Vivian's List (Vol. 1) Read Free Page A

me.”
    “Whoever said that was plain wrong! Words do hurt, Viv. They break you on the inside.”
    “But I’m fine, Liam,” she insisted . “I’m fine.” Even as she said this, misery was clear in her eyes and her face bore the strain of their toxic relationship.
    “That’s what you ke ep saying. But you know better, Viv. You know that whether you get hit with a stick or hit with words, it’s not right. And I can see you’re hurting. The pain you feel, the pain from the invisible stick, that’s a sign that you are being abused.
    We stared at each other for a long, hot moment, then her temper flared. “What makes you such an expert? You’ve only been back for—what—like a week! How can you even know what Brody is like?”
    I didn’t answer right away and the thread of our conversation was lost in tense silence.
    I reached in my pocket for my pack of cigarettes and tamped one out.
    My lighter flickered in the dark like a firefly as I lit my first cigarette of the day.
    I took a deep drag, inhaling it deep into my lungs. “My dad was a lot like Brody.” I angled my head to the left, blowing a smooth stream of smoke across my shoulder. “And guess what?”
    “What?” she finally asked.
    “ All abusers read the same handbook.”
    “Really?” Vivian lifted a skeptical brow.
    “Really.” I repaid her cynical gesture with an arched brow of my own. “How Brody treats you is exactly how my dad treated my mom. The details might differ some, but the way Brody acts, the things he says, the way you begin to think … you and my mom—your stories are pretty much identical.”
    She studied me a moment longer, another frown drawing up through her features. “I really don’t think I’m like your mom, Liam. In fact, I know I’m not because Brody is not abusive.”
    “Enough about Brody.” I took another drag on my cigarette. “Brody is not going to change. But you , Viv. You are changing. And that worries me. You’ve become so much more tolerant.”
    She lowered her eyes for a moment, raised them again. “Of what?”
    “Of the abuse. You are letting Brody get away with being a dick. You’ve begun to accept what you know is unacceptable. And these so called ‘helpful’ criticisms he gives you are not helpful. They’re harmful. That’s how Brody disguises his abuse. And you make excuses for him, Viv. You may not realize this, but you’re doubting yourself more and more each day. You are losing your self . You are losing your voice. And it makes it easier for Brody to control you … which is his bottom line.”
    Long seconds passed before she spoke. “No.” Her lovely blue eyes widened with surprise, then pain. “No,” she said again. “You’ve got it all wrong.”
    I gave her a searching look. “Do I?”
    “I ... I think so …” She trailed off unsteadily.
    “You think you are not being abused? You’re obviously an intelligent girl, Viv. Smart. Well educated. I remember how taken aback I was by you. You were so passionate, so idealistic and clear minded. And you used to be so confident. You knew exactly what you wanted in life and you weren’t going to let anyone get in the way. You believed in yourself.”
    A moment passed, and then another, and still she said nothing.
    “Trust your instincts that you always relied on before. You know how Brody treats you is fucked. He manipulates you by making you doubt yourself. Do not believe his lies. You know the truth. Deep down, you know you are being abused. There is no question about that.”
    She began to worry her lower lip between her teeth and my gaze dropped to her mouth, taking in the gentle curve of her lips. Lush, moist, and so incredibly full.
    I frowned, irritated that I found the sight so alluring. “You do not have to take his bullshit. You deserve to be treated with respect, Viv. You deserve better.”
    As the faint moonlight played across her features, I could see the struggles reflected on her face. Something in my heart