What hit Michael hardest, in that moment, was that part of his brain pinged, acknowledging what seemed like legitimate questions, until Angel pointed out how looking for an explanation shifted some of the blame to her. Which was bullshit. Obviously it wasn’t her fault. He just couldn’t help but think maybe if she’d been wearing something sexy, it might have drawn the guy’s attention... but women in Stronghold could strip naked and expect to be treated with respect. Women on the street should be able to have the same expectation. Saying a woman should dress less sexy just shifted the blame to her, the advice meant shifting the predator’s attention to a different woman, a woman who was dressed more sexily, rather than focusing on the man, who was really the only one at fault.

He wanted his friends to be protected, but staying safe shouldn’t mean changing what she was wearing or not going out to parties or anything other change to her behavior. Even if it seemed like a legitimate question, he could see how it came off as pointing a finger.

“Plus, you feel super alone. I think that’s what finally helped Ellie to talk a little last night,” Lexie said, her head leaning against Patrick’s knee. She had one arm wrapped around his leg, her fingers stroking his ankle, almost as though she were consoling him. One of his big hands was on the back of her neck, the chocolate color of his fingers standing out against the pale cream of her skin. He was leaning forward, almost protectively hovering over her. “Hearing she wasn’t the only one who had been through something.”

“Who else was there last night?” Michael demanded. Even though he couldn’t do anything, he suddenly had the overwhelming need to know. Patrick shot him a look of sympathy, at the same time Angel and Lexie both shook their heads.

“Don’t worry about that,” Angel said, reaching out to pick up a sandwich. “Mmm, these look amazing.”

He made a noise of frustration. “I just don’t understand how you can act like this isn’t a big deal!”

“It’s not,” Angel said, shooting him a glare. “I mean, it is and it isn’t. We know it shouldn’t happen, it fucking sucks when it does happen, it affects us, but we rise above it. We find ways to guard ourselves and defend ourselves and we watch out for each other, but we don’t wallow in what happened to us, or we’d be walking around scared all the time instead of just aware and on guard. Although, even then, we’re a lot more likely to be hurt by someone we know than someone we don’t. Which is why it’s nice to belong to a group of friends like ours where the guys are all decent and trustworthy. Even if you occasionally do stupid things.”