Loving Charley Read online

  “It’s okay if y’all wanna get a little dirty.”

  “Char, this isn’t a time to be funny!” Piper says smartly.

  Ignoring Piper, I turn to Cash. “We’ve gotta get something on that hand when we get back.”

  “I know,” he says, looking at his swollen hand.

  They stay at the Gator, and we walk to the club. There is no need for a flashlight because the headlights shine directly onto the spot below the club. Cash tries to take the shovel from me, but I shake him off. He knows this is about me. Yes, his hand is near broken, but this is what I have to do.

  Within four digs, I strike gold… I’d guess you’d say. Bending down to my knees, I scrape the excess dirt from the top of the box and remove it from the earth. The fact that it hasn’t been buried too long has helped from ruining the evidence. I stand and begin to walk toward the Gator.

  “Char-coal, aren’t you going to open it?”

  “Hell no. I know what’s in there.”

  Cash has a pleading stare in his eyes.

  “Please look, Char-coal. Who knows, he could have been damn Houdini and made it vanish.”

  “Seriously?” I ask Cash as he nods. “Fine.”

  Once we get to the Gator and are seated, I open the box.

  “See… it’s all here.” Everything is within the box, but as Joe looks at the contents, his face loses color.

  “Hey Joe, you aight?" I ask.

  “Um, yeah. I’m just kinda worried. I mean, what do you think will happen to me since I knew about it all? Dammit! I can’t get arrested. I’ll lose everything Gran and I worked for.”

  “Look, I’ll do my best to make sure nothing happens to you, Joe. Just like Cash, I’m not letting you take the blame for what that asshole did. Damn, I wish someone had gotten that shit on video. You’d think that with technology these days somebody would have gotten it, but noooo, they were too busy staring.”

  “Thank you, Squirrel. Gran is gonna kill me no matter what.”

  “Can we get going? Just lookin’ at that box is freakin’ me out,” Piper says.

  In unison we agree and make our way back to the house. As we approach, I’m unsure if I can do this. Walking into that station was one thing, but delivering this box to them will start a ball rolling that can create an avalanche.

  As if being mind readers, Cash puts his hand on my knee while Tessa places her hand on my shoulder. Their love and support are amazing.

  “Tess, have you heard from Dustin? Is Dylan going to survive?”

  “Yeah, he said that he had a few broken ribs, but was going to make it. He might have to stay a few days, though. Cash fucked him up, and he’s a damn puss. Mr. Big-and-Bad, but whimpers like a damn baby. Cash, I’m glad you beat the shit outta him because if I had to go along with this plan much longer, it might have been me.” I roll my eyes as she continues. “I see that, Char! Dustin’s okay, too, but he said his parents were pissed. I don’t know what all this will do to us,” Tessa says.

  I whip my head around. “What do you mean? I mean, I know things will be weird, but you and Dustin are perfect for each other.”

  “I agree, but it’s going to be hard. I just don’t know if we will survive. We’re not as strong as Cash and you.”

  I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing. Once we are at the front porch, I start to fidget with the top of the box. Cash stops me as the others go inside. He takes my arm and turns me around while trying to move my hair from my face with his swollen hand.

  “Hey, are you okay? I mean… really okay?” I bite my lip and shake my head yes. “You know that I’m not leaving. I’ll tell as much as you want me to or keep it quiet if you want.” Leaning in, he kisses my forehead and lets his lips linger for a few extra seconds.

  We don’t separate each other’s hands as we walk to the house. Feeling like I’m in slow motion, I count the steps going up the porch, one…two… three…four. Cash pulls on the screen door, and it squeaks as he opens it. It’s time to tell everything.

  Chapter 4

  Walking into my house has a different feeling at this point. I can hear Hayden talking above the others, and I think they might be playing cards. There is absolutely no telling.

  Cash glances in my direction. “I love you, Char-coal.”

  “I love you more, Cash Money,” I say as he wraps his arm around my waist.

  We head into the kitchen where everyone is sitting with a few cards, but Dad is stuck with about one hundred. Bless him. They aren’t going to let him win.

  “Charley, glad y’all made it in. Whatcha got there?” Mama asks while peering at the box.

  “Um… well… I think we need to talk, but first I need to get Cash some ice.”

  Everyone’s eyes fall on Cash’s hand as he removes it from behind me.

  “Boy, what the hell happened? Hope whoever you got in a fight with looks worse than you do,” Dad states.

  Setting the box onto the counter, I go to the freezer, and grab an icepack for Cash. Once I’ve placed the icepack on his hand, I pick the box back up, and we make our way to the table.

  Mama looks at Dad, and the Kluft girls look around, unsure if they should stay or go. Tori begins to stand, but I shake my head no. I want them here. Everyone needs to know the entire truth.

  “Char, I think it would be better if you talked to your parents alone first,” Tori says.

  “I understand that, but I only want to tell this once.”

  “Well, if you want us to leave at any time, just say the word.”

  My mama’s face is white as a ghost. She has known deep in her heart for a long time that something was going on, but I’ve never been brave enough to tell the details.

  As we approach the table, everyone scoots in, and we take our seat with Cash by my side, as usual. Gradually, I move the box onto the table.

  All eyes are on me, but before I open the box, I speak to my parents. “Mama and Dad, there are some things you don’t know about me, Dylan, Cash, and pretty much everyone at this table. I’ve kept a secret, but it’s time to tell. Please let me say everything I need to before you jump to conclusions, and once I say what I have to, things will change… but how I want them to. Okay?”

  Dad doesn’t say a word, but sits there with his arms crossed. Mama looks at me for direction.

  “Remember when y’all had to go to that sale in Athens and left me at home?” They both nod. “Well, something bad happened that night. Dylan put something in my drink, and let’s just say he took advantage of me.” I can tell that my parents are putting the pieces together and are dying to speak. I lift my finger to tell them to just let me talk. Tears begin to roll down my mama’s cheeks.

  “Mama, don’t cry. I’m all right. Cash saved me that night. Besides Dylan, he’s the only one that knows the entire story. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I did the only thing I knew how to do; I pushed everyone away—the team, my friends, and y’all. I just survived. Yes, I’m different, but I’m okay.” As I take a breath, it gives my mama a chance to speak.

  Anger begins to rise in her eyes. “Charley, you mean to tell me that Dylan Sloan raped you, and you went out with him again? He was in this house this week. What the hell was that about?”

  My mama never cusses.

  “I’m telling you there is more to this story. I’ve dealt with what happened to me thanks to Tessa, Cash, and my friends. Going to Southern was the best choice I could have made. What I didn’t know was how Dylan wasn’t going to let me go. He’s been keeping tabs on me since I went to school by taking pictures, sending messages to Joe, and even having Joe work for him.” As soon as those words come out of my mouth, my dad is standing from his chair and holding Joe by his collar.

  “Son, you better explain real quick, or I’ll be serving your ass to the hogs!”

  I jump up and make my way to Dad and Joe. “Dad! Put him down! He’s not like Dylan. He just got caught up in trying to be his friend. I promise!”

&nbs
p; “Charley, if I let go of him and he’s done something to hurt my girl, he better run like hell.”

  “Dad, I promise. He’s a good guy.”

  Dad lets Joe go. He walks cautiously to his side of the table again and sits, but never removes his eyes from Joe.

  “Joe met Dylan during Senior Week at Myrtle Beach. They kept in contact, and when Dylan heard I was going to Southern, he asked Joe to keep an eye on me. Joe didn’t realize that we were broken up. He just thought he was being a good friend to Dylan. Within twenty-four hours of meeting me, he knew that something was off, but continued to do what Dylan asked. He knew nothing about Dylan drugging me, and when I confessed everything to him, he was in complete shock. He was too deep in lies to tell the truth until Study Day. He told me that Dylan was the one behind it all, but that was really to protect me. Dylan had pictures taken of me at school. He even had pictures of Piper at school. I still can’t put my finger on that, but I know that if Joe hadn’t told me he was involved that night, I might not be alive today.”

  “What do you mean ‘alive today’?” Mama questions.

  “Dylan would have been at Whiskey River that night, the same place we were going. I don’t know if he would have tried the same stunt again or something worse. The truth is, when Joe ripped my heart apart that night, I thought it was the end of the world. It wasn’t until I was home for break that I found out the reason why.”

  “I have one question for you, Charley.” Mama pauses. “Why did you fall all over Cash then push him away and go out with Dylan?” Nothing like Mama to just cut to the chase.

  I look into Cash’s eyes as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

  “This happened over a year ago. I didn’t want the world to know, but I wanted it to stop. The only way for it to stop was for me to put the joke on him, which I did tonight, I might add, thanks to all of y’all. But I had to make you believe that Cash and I were through.”

  Dad grins, and I wonder what he is thinking, especially with what I just unloaded on him.

  “Charley, it was a good stunt, but your mama and I knew that it wasn’t over. Hell, it’s just beginning between y’all two. We just thought you were being a reckless teenager.”

  Rolling my eyes, I focus back on the story. “I wanted to let everyone in Grassy Pond know what he did, make him fall for me, and make him famous in a small town… and not in a good way either. He fell for it hook, line, and sinker. There were a few glitches and surprises for both sides along the way, but we took him down tonight.”

  “So, that explains this,” Mama says, pointing to Cash’s hand.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replies.

  “Things didn’t go quite like I planned tonight, and he is still the same asshole he has always been, but he told on himself in front of God and everybody. I just wish someone had gotten it on video. My only concern now is what is going to happen to Cash. You know Dylan’s gonna file some assault charges or something.”

  “Char-coal, I told you not to worry about that. If I have to do time, it will be well worth it.”

  “Don’t talk like that! You aren’t going to jail. I won’t let them. Not after what he did to me.”

  We sit in silence for a moment before I remove the lid from the box and pour the contents onto the table. Everyone’s eyes are enormous, and Piper begins to cry.

  “Ohmygosh, Char! How? How did he do this? No one is at my school with me? How?”

  I start to speak, but Joe interrupts me. “Pipe, Dylan is a piece of work. He has little spies everywhere. For example, I had nothing to do with these pictures either. I knew something was going on, but this one of Charley and me, I didn’t do it. I’m pretty sure who did, though. It's someone that I’m close to in living quarters, if you get my drift? Matt is always where we are, even if it's behind the scenes. I can’t prove it, but I’ll figure it out when I get back.”

  “What do we do now?” Mama asks.

  “Well, tonight, after Cash beat Dylan to a pulp, we left the party and went to the police. I knew that if I didn’t tell my side first, Cash wouldn’t stand a chance. I’ll be filing a restraining order for starters. That’s why we came to get the evidence. I don’t know if I want to file rape charges against him, though. It’s been over a year, no evidence, and my word against his. Personally, I just want his name and swimming career ruined and to get my life back and move on. I love Grassy Pond, but I know I’ll never be able to move back here with him haunting me.”

  “Charley, I think you should take that to the station now. Don’t wait until the morning. I’ll go with you,” Dad says.

  “Yes, sir, but what about Cash?”

  We take a moment to let things soak in. This is it.

  “Don’t worry about me, but I do need to talk to my parents. I’ll be glad to go back to the station with you.”

  Oh my gosh! What are his parents going to think? They are going to know that I’m tainted in the worst way possible and have been a complete bitch to Cash in front of everyone in town, but yet, I love him. I didn’t think this plan through at all. The only thing I have going for me is that they know me.

  “Cash, if you want to go, that is fine, but you need to call your mama before we leave. If the police come lookin’ for ya, they need to hear it from you first.”

  “Yes, sir.” With that, Cash pulls out his phone and calls home.

  Chapter 5

  Once Cash talks to his mama, who is livid about the situation because we can hear her through the phone, we make our way to my dad’s truck. It’s a quiet ride to the station.

  As Dad goes to grab the door handle, he stops and looks at me.

  “Charley, whatever happens in there, I want you to know that your mama and I support you. I really want to take the shotgun over to Dylan’s and blow his head off, but I know that won’t solve anything. You are makin’ the right decision. I just wish you had told us. We would have been with you every step of the way.”

  “I know, but at the time I just didn’t know what to do. I know they aren’t going to be able to do anything about the rape, but I just want to be left alone.”

  “We will make sure that happens, sweet girl.”

  We exit the truck and walk toward the station. As we enter the glass doors, I hold the box tighter. The lady glances up from her desk to start the “Hey, I haven’t seen you in years” speech with Dad. He cuts her off quickly, and we wait for the officer again.

  The wooden door opens, and the officer appears.

  “Miss Rice, glad to see you so soon. Right this way. I take it this is your dad, correct?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I feel like I’m on replay, just Dad is with me this time. He wants answers, what do we do next, and how are we going to get this situation under control. The officer takes a moment to think and then responds.

  “Miss Rice, there are some things I need to make you aware of at this time. Have you heard of the statute of limitations?” I shake my head no. “Basically, that is the time frame for reporting a crime. Due to the nature of the crime you are reporting, we can’t gather evidence. We have verbal witnesses, but that would not stand up in court. It would be very messy. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  I start to answer, but Dad interrupts. “So, you mean to tell me that since Charley didn’t report this in a timely manner nothing can be done? What is this world comin’ to?”

  “Sir, I understand your concern, and I’m not going to say that I believe that it is right, but it’s the law. Miss Rice does have one ball in her court. She can file charges against Dylan for stalking or threatening phone calls. Can I see what’s in the box?”

  “Yes, sir,” I answer.

  I take the box from my lap and pass it to the officer. He removes the pictures and looks through them one by one. Just looking at them wouldn’t mean much to someone, but the fact that we didn’t know about them and then mailing them to me was his mistake.

  “You don’t know who took these pictures?”

  “No, sir,
but they were mailed to me around my birthday. The card should say enough. It is in there.”

  The officer quickly reads the card and agrees.

  “What else do you have?” he asks.

  “We have Facebook messages and texts.”

  “Miss Rice, you have plenty of evidence, and I feel that your best action will be to complete a civil no-contact order often referred to as a 50C. Once it is filled out, Mr. Sloan will be notified and placed on a temporary 50C until the judge can decide. He won’t be able to come near you.”

  “Okay, I guess that’s what we should do.” I answer all the officer’s questions while filling out the 50C. The fact that as soon as I walk out of these doors my life will change is freeing. I do worry about Cash and what will happen with his situation, but I’m more worried about Tessa. She loves Dustin, and this is definitely going to complicate things.

  While we are finishing the paperwork, I get a text. Uncertain if I should look, I glance at Cash who takes my phone and has a puzzled look on his face.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Um, you might want to take a look at this, Char-coal.” I excuse myself from the officer and look. I can’t believe my own eyes. Tessa has texted me with a link to the fight. This shit is all over the Internet. Relief washes over me, and I now know exactly what I have to do. Dylan is getting more than a damn restraining order, if I can help it.

  “Officer, I have a question. If I have him admitting what he did to me, how would things change?”

  He puts down his pencil, and I can see a little bit of irritation, but I can’t blame him. I’d hate to have to fill out something else, too. He takes my phone and watches the video. Unable to read his reaction, I’m unsure of what he is going to say.

  “Ma’am, I do believe the big man upstairs is on your side. This changes things entirely. No longer will you need a 50C. You now need a 50B, and we can file charges for second-degree rape. “ He pauses before turning to Cash. “Mr. Montgomery, get ready because this is a double-edged sword for you. The Sloans can use this against you as well.”