Bullies Love and Lies Read online

  His nostrils flare. “Wrong. He said Ohio.”

  “Right, Ohio. That’s what I meant,” I say, rubbing my throat as he lets go.

  “Say uncle,” Ryan says, and I choke on air.

  “What?” I croak. My lungs constrict. “How did…” The blood drains from my face, making me feel lightheaded.

  “Say uncle when you give up, and I'll be the one packing your bags. Don't think we're going to make your stay easy.”

  I'm left standing there, breathing heavily as he walks away. For a moment, I thought he knew what had happened. I stumble to my room, determined to stay there for the rest of the day.

  ***

  As I lie in bed, I can’t stop thinking about Ryan and Brent. In truth, I can’t blame them for the way they’re acting. Their dad shows up with a random girl whom he’s moving in and financially supporting. Yeah, that’s crazy.

  I don’t even know what I’m doing here. I didn’t give Jeff a chance to explain what was going on. He never said what he wanted me to do. What if I exaggerated the situation? I wipe the tears from my face as I make my way downstairs.

  I pause on the bottom step. He did kiss me. I chew my thumbnail. He could have taken how much I care for him the wrong way. There were signs that would suggest otherwise, but I need to give him a chance to explain himself.

  The thought of never going home and seeing my friends again has my stomach twisting. My friends are my family. Jeff better make this right.

  I search the main floor before tapping on Arden’s office door.

  “Come in,” Arden’s voice rings from the other side.

  I inhale a calming breath and push open the door. “Hey, Arden. Can I use your phone?”

  “Sure, come on in. It’s over here.” He moves from a row of file cabinets to a wooden U-shaped desk. “Can I ask who you’re calling?”

  I feel bad, guilty. “My friend.” I kick at the gray carpet. “I was thinking that I should probably go back.”

  Arden leans against his desk. “You can call your friend, but are you sure you’re thinking clearly? Is it safe back home? Maybe if you went to the police?”

  “Nothing illegal happened. I think my uncle Jeff…” I shake my head. “He’s not my uncle. He’s my friend’s uncle. Jeff might have wanted me to do something for money, but I didn’t give him a chance to explain. I’m not a hundred percent sure what was going to happen.” I chew my lip as I pace the room. “I just want to go home. I live with Jeff, though.” I run my hands down my face. “God, I don’t know what to do. Maybe I overreacted?” I grab a tissue from Arden’s desk and blow my nose.

  “You listened to your instincts. I think that unless you have family to go back to, that not going back is the right choice. This can be a fresh start.”

  I sigh. “My dad’s back home, but he has a drinking, drug, and gambling problem. I couldn’t stay with him for long. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Your mom?” Arden asks.

  I shake my head. “I think I should call Jessa.”

  Arden hands me the phone. “Maybe leaving out exactly where you are would be safer. You could say you’re with an aunt in Ohio. I told the boys you’re from Ohio.”

  “Yeah.” I nod. “I’ll say that.” I dial the number to block Arden’s ID before dialing hers. I sit down on the leather loveseat that’s next to the door, and he moves to the chair behind his desk. I kinda wish he’d leave the room, but I’m also glad he’s here. God, I’m a mess. I don’t know what I want.

  “Hello?” Jessa answers, the sound of heavy metal making it hard to hear her.

  “Hey, Jessa! It’s me, Emma!” I say loudly, cupping my hand around the speaker and turning away from Arden.

  The music cuts off. “Oh, hey! How’s the trip? Are you guys having fun?”

  “I…” My brows dip in confusion. Uncle Jeff must not have told her I ran off. “I bumped into my aunt. Strange coincidence. She offered me a place to stay with her in Ohio.”

  “Really? So, you’re going with her? What does Uncle Jeff think?”

  “I’m already here. It’s great here… in Ohio…” I rack my brain for any facts I might have stored about the state of Ohio. “There are trees, corn, and—”

  “What? You left? How long are you going to be gone? I didn’t even know you had an aunt. I thought you didn’t have family on your dad’s side besides that druggy uncle in Arkansas?”

  “Yeah… this was unexpected.”

  “You just happened to run into an aunt you didn’t know about, and you’re in Ohio with her?” Jessa asks, sounding like she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “Emma, what the hell? School starts in a few days. I don’t—”

  “Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call you later!” I pull the phone away from my ear like it’s on fire. I frantically tap at the screen to end the call. “She didn’t know that I left. I guess Jeff didn’t tell anyone yet,” I mumble. “Jessa’s Jeff’s niece. I can’t face her. I can’t tell her what happened.” I inhale a deep breath and then tap out another number.

  “Hello?”

  I hold my hand over my mouth.

  “Hello? Emma?”

  I shake my head back and forth as overwhelming emotions slam into me.

  “Emma, is that you?”

  I thought hearing Jessa’s voice was hard; hearing his voice is so much worse. “Jeff,” I squeak.

  “Emma! You get your ass back here! I can’t believe you’d pull this shit. Where are—”

  I end the call. I’ve never heard him yell like that.

  “Emma, you okay?” Arden asks.

  I shake my head no because I’m not okay. My hands are shaking too hard for me to hold on to the phone, so I set it next to me. “He kissed me.” Tears fill my eyes. “I don’t know why I just said that. Please don’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t,” Arden says softly as he sits next to me on the couch.

  “When I’d spend the night with my friend Jessa, he’d wake me up before everyone else to make me breakfast. He lived right next door. Monday was ice cream day at school, and he always made sure I had the money for it. He was always doing nice stuff like that.” I scoff, mad at myself for being so dumb. “When my grandma needed to be moved to a nursing home, he let me move in with him. He promised to take care of me; I trusted him.” Wiping my eyes, I look up at Arden. “Sorry for unloading. I’m kinda shocked at what happened yesterday. It doesn’t seem real.”

  “I don’t mind listening to you, Emma. Talking can be very therapeutic. Jeff sounds like a predator. I think you should talk to someone. We have a family counselor.”

  My eyes widen. “I’d rather not.”

  “I think it’s best to talk about trauma instead of burying it away.”

  I shake my head. “Just not right now, please,” I whisper. What can a counselor do, anyway? What’s done is done. I don’t want to relive my past by talking to a stranger about it.

  “It’s ultimately your choice. Think about it.” He glances at the clock. “How about we watch a movie, kiddo?”

  Uncle Jeff never called me kiddo. He always called me beautiful, pretty girl, or baby girl. I thought it was endearing, but now, after what happened, it makes me sick. “I think I’ll go upstairs,” I mumble.

  Arden shakes his head. “To be alone? To cry? Emma, I know the situation you’re in seems impossibly hard, but trust me when I say that things will get better. I promise.”

  I let out a frustrated groan. “Everything’s moving so fast. I don’t know you. I can’t live here and have you support me. I don’t know what I’m doing.” I rub my hands down my face. “What if I overreacted?” I glance at the phone. “I still didn’t give him a chance to explain. I hung up on him.”

  “I get it, and it’s completely normal to feel this way. It’s normal to feel confused.” He leans a little closer. “If it makes a difference, I think you did the right thing in getting yourself out of that situation. Give this time. Change isn’t easy, and this is a big change. I’m perfectly fine supportin
g you. Take a few deep breaths and listen to your gut. Do you think you made the right choice in leaving? Do you think Jeff was doing what was best for you yesterday?”

  I do as Arden instructs, trying to calm myself with deep breaths. “I think he wanted to make money off me. Maybe the money would’ve helped us both, but the way he wanted to get it was wrong.” I sigh, my shoulders slumping.

  “Now, if you had a safe place, a home, would you still be doubting yourself?”

  I shrug. “Probably not as much.”

  “This is a safe place. This can be your home,” Arden says.

  How did I get so lucky? That could have been anyone’s car yesterday. “Why are you helping me?”

  “I like helping. My parents were big on volunteering and giving to charity. They passed that trait on to me.” He chuckles. “It’s sort of an addiction. I help at shelters, donate to several charities, and I adopted two kids. You’re doing me a favor by letting me help you, so can you please give this a chance?”

  “I’ll try.” I smile. “Since it’s helping you out,” I say, almost laughing.

  “Good. I bet in a few weeks, you’ll be settled in. How about that movie?”

  I nod. “Sure. A movie sounds good.”

  I follow Arden into the basement, which is basically another house. Arden tells me there are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, and a billiards den. He leads me into a cozy living room where two sectionals sit in front of a massive flat screen. One of the sectionals is on a platform, raising it a couple feet above the one directly in front of it.

  Arden pulls out boxes of candy and an orange throw from a small cabinet. He hands me the blanket and several boxes of candy, keeping a box of chocolate-covered pretzels for himself. Plopping down, he lifts the seat cushion next to his and pulls out two bottles of water.

  I take a bottle from him. “There’s a fridge in there?” I ask, sitting down on the other end of the couch

  “Mini-fridge. You can’t have a theater without cold drinks.”

  I’m already feeling better and less like crying as I sip my water while Arden searches the new release movies.

  “Is there anything in particular you’d like to watch?”

  “Anything funny works.”

  “A comedy it is,” Arden says. “Have you seen Ace Ventura: Pet Detective?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You know who Jim Carey is?”

  I shrug. “I’ve heard of him. I don’t think I’ve seen any movies that he’s been in.”

  Arden’s eyes widen. “That’s unacceptable. This is a must, then. Are you ready to laugh?”

  I grin. “Yeah.”

  Arden wags the remote back and forth. “Prepare to fall in love.” He clicks play, and the lights dim.

  Arden was right; not even a few minutes in and I’m laughing. When Arden laughs, my gaze wanders over to watch him. He genuinely seems like a great guy. If I wouldn’t have run into him… the alternative… Nope, not going there. This is the last time I’ll ever think of Jeff. Tomorrow is my new start.

  Chapter 4.5

  RYAN

  Dad’s in the kitchen, drinking a glass of water. It’s past nine and he still has his suit on. Not that it’s unusual. I rarely ever see him in anything else. I can barely contain my anger as I stride up to him. “How was movie night, Dad?” I say, trying to stay calm.

  “It was good, Ry. Emma needed a distraction.”

  “Oh, yeah? From what?”

  Dad pauses for a minute and then says, “She’s having a little trouble adjusting. Nothing to worry about.”

  I nod. “So, no timeline on how long she’s going to be here?”

  Dad sets his glass in the sink, turning his back to me. “For a while.”

  I grind my jaw. “You keep saying that, and that’s all you’re saying. What friend in Ohio, Dad? Why have we never heard about this friend of yours?”

  He rests his palms on the sink, shoulders dropping. “An old friend from school, Ry.” He turns around. “I’m going to bed. It’s getting late. You should get some sleep, Son.”

  “Why’d she really come here?” I ask for the third time, hoping to get an answer beside the change of scenery bullshit. I want to ask him why the fuck she was wearing his shirt.

  “Ryan.” He sighs. “Emma had some trouble back home and my friend asked if she could stay here for her senior year. It’s not a big deal.”

  “Her whole senior year?”

  “Probably, and for as long as she needs after that.”

  I nod my head and smile. “Got it. Night, Dad.”

  He walks out as Brent walks in. “You hear him? Same shit.”

  Brent nods. “Yeah, he’s lying.”

  I scoff, heading toward the basement stairs. “He’s the worst liar, and he’s always going on about honesty and integrity.” I clench my fists. “I don’t fucking get why he’s lying.”

  “Maybe she asked him to,” Brent says as we walk into the den.

  “She’s nobody to him. We’re his fucking family. This is bullshit.” I throw open the door of the mini-fridge, almost tearing it completely off. I grab a beer from inside. “She needs to go.”

  Chapter 5

  I thought a lot last night after the movie marathon Arden and I had. Jim Carey is hilarious, and I’m going to give staying here a chance, no more doubting my choice, but I need to clear the air with Ryan and Brent.

  Using the laptop that Arden loaned me, I pull up my social media accounts, deleting them one by one. Each account I delete feels like it takes a piece of me away with it. So many memories are now gone, but it had to be done.

  Arden suggested that I do it as part of my new life, and I agreed because I can’t risk anyone from back home or Jeff and his friends finding me here. Not having social media is going to be an adjustment.

  I throw on the jeans I came here in but decide to wear one of Arden’s shirts instead of my small tank. I run a brush through my hair and slip on my chucks before heading down to the garage.

  The white ’66 Mustang is in perfect condition and intimidating. After carefully backing out of the garage, I’m on my way to the mall. Arden gave me his credit card and keys this morning. Oh, and a fancy new phone. He plugged his address into the map so I can find my way to the mall and back.

  The wind whips my blonde hair around my face as I drive down the road. Not only is the air cooler here than back home, it’s also crisp. There were a few factories near my hometown, so the air quality wasn’t the best.

  The thought of home reminds me of Jeff. For three months, he was my home. I still can’t believe he kissed me. I bring the hem of my shirt to my mouth and rub the fabric back and forth over my tongue like I can erase the memory or maybe the feeling of his slimy tongue touching mine.

  The parking lot is not as busy as I was imagining it would be. Finding a spot in front of the food court, I slip the credit card into my back pocket as I step out of the car. I feel like an ant in comparison to this gigantic multi-story building.

  The food court is nearly empty, but up ahead, I can see people walking to and from stores. I forgo looking at the map of the mall and decide to wander. Most people here seem to be moms with toddlers. Still, my breath catches every time I walk past a group of women and their gaze moves to me. I feel like they can see all my secrets.

  I try making quick work of grabbing the things I need, but I need so much. I literally have nothing. I’ll need to stop by a convenience store after this to get toiletries and school supplies.

  After purchasing a new wardrobe and mentally promising to pay Arden back, I make my way to the food court to grab lunch to go. My feet are sore, and my arms are tired from the weight of seven-hundred dollars’ worth of clothes.

  Because the universe hates me, I drop a bag, and attempting to not step on it, I do an awkward hop thing that has me teetering to the side and then crashing to the floor. It feels like time stops before it begins moving again but at high speed. The sound of the mall comes fl
ooding back as I’m trying to pick myself and several bags up. I’m trying not to look at all the people who I’m sure are staring. Like I’d even be able to see them through the tears threatening to spill.

  “Are you okay?” asks a deep baritone.

  “I’m fine,” I say, concentrating on picking up my bags faster than he can; he’s already picked up two. I lose my balance again, stepping over a shoebox, and collide into the stranger. Strong arms wrap around my waist to steady me. Breathing heavily, I lift my head from a firm chest to apologize.

  Holy shit.

  This guy is hot. The top of my head reaches his shoulders, and I want to get on my tiptoes to get a better look at those beautiful hazel eyes. Seriously, someone should get a picture of his eyes. His thick brows and long lashes seems to make all the swirling colors in his eyes stand out even more.

  “Sorry, I’m new. I moved here Friday and had to buy new clothes,” I say, like somehow that explains my clumsiness.

  He looks over my shoulder and then back at me. “Are you with anyone?”

  I shake my head. “No. I don’t really know anyone.” A nervous laugh bubbles out, and then I realize I’m still wrapped in his arms. “Shit, I’m sorry.” I scramble to right myself, but it’s hard with the bags in my hands and the ones around our feet.

  He laughs as he helps steady me.

  “Thank you,” I say, slowly picking up a bag from the floor while studying him. He’s my age, but I know he’s nothing like me. He’s nothing like the boys in my town, either. This guy is clean-cut and put together.

  He looks like… an Ivy League college student. His khakis are straight and wrinkle-free. A brown belt makes sure they stay in place. The sleeves of his white button-up are rolled to his elbows. His medium-length brown hair is styled to look messy in a very sexy way.

  Wait… is that… It is. This strait-laced boy has a tattoo, the end of it just barely peeking out from the bottom of his shirt sleeve.

  Hot rich boy with a tattoo scoops up my remaining bags while I blatantly stare at him. “Why don’t I help you take these to your table?” he asks with a smile. “Were you getting lunch?” His hazel eyes sparkle with humor.