Brett's POV

Brett’s POV

Today is the day! My cousin Kaycie is moving in.  I am excited for her to move in with me and three friends.  Kaycie and I are close and have been since we were little.  She is four years younger than me, at 20.  She called me about two months ago, said she needed a change of scenery, and asked if I knew anyone with a spare room she could rent.  I told her I had a spare room that was perfect for her and told her to move here.  I inherited a large house from my grandmother.  It is an older two-story, but the inside has been completely renovated.  It has two master bedrooms, so I told her she could have the upstairs master.  I have the downstairs master bedroom.  I am standing outside with my two friends, who rent one of the other rooms in the house, when the moving truck pulls up and stops.  I see my other cousin Todd leave the driver's side and walk over to us.  I introduce him to the guys.

“Hey Todd, how have you been, man?”  I ask him.

“I have been good working, going to college, and looking after Kaycie.”  He replies

I know something has happened with her recently, but I have never gotten the whole story.  The last time I visited her, I noticed she was more shy and jumpy.  I was worried.  I hope I can get her to tell me what happened to change my cousin.  She was always so outgoing and happy.  That’s when I hear a car pull up.  I watch as she parks her baby blue Mini Cooper in the driveway.  I watch her get out and walk toward us.  She slows down when she notices my two buddies standing by me.  I can almost see the fear in her eyes.   She walks over and gives me a hug.

 “Hey Kaycie, how have you been squirt?”  I ask her.

“Seriously, still using that stupid nickname.  I have been good.”  She says, smiling.

 I hear someone clear their throat and turn to my buddies. I guess I should introduce them.

 “These two here are Darryn and Felipe.  They are also our roommates.”  I tell her.

 “Hi guys, thanks for the introduction, Brett.”  She replies.

I see her smile at the guys, but she is nervous.  I hear Todd telling her it’ll be ok and they won’t hurt her.  The three of us look at each other and wonder why he needs to tell her this.  I look at him, and he tells me I WILL TELL YOU LATER.  Finally, someone is going to tell me what changed my cousin.  I tried to find out from the family when I visited her last, but no one wanted to talk about it.  The four of us carry her bedroom furniture upstairs, and she tells us where she wants it.  Once we get her stuff off the truck, Todd and Felipe take it back to the local moving company.  I noticed that Kaycie kept stealing glances at Darryn, and I smiled.  He is entirely her type.  I hear Felipe and Todd walk back in, and they have dinner.  We stayed up late talking when Kaycie decided that she was going to bed.  We tell her goodnight, and she walks upstairs.  I hear her door shut, and I turn to Todd.

 “Ok, Todd what’s the deal. This is not the Kaycie I remember.”  I tell him

“I am guessing the last time you visited no one told you what happened.?”  He asks

“I nod my head and he lets out a sigh.  He looks at the other guys and I tell him it’s ok to talk in front of them.  I am telling you this so you understand her.  Her last boyfriend abused her mentally and physically.  It was more mental than anything.  He would tell her shit like she was fat and that she wasn’t pretty enough.  Kaycie started dieting and got down to under 100lbs.  No one noticed because it was winter and she was wearing big baggy hoodies and other clothes like that.  They weren’t together that long but it came to a head when she wouldn’t have sex with him and he beat her good and tried to force himself on her.  I thankfully decided to visit unannounced and caught him in the act.  I was with my friend Paul and we ran in and pulled the bastard off of her and beat him good.  We called the police and explained everything when they got there.  Luckily we didn’t get in trouble but he was thrown in prison for domestic violence.  She has not been the same since.  She has finally returned to a healthy weight but her self-esteem and confidence is still shit.”  Todd explained.

I sat there getting more pissed the longer he talked.  That bastard hurt my cousin, and I want to kill him.  I noticed Darryn and Felipe looked pissed as well.  The three of us are the town's bad boys, but we would never hit a woman for anything.  I know this hits somewhat close to home for Felipe.  Felipe tells Todd about his mom and the shit that they went through as kids.  The four of us talked for about another hour and then decided to go to our rooms.  I lay in my bed, thinking of what I was just told.  Hopefully, we can bring Kaycie out of her shell and help her regain her self-confidence and esteem.  I understand why none of the family wanted to talk about what happened.  I am glad Todd told me.  Moving to a new city and state will be a fresh start for Kaycie.