Unforgettable (7 page)

“No. You’ll go after him.”

“What makes you think I won’t do it anyway?” I snapped. “When you saw me at the frat party a few weeks ago, you want to know the real reason why I was there? I was trying to find the fucker who did this to you. So whether you help me or not, I’m going to find this piece of shit, find out who the other four are, and I’m going gut each of them like a fish then burn their corpses in a field.” Spit flew out of my mouth in the heat of the moment. My fists were clenched so tightly my knuckles hurt.

“Scotty, please let this go.”

Now I was pissed. “Let this go? You’re fucking joking right? Did you call the police when this happened? Arrest them?”

“No…”

“Why?”

“I was afraid they would hurt me later…”

I could strangle her. “No. I’m not going to fucking let this go. No one rapes my girlfriend and walks away with both of his legs.” She flinched at the use of the word ‘rape’. No one touches you without your explicit permission. I’m not letting them get away with this. You’re practically dead, Livia. This has ruined your life. And more importantly, they are probably doing this to other girls. Someone else out there has experienced this same agony. If not for yourself, shouldn’t you take them down for that reason alone?”

She squirmed under my gaze. “Calm down.”

“I will not calm down.” I got in her face. “I will face this head on and I will get justice for what happened to you. Whether I kill them, beat them to a pulp, or get the police involved, something is going to happen.”

“Then everyone will know what happened…” Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t want anyone to know about that night. If I go public with this, it’ll be common knowledge.”

“And everyone will think you’re exceptionally brave.” My voice came out gentle.

“There’s nothing I can do. It’s been too long…”

“It’s never too late, Livia. I’m going to take these guys out. Please help me.”

“I don’t want you to get involved in this.” She grabbed my hand. “Please let it go. I never should have told you…”

I pulled my hand away. “Never should have told me? So you want a man that will just stand by and let this go? You want a man that won’t fight for you? You want a man that just gives up?”

“I’m not saying that.” Her voice grew loud. “It’s been almost a year since it happened. I don’t have any evidence to convict them, and I don’t even know who the other guys are. I just know one. That’s it. And taking him out won’t fix what happened. He may have raped me but he never tried to hurt me. Violence will accomplish nothing.”

“He didn’t try to hurt you?” I laughed because it was so absurd. “Poisoning you with a drug so he could thrust himself inside of you constitutes as hurting someone. He violated your rights and abused you. Believe me, death will still be too good for him.”

“Stop.” She covered her face with her hands. “This is too much…”

I grabbed her wrists and yanked them down. “If you don’t fight for yourself, I will. You can’t stop me and you can’t change my mind.”

“Stop.” She stepped away and turned around, closing off from me.

This was getting too emotional for her. I fell silent and gave her space.

She cowered in the corner, trying to catch her breath.

“Livia—”

“Please don’t do anything. I just want this to go away. You’re hurting me…” She sniffed and clutched her waist. “I need you to hold me, to kiss me, and to tell me you still love me. I want this to stay in the past where it belongs, not here—with you.”

I let my anger blindside me for a moment. My response to a threat was always to attack. I didn’t work so hard to get this big just to keep my fights in the ring. I wanted to protect my girl, to make her feel safe. “I’m sorry.”

She still didn’t turn around.

“Babe, I’m sorry. I just got caught up…”

“I want you to let this go. I want to move on and forget about it.”

“Okay.”

“And I want you to forget about it.”

Never going to happen
.

“Scotty?”

I came behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. My lips moved to her neck, giving her a gentle kiss. I squeezed her to my chest, trying to silently change the subject.

She released the air from her lungs, melting in my arms.

“Come to bed.”

A minute passed without a response. Her hands covered my arms, feeling cold. “Okay.”

CHAPTER SIX

Livia

Even after I admitted my darkest secret, Scotty was still there. He still loved me. He still wanted me.

That was something I never expected to happen. I projected my distaste for myself onto him, assuming he saw me in the same light. I was disgusting, broken, and used. But he didn’t see me that way. I should have focused on who he was, not what I assumed he would feel.

When he stopped talking to me for a week, I panicked. I assumed he changed his mind. But he hadn’t. Angry and spewing, he didn’t know how to express his rage. He wanted to hurt the men who had done this to me, and that was a reaction I expected. But violence wouldn’t fix anything. It wouldn’t help me sleep at night and it wouldn’t change what happened. I would always be scarred by that, tainted.

And I didn’t want something to happen to Scotty. Even though I never said it, I loved him. The last thing I wanted was for him to get sucked into this, to regret a decision he made out of anger. I just wanted to forget about everything and move on.

And Scotty finally let me have that.

His gentle nature and tender kisses returned. He ran his fingers through my hair then trailed down my neck, touching me with just the right amount of pressure. That fondness that used to shine in his eyes returned, giving me a warmth that I never received from anyone else. He accepted me for who I was unlike my family. There was nothing I couldn’t tell him.

The semester was coming to an end and Thanksgiving was just around the corner. I hated the holidays. I usually went to my parents' house, where I was berated for being a loser. Ash shined brighter than the sun and my parents showered him with indefinite compliments. Even the casserole I made didn’t receive an acknowledgement. But this year I wouldn’t be spending it with my parents. I’d rather sit in the house by myself than be anywhere near them. Their priorities were wrong. Money, social status, and career meant squat to me. All I wanted was to be happy, to be loved.

Scotty walked with me to the library. “Do you ever get tired of studying?” he teased.

“I like to study now so I can see you on the weekends.”

He nodded. “That’s a good point. I like hoarding you all day and night.”

That made two of us.

He hugged me when we reached the library. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah.”

He pulled away then kissed me on the lips. We hadn’t picked up our physical relationship since we got back together. It was on my mind and I wondered if it was on his. Every time his lips pressed against mine I didn’t want them to leave. I wanted him to devour me, to soak me up until nothing was left. But that hadn’t happened. I wasn’t sure if it was too soon. He seemed just as upset about my past as I was. Maybe he wasn’t ready. “Bye, babe.”

“Bye.”

When he walked away, I stared at his back. The muscles were defined through his shirt. His arms were thick and muscular. His thighs reminded me of tree trunks. With a heavy sigh, I walked into the library.

After I found my table in the corner, I hit the books. My art history class was a lot of work but I enjoyed it. While I loved painting and made my living that way, I also loved school. Learning was something I was naturally interested in. When I felt a heated gaze fall on me, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

I glanced up, wondering where the look was coming from. My eyes locked onto ones I knew too well. They were blue, the same shade as mine. They were staring back at me, undecipherable.

My heart rate spiked. I was just calm and at ease. Now I was in flight or fight mode. Of all people to stumble across on campus, he was the last person I expected to see in the library. My palms started to sweat and my highlighter slipped from my grasp.

I looked away, unable to look into that face for a second longer. I remembered the way he kissed my neck and cornered me. I remembered the way he shoved the drink in my hand…and I remembered everything else.

Quickly, I shoved my belongings into my bag, needing to get out of there fast. I didn’t know what I expected him to do in the middle of a public place, but I didn’t want to find out. I had to walk past his table to reach the exit, so without looking at him, I did.

“Livia.” His words were quiet but they echoed in the silent library.

Shit.

That voice used to come from a friend, a colleague. I thought I knew him until he ripped me apart.

I needed to get away from him.

I bolted out of the library then practically jogged to my car. I didn’t look behind me to see if I was being followed. I just needed to get away.

Once I was in my car, I locked the doors and started the engine. I glanced around but didn’t see him anywhere. He didn’t chase me down. I leaned back in my seat and caught my breath. He hadn’t tried talking to me in six months. Why did he want to talk now? What did he want?

Shaking the fear off, I headed home and decided to study in my kitchen.

I was painting when I got a text from Scotty.

Hey beautiful lady.

I hated it when people fed me cheesy lines. My whole life I’d been recognized for my beauty, nothing else. But Scotty saw all of me. So when he said I was beautiful, I knew he referred to what was below the surface.
Hey handsome guy.

What are you doing tonight?

Painting
. And thinking about him.

Keira and Liam invited me to dinner. I want you to come as my squeeze
.

Keira? She and I hadn’t spoken since she screamed at me. We weren’t exactly on good terms.
I have to finish this piece. Maybe next time
.

Keira will be on her best behavior.

That guy could read my damn mind.
She hates me.

No, she doesn’t. She’s just protective. And she’s practically my sister so I really want you guys to get along. It means a lot to me.

Ugh… Ash was my closest friend so I understood how he felt.
I’ll try.

Thank you. I’ll pick you up in an hour.

Okay.

Can I make a suggestion?

Sure.

I really like it when you wear dresses.

My cheeks blushed. I noticed how he reacted to me depending on my clothes or my mood. Even though he tried to hide it, he was especially attracted to me when I dressed up. I was used to hiding myself from the world but I needed to remember that I didn’t need to do that anymore.
I’ll think about it.

That’s all I ask.

Scotty was there in an exactly an hour.

I opened the door. “How are you always so punctual?”

“I get here five minutes early and sit in the car,” he blurted.

“Why don’t you just come to the door?”

“Because then I’d be early.”

“But that’s okay…”

“I don’t want to rush you.” His eyes glanced down at my dress. I was wearing a purple strapless dress. It was tight around my stomach and chest, but loose around my legs. Gold bangles were on my wrist and I wore dangling earrings. My hair was in a braid and over one shoulder. His eyes studied that the most. “You look exceptional.”

I blushed at his words. Luckily, I was wearing make up to cover most of it.

He stepped toward me then gripped my hips. When he looked down at me he breathed hard, like he was restraining himself. Then he pressed his lips to mine and kissed me. He didn’t pull away quickly like he usually did. He gently massaged my mouth, giving me purposeful kisses. His fingers dug into me, squeezing me. I moved my hands to his shoulders, my favorite feature. He wore a dark blazer over his button up. It was the nicest outfit I’d ever seen him wear.

And he looked hot in it.

His tongue touched mine, slowly dancing.

A moan escaped my mouth involuntarily. No one had ever kissed me passionately like that. I could feel his love in every caress.

When it got heated, he breathed into me, filling my lungs. His hand moved to the dip in my back, pulling me far into him. Then he abruptly ended the kiss, stepping back like I bit his lip. He rubbed his mouth, a look of longing in his eyes. “We should go…”

The air had been pulled out of me. I wanted to keep going, to feel his soft lips against my own. I wanted to taste him—everywhere. “Yeah…”

Still lost in the moment, we walked to his truck in a daze. The drive was spent in silence. We were both thinking about that kiss. It was passionate and volatile, about to explode in a cosmic fire. My lips burned like a flat iron had been pressed against it. The area between my legs pooled with moisture…a foreign sensation to me.

“I’ve never felt like that before.” He stared straight ahead, one hand on the wheel and the other on the armrest.

I assumed he was talking about the kiss.

“I’ve had strong physical relationship with women, some better than others, but just a kiss from you puts all of them to shame.”

That was a compliment I never expected to receive.

“You really drive me wild.”  His free hand moved to my thigh, touching me gently.

“I’ve never felt like that before either… I think about things I’ve never thought before.”

“Like what?” he whispered.

Should I say? It was a little embarrassing
. “Being with you…”

“In what way?”

He was going to make me come out and say it
? “Making love.”

He glanced at me from his side of the truck. After he locked his eyes with mine he turned back to the road. “There’s nothing I want more, babe. But I want to wait until you’re ready. I’m not in a hurry.”

He never put pressure on me or made me feel obligated to do anything. I wasn’t ignorant to the fact that he slept with more girls than I could count. He obviously was used to sex on a regular basis but he never held that over my head. He was faithful to me and patient the entire time. Most guys would lose interest and leave. But Scotty didn’t. Even after knowing about my horrific past, he still stuck around. I looked out the window, not wanting to expose my face to him.

When we got to the restaurant, Scotty held my hand and guided me inside. He wore dark jeans with dress shoes. And he wore a silver watch. His style was impeccable and far different from the usual jeans and t-shirt he wore. His chest looked nice in the blazer. But then again, his chest always looked nice, even if he wasn’t wearing anything at all.

His hand moved to the small of my back. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

His words caught me off guard. He was always so sweet to me. “I think you have that backwards.”

“Nope.” He guided me to the table where Liam and Keira were sitting.

My heart immediately moved into my throat. I knew Keira despised me. I couldn’t tell with Liam. He was always indifferent, but he probably had the same feelings as his fiancé.

“Good evening, everyone.” Scotty let me move into the booth first.

We were at a swanky Italian restaurant. A candle was in the middle, and waiters with ties served the dishes.

When I sat down, I was face to face with Keira. “Hi…”

“Hi.” Her face was passive. I had no idea what she was thinking.

“It’s nice to see you,” Liam said politely.

I smiled then quickly dropped it.

Scotty sat beside me then rested his hand on my thigh. “Would you like some wine?”

“No, thank you,” I said immediately

He stared at me for a moment before he dropped the look. “So, what’s new with you guys?”

“Planning the wedding,” Liam answered. “We think we’re going to have something small on the beach.”

“Sounds good,” Scotty said. He looked at his cousin. “Did you find a dress yet?”

“No.” She looked out the window, dismissing him.

Scotty’s jaw clenched. “Knock it off, Keira.”

I didn’t want a confrontation. “It’s okay,” I interrupted. “I understand why she dislikes me.”

“Loathes you, actually.” Keira continued to stare out the window.

Scotty sighed and turned to me. “Let me tell her.” His voice was barely a whisper.

About what happened to me?
“No.”

“It would explain everything. She won’t judge you for it.”

“I said no.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Scotty turned to Liam. He mouthed, “Help me.”

Liam put his arm around Keira’s shoulders. “Baby, play nice.”

“No,” she snapped. “This girl is nothing but a heartbreaker. She uses my cousin and plays on his feelings.”

“Just do it for Scotty,” he commanded.

“Scotty was a jackass to you even when I asked him not to be.” Keira picked up the menu and looked through the entrees.

Scotty looked at me, a plea in his eyes.

I didn’t want her to know. She would pity me and be disgusted with me. Why would she want her cousin to date someone so messed up in the head? I shook my head slightly.

Scotty sighed in annoyance. “Keira, stop being a brat and show my girlfriend some respect.”