she considered refusing, but the exhaustion in her bones and the weight of the night made her decision for her.
She unbuckled her seatbelt slowly, then leaned into Ethan's arms. His hold was warm, familiar, steady. He didn't say anything, just let her rest against him. She let out a shaky breath, feeling the tension in her body start to loosen.