Beautiful (18 page)

Where in the hell is he going?

Skylar. He must know where she is.

Quickly jumping into Mitch’s truck, I yelled for him to get in and drive. He looked at me like I had lost my mind.

“Mitch! Now!”

“Um, Dad, listen, I have to go. I’ll call you right back. Dad, I know! We’ll find her, but I’ve got to go right now!” He hung up and looked at me. “What in the hell, Wyatt?”

“Charlie just drove by.”

Mitch pulled out and gunned it. “How does Charlie know where she is?”

“I don’t know. She might not even be there.”

“He’s not supposed to be anywhere near her. She has a restraining order against him.”

“Then, punch it, dude. We need to find her before he does.”

Mitch drove so fast that my knuckles were white from holding on, and I swore, he said every cuss word known to man and some I’d never heard before.

I told him about the area where Skylar and I’d first officially talked. When he pulled in, we both saw Skylar’s car…and Charlie’s truck.

If he touches her, I’m going to break his neck.

Jumping out of the truck before Mitch, I ran toward Skylar’s car.

Mitch ran up behind me. “Where is she?” he asked as he looked all around.

My heart had never beat so hard in my chest before.

Please let her be okay.

I took my phone out and called her, but it went right to voice mail. Then, I heard her.

Mitch took off running before I even had a chance to move.

Grabbing his arm, I pulled him to a stop. “Wait! I have an idea.”

He looked at me like I was crazy. “What? Are you kidding me? My sister is alone with the prick who raped her!”

I pushed out a deep breath. Just hearing that made me want to kill Charlie. “I need you to trust me. When we get there, turn on the video on your cell phone, and keep it facing Charlie.”

Mitch looked at me with a confused expression.

“Trust me,” I urged.

He nodded his head and motioned for me to start walking.

I headed toward Skylar’s voice. She sounded like she was shouting.

If that asshole hurts her at all, I swear, he won’t live to see the light of day.

As we came around a tree, I saw Skylar first. Her hands were balled up in fists, and she was shouting at Charlie. I saw Mitch out of the corner of my eye, and he looked like he was ready to attack and kill Charlie.

“Why? Why would you post that photo, Charlie? What reason could you possibly have for posting it? I’m passed out in the picture!”

“Sky, I didn’t post it! I think Jenny saw it on my phone one night after we’d had sex, and she must have sent it to herself. Do you really think I want that picture out there? It only proves…”

They were both so busy shouting that neither one of them noticed us walking up.

“Proves what, Charlie? That you drugged me and raped me?”

Charlie ran his hands through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. “Skylar, I didn’t mean to ever hurt you. I’ve always wanted you so badly. I knew you’d never give me the time of day, and—”

“So, you drugged me? You were my brother’s best friend! He trusted you. I trusted you! I thought you were my friend, Charlie.
You ruined my life!
” Skylar screamed, causing all of us to jump.

My heart was beating so hard that I was sure Mitch could hear it. All I wanted to do was take Skylar away from here, away from the bad memories, and away from this asshole. It was killing me to stand here and see her hurting, to hear what that asshole had done to her.

“Skylar, you don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to tell everyone the truth, but my father won’t let me. He just keeps saying that I am going to be taking over the family business and that you probably wanted it anyway. I…I didn’t know what to say or what to do.”

I walked closer as I saw Skylar start to cry harder. She kept repeating how her life was ruined.

“Why don’t you be a man and tell everyone the truth, asshole? Now, with this picture out, it’s just going to get worse for Skylar, and you know it,” I said, walking toward her.

When she looked up at me, she caught her breath. For one brief moment, she had life in her eyes. She seemed relieved to see me. I wanted nothing more than for her to run into my arms. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to love her.

“Skylar,” I softly whispered.

The next thing I knew, she was running toward me. My heart slammed against my chest.

I held on to her as tightly as I could. “I promise you, everything’s going to be okay. I promise, angel. I promise.”

She was sobbing while she tried to talk, “It…it won’t, Wyatt. Everyone has seen that picture. Everyone!”

I glanced over to Charlie. He was leaning against a tree with his head in his hands.

What the hell? Is he crying? I’d really like to give him another reason to cry with my fist in his face.

“You know what you need to do. You need to tell the truth, Charlie. You owe it to her.”

He slowly looked up at me and shook his head. “I’ll go to jail. My dad will disown me. I’ll lose everything.”

Suddenly, Mitch pinned Charlie against the tree. “You motherfucker! You ruined my sister’s life. Do you think we give a shit about your life? You’re going to tell everyone the truth.”

Charlie pushed Mitch off of him. “Or what, Mitch? What are you going to do?”

Mitch smiled as he held up his phone. “I don’t have to do anything. You see, Charlie, this shit works both ways. I already sent Michelle the video of you saying you date-raped my sister, and you were too much of a coward to tell the truth. Oh, yeah, and it also shows your fucking father was in on the cover-up.”

Skylar spun around and looked between Mitch and me.

“What?” Skylar and Charlie said at the same time.

Mitch smiled at Skylar. “Thanks to Wyatt for coming up with the idea for me to turn the video on, I got everything. Everyone is going to know the truth, baby girl. Everyone is going to know what lying sacks of shit this asshole and his father are.”

Charlie’s face turned as white as a ghost. “No! My father is going to murder me. Why, Mitch?”

“I don’t think you want me answering that. I suggest you leave now before I beat your ass into the ground. Go enjoy what little freedom you have left.”

Charlie started to walk up to Skylar. She moved back and leaned her body into mine. When I wrapped my arms around her, I felt her shaking.

Moving my lips to her ear, I whispered, “He’ll never hurt you again, angel. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Looking at me and then Skylar, Charlie said, “For what it’s worth, I’m really sorry. I know you don’t believe me…but my father gave me no choice.”

Skylar’s body shook. “You had a choice when you put that drug into my drink. You had a choice when you took off my pants and raped me when I couldn’t stop you. You had a choice to tell the truth. I’ll never forgive you for what you did to me, and I hope you rot in jail. Get out of my face, Charlie. I
never
want to see or talk to you again. Ever!”

He looked at me before turning and walking away. Skylar’s legs gave out as she slid down toward the ground. Grabbing on to her tighter, I pulled her up and turned her to me.

When her eyes met mine, my heart filled with so much love for this girl that I thought it was going to burst.

She barely smiled. “My hero.”

“Sky—”

Shaking her head, she closed her eyes. “Please, Wyatt. Please kiss me again. Make me forget everything, like you did earlier.”

Warmth radiated throughout my entire body as I cupped her face with my hands. Leaning down, I softly brushed my lips against hers. The gentle kiss quickly turned passionate. She reached up and grabbed my hair with her hands while she let out a soft moan that traveled through my body like a bolt of lightning.

I love this girl.

“Yeah, um…I don’t really want to see this, y’all,” Mitch said as he walked by. “She’s still my sister, and I’m still looking to pound someone’s face in.”

I slowly pulled my lips back as she let out a chuckle. Her eyes were looking deep into my soul, I swore, burning her love into me forever.

I’d do anything for her. Anything.

“Sky, I…I—”

She put her finger up to my mouth and smiled. “I know. I feel it, too. Will you do me a favor?”

Nodding my head like a crazy fool, I replied, “Yes! Of course. Anything.”

“Will you drive me home, so I can tell my parents what’s been going on? Will you stay with me while I do that? I don’t think I can do it alone.”

My hands started sweating, and my legs felt like they were about to give out on me.
Holy hell. What is happening to me?
“I’d follow you anywhere, angel.”

Skylar reached down and took my hands. Both of our cell phones started ringing.

She pulled her phone out and frowned. “Mom? I’m on my way home with Wyatt and Mitch. Can I talk to you when I get there? Yes, I’m fine. I promise, Mom. I’ll tell you everything when I get home. I love you, too.”

Hanging up her phone, she slipped it into her back pocket. She reached up on her toes and gently kissed me on the lips. Pulling back slightly, she spoke, “I always wondered what it was like.”

Frowning, I asked, “What what’s like?”

“To be kissed and feel such…love. To feel how much you can be loved and adored with just a single kiss.”

My heartbeat quickened, and my stomach fluttered. I wanted to be with Skylar—and more than just physically. I wanted to show her every single day how much I loved and adored her. I wanted to grab her, pull her body up against mine, and show her how much I wanted her. I knew now was not the time. I needed to be patient.

Placing my hand behind her neck, I drew her in for another kiss. “It’s a good thing you’re with the person who happens to be head over heels in love with you.”

She leaned her forehead against mine. “I love you, too, Wyatt.”

Taking her hand in mine, I pulled her close to me, and we walked back to her car.

Mitch was leaning against his truck with a stupid-ass grin on his face. “You hurt her…I’ll beat your ass,” he said to me.

I held her door open while she got in her car. Skylar chuckled as I looked over to Mitch.

“Good to know, dude. Good to know.”

Skylar

My parents sat with stunned expressions on their faces.

“Skylar, why didn’t you tell us about all of the notes and the bullying?” Dad asked.

I peeked over to Mitch. Michelle was sitting next to him, holding his hand.

Looking back at my father, I shrugged. “I didn’t want to worry you. After your heart attack, I didn’t want to add to your stress.”

Dad’s body slumped over as he said, “Oh, Skylar. If I had known you were harboring all of this, all on your shoulders…I don’t even know what to think right now.” He glanced over to Mitch. “How could you not tell us, Mitch?”

Mitch went to talk, but I interrupted him, “Dad, don’t be upset with him. He begged me to, but I wouldn’t. Then, I made him promise that he wouldn’t tell you, and he didn’t want to break my trust. Please don’t be upset with him. If you’re going to be angry, I’m the one to blame.”

Mom stood and walked over to me. “Skylar, no one is angry, and we certainly do not blame you.”

“I’m angry! I’m pissed off, and I would like to rip off Charlie’s head along with his damn father’s!” my father yelled out.

Mitch jumped up. “Dad, you need to calm down.”

“No, I need to hurt someone.”

Wyatt jumped up. “You can hit me, sir.”

Dropping my mouth open, I gasped, “What?”

“Yeah!” Mitch said with a clap as he ran over and held Wyatt in place.

My father actually looked like he was contemplating hitting Wyatt.

“Dad! You’re not seriously thinking of hitting my boyfriend, are you?”

“Oh dear,” my mother mumbled.

Snapping my head to her, I asked, “That’s all you’ve got, Mom?
Oh dear
?”

“Come on, Dad. One good hit,” Mitch said.

Wyatt scrunched up his face as he closed his eyes. “Ready!” he yelled out.

Jumping in front of him, I yelled out, “Dad!”

“He said I could! It’s just one hit, Skylar.”

Turning to my mother, I pleaded, “Mom! Talk some sense into them.”

She laughed and walked over to my father. “All right, settle down, Rocky. You will not be punching Wyatt. He doesn’t deserve it.”

With a nod, my father agreed, “You’re right. But it’s good to know you were willing to take the hit, son.”

“Damn it,” Mitch mumbled, letting go of Wyatt.

Michelle was laughing, as was Wyatt.

He pulled me to him and kissed the tip of my nose. “Angel, your dad wasn’t going to hit me.”

“So you say,” my father said, walking by.

Wyatt’s smile dropped as Mitch let out a roar of laughter.

We spent the rest of the evening together. Michelle and I helped my mother make dinner while my father took on Wyatt and Mitch in a game of basketball. Dad had become much more active since his heart attack, but I knew it still made my mother nervous.

After dinner, Wyatt and I drove to the school, so he could get his truck.

Leaning against his truck, I took in a deep breath. “How many people do you think have seen the video of Charlie?”