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“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?”
Wyatt shook his head. “Who knows? I’m wondering if it’s gotten back to Charlie’s father.”
Pressing my lips together, I closed my eyes. “A few people have texted me.”
“About the video?”
I opened my eyes and looked into his beautiful eyes. “Yeah. They said they never believed Charlie’s side of the story, but that his father had come to their houses and talked to their parents. I guess he made a few threats that if people supported me, things would be difficult for them—whatever that meant.”
“The guy is an asshole, and I hope he gets what is coming to him.”
“Me, too,” I said with a nod. “Do you think things will ever go back to normal?” I asked Wyatt.
He pulled me to him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I’m not sure, angel. The only things I care about are you and what future we have together.”
Smiling, I felt my cheeks grow hot. “I hope it involves more kissing.”
He winked. “Oh, hell yes.”
My smile dropped. I knew I had to be completely honest with Wyatt. I prayed he would be patient with me. “Wyatt, I need you to know how much I want to…well, how much I want to be with you, but I’m not sure when I’ll be ready to take that step.”
Pushing a strand of hair behind my ear, he gazed into my eyes with such a loving look. “I’m in no hurry, Sky. I want you for the rest of my life, and I’m willing to wait until you’re ready. I’d never do anything to rush you. When we finally do make love, I want it to be perfect for you.”
My chest fluttered as I went breathless. “You’re like a dream, do you know that?”
He laughed and rubbed his nose against mine. “Am I now?”
“Yes. First, you came in and saved me from the hell I had been living in, and then you made me feel so loved and cherished. I don’t know how you do it.”
He placed his hands on my face and stared into my eyes. “Skylar, I’ve never felt this way before. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Every breath I take, I take it for you.”
Oh my…
“Just when I think you couldn’t possibly make my heart beat any harder, you go off and say something like that.”
With a wink, Wyatt replied, “I try.”
My heart grew heavy as I thought about the photo Charlie had taken of me passed out. It clearly showed he was raping me. Everyone had seen it.
“How can I show up at school tomorrow, knowing everyone has seen that picture?”
Taking my hand in his, he kissed the inside of my wrist. “You show up with me, and we walk, hand in hand, though the halls. You don’t think about it or worry about it. Things might get worse before they get better, but I promise you, as soon as we graduate, I’ll take you away from Marble Falls for a bit.”
Lifting my eyebrows, I grinned. “To Italy?”
Wyatt chuckled. “You want to go to Italy?”
Nodding, I replied, “I’d love to go to Italy.”
“My father’s best friend lives in Venice. I bet I can arrange that.”
Throwing my hands up over my mouth, I exclaimed, “Are you serious?”
“Of course I am.”
I threw myself into him, and Wyatt wrapped his arms around me and spun me around while we both laughed.
In that moment, I knew everything would be okay. The road ahead wasn’t going to be a smooth one, but it was one I knew I could travel along with Wyatt by my side.
