Page 111 of Jay Bird

His response was immediate. “Then we don’t go.”

Willow turned around. “It’s not the party. I want to go.”

“Okay. Then what’s wrong?”

She opened her mouth and closed it again. How did she explain this?

There was something strangely terrifying about showing Jay Bird the physical evidence of what she had survived. He knew what Chen had done to her. He knew she had been beaten, controlled, assaulted, and treated like property.

But knowing and seeing were different things.

“There’s something you haven’t seen.”

Jay Bird’s entire demeanor changed. He pushed away from the doorframe but didn’t approach her.

“Okay.”

Willow turned toward the mirror again. Her heart began beating faster.

“They’re ugly.”

“What are?”

She reached for the hem of her top, but her hands froze. A few seconds passed, and Willow finally pulled the cover-up over her head.

She turned around slowly, exposing her back.

The room became so quiet she could hear her own breathing as she stared at the wall.

The scars crossed different areas of her back, some thin and pale while others were wider. One disappeared beneath the edge of her bathing suit near her hip.

She hated them. She hated knowing Chen had put them there.

Most of all, she hated the possibility that Jay Bird might look at her and see something damaged.

“Most of them are from his belt,” she whispered. “A couple are from other things.”

Jay Bird didn’t speak immediately, and Willow felt her gut clench.

“See? This is why I don’t—”

“Willow.” Something in his voice stopped her. “Look at me.”

She shook her head. She couldn’t. She didn’t want to see the pity or disgust.

“Please,” he said softly.

Finally, she turned. Jay Bird was staring at her, but there wasn’t disgust in his expression. There was anger.

Her body tensed automatically, and Jay Bird noticed. His expression immediately softened.

“No.” His voice became gentler. “I’m not angry with you. I’m angry at the bastard who did that to you.”

He moved closer but stopped before reaching her. “Can I touch you?”

Her throat tightened. “Yes.”

Jay Bird stepped behind her. Willow watched him through the mirror as he lifted one hand, moving slowly enough that she could stop him if she wanted to. His fingertip gently traced the edge of one faded scar near her shoulder blade.