Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Skylar unknowingly drew Wyatt toward her. He wanted … needed to learn everything about her. Though he sensed her beauty was more than just skin deep, Wyatt struggled to understand the sadness she attempted to mask with an amazing smile.
For the first time in months, Skylar felt alive. She allowed herself to dare to believe that Wyatt might actually be interested in getting to know her.
The moment Wyatt expressed an interest, the notes started again…the ones that reminded her of a past she could never move beyond—the event that changed her life forever and robbed her of any chance of happiness.
Never believing the rumors being spread around school about Skylar, Wyatt made sure he went out of his way to prove how much he cared about her.
But when the past resurfaces, will Wyatt stand by her side? Or will he turn against her like everyone else?
Note to Skylar endures trauma no woman should have to suffer. Respectfully, the author invites you to emotionally and mentally prepare before experiencing this book on your own terms, should you choose to do so.
Previously released as Beautiful and Forever Beautiful under the pen name of Ella Bordeaux.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
CHAPTER ONE
* * *
Skylar
OPENING THE DOOR, I smiled when I saw Charlie, standing there.
“Hey, Charlie!” I said as I let him in.
Charlie and my oldest brother Skip had been best friends for as long as I could remember.
“Hey, Skylar. What are you doing home? No big plans for tonight with the boyfriend?”
“Nope. Jacob headed out with some of the football players tonight.”
Charlie frowned. “Some boyfriend he is, not even taking you out on a Saturday night.”
With a chuckle, I moved into the living room. “You here for Mitch?” Charlie and Mitch had started hanging out more after Skip went into the Marines.
He plopped down on the couch. “Yeah. He said he might be home tonight, so I thought I would stop by.”
On the love seat opposite Charlie, I sat with my legs crisscross. “Sorry, I’m not sure where he is. I got home from work a little bit ago. I was just about to start a movie. Want to hang out and watch it?”
Something moved across his face as he stared at me before looking away. My cell phone rang, so I reached over and picked it up.
“Hey, Jacob. Oh, okay. That’s cool. Nah, Charlie just showed up, and we might watch a movie or something, so don’t worry about it.”
Charlie glanced back over to me. I couldn’t help but notice that he seemed confused about something.
“Um…okay, that’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you, too.”
Hitting End, I set the phone down. “You okay?” I asked as I looked Charlie over.
“Yeah. It’s been a long day. My father’s been riding my ass, and college is proving to be a bigger bitch than I thought.”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “I can only imagine.”
“Hey, um… do you want to go see a movie? I’m not really in the mood to watch something I’ve seen a million times.”
For one brief moment, I hesitated. It wasn’t like I’d never gone to the movies with Charlie before. We’d always gone with a group of friends though, never just the two of us.
With a shrug, I smiled and said, “Sure. Let me go change.”
The smile that spread across Charlie’s face was huge. He must really be feeling lonely with Skip gone. My oldest brother had joined the Marines and left for boot camp almost as soon as he graduated from high school.
I grabbed my phone and ran upstairs. I sent off a quick text to Jacob.
Me: Hey, Charlie wants to head out and see a movie. Do you mind? It’s just me and him ’cause Mitch isn’t home.
Jacob: Sure, I don’t care. Have fun, babe. I’ll call you later.
Me: Okay. Have fun, and be careful.
Jacob: Always. You, too.
After sending my parents a quick text to let them know what my plans were, I changed into a pair of shorts and one of my cheerleading T-shirts.
Charlie was pacing back and forth by the time I got back downstairs.
“You ready?” I asked.
He turned and looked at me. A weird feeling moved over my body. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to go without Mitch.
“Ready,” Charlie replied with a sweet smile.
It was the same sweet smile I’d seen for the last ten-plus years.
I quickly brushed away my doubts.
Little did I know, my life would forever be changed by what happened in the next twenty-four hours.
***
Talking to my best friend, Michelle, on my cell, I glanced over and tried to see what was taking Charlie so long in the store. “Hey, Charlie is on his way out. I’ll call you once I get back home after the movie.”
“Sounds good, Sky. Enjoy yourself, and tell Charlie I said hi.”
The door opened, and Charlie slid into his truck. He handed me a Slurpee, a box of candy, and a bottle of water.
“Michelle says hey.”
Charlie smiled big. “Hey, Michelle!” he shouted so that she could hear him.
“Later, Michelle.”
“Bye, and have fun.”
Dropping my cell into my purse, I turned to Charlie and took a long drink and then smiled. “A Slurpee?”
With a chuckle, he put the truck in drive and took off. “Don’t you like root beer Slurpees?”
I took a drink of it again while I put the water bottle and the box of candy Charlie had bought in my purse. “I do! I can’t believe you even remembered that I liked them.”
It didn’t take long before I began feeling funny. “Um, Charlie, I’m starting to feel a bit dizzy.”
When I turned my head to look at him, I felt as if everything was moving in slow motion.
“It’s okay, Sky. I didn’t give you that much. I want you to be awake for it.”
My eyebrows pinched together. “What are you…I feel like I’m floating or something.”
Charlie turned down a road. I tried to close my eyes and shake this weird feeling.
“You’ve got to know how much I’ve always wanted you, Skylar. I’ve seen the way you look at me.”