Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
If I never saw him again it would be too soon.
A few cars were missing from the driveway, so I expected most everyone was out. That gave me the opportunity to sneak into the shower room down in the basement next to the pool and clean myself up before being seen. I didn’t want Jo or Padraig making a fuss, and I certainly didn’t want Charli to see me.
I found my way there easily enough and turned on one of the showers before I started to undress. I’d just gotten my shirt off and began working on my belt buckle when a sharp gasp sounded from behind me. I stilled, recognising who the gasp belonged to. Turning around, I found Charli standing in the doorway. She wore her swimsuit and a swimming cap, a large towel around her shoulders as she stared at me in horror.
“Rhys,” she breathed, my name catching in her throat as her eyes travelled over me.
Seconds later, she was in front of me, the towel she’d been clutching forgotten and fallen to the floor as her fingers went to my face. I winced when she gently touched my cheekbone then my jaw, her eyes etched in sadness as she studied my split lip. I wanted to tell her to go away so I could wallow alone, but I was also too addicted to the caring way she searched me, checking for where I was hurt.
I expected her to ask questions, demand I tell her who did this to me, but she didn’t. Instead, she stepped back, her expression full of compassion. I was so close to breaking, and her quiet presence was a balm to my chaotic emotions. “I’ll go find a first-aid kit and grab you a change of clothes.”
With that, she left, and I finished undressing before stepping under the hot spray, wincing when the water lashed at my hurting face.
13.
Charli
My heart was in my throat as I hurried upstairs to my room, quickly changing out of my swimsuit before I went in search of medical supplies. My hair hung wet and tangled around my shoulders, but there was no time to dry it. Rhys was hurt, and I couldn’t focus on anything until I knew he was okay.
The sight of him battered and bruised shocked me to my core. His handsome face all bloody and swollen had my stomach knotting itself with nausea, my nose stinging from pushing back the tears that wanted to fall.
Hurrying to Derek’s room, I rummaged through Rhys’ backpack to find him some clean clothes. Then I was on the move again, this time headed for the bathroom. I found a first-aid kit in the closet next to the sink and was on my way back to Rhys when I passed by my uncle’s office. The door was ajar, and it sounded like he was on the phone to someone. I’d never heard him so frustrated.
“I just think it’s time you told her the truth, Lou. She’s old enough now. She deserves to know.”
Lou? Was he talking to my mom? Her name was Louise, but lots of people shortened it to Lou. And what did he mean, she deserves to know? Who were they talking about?
“Listen, Jo is just really upset. Having Charli here is bringing up a lot of memories, and she really feels it would be beneficial to get everything out in the open. I don’t want to fight with you about this again.”
Wait a second. They were talking about me?
I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end, but Uncle Padraig sighed wearily. Peering through the gap in the door, I saw him sitting at his desk, his phone held to his ear with one hand while he held his head in the other.
He looked stressed and exhausted, and my mind reeled. From what I could piece together, he was trying to convince my mom to tell me something she didn’t want to, and it also had to do with the fight they’d had all those years ago. I’d always thought they’d fought over money, but that wasn’t it. It was somehow about me, and a hollowness filled my stomach. I just couldn’t imagine why they would’ve possibly fought over me.
Also, what did Aunt Jo have to do with it? Bringing up memories? It didn’t make sense.
Remembering Rhys was still waiting for me, I made a note to call Mom and ask her what exactly was going on before I continued downstairs. When I reached the shower room, Rhys was standing by the sink, hands braced against it as he stared at the floor, a towel around his waist and another about his shoulders, covering most of his torso. He looked weighed down, his shoulders sagging under the heavy pressure.
“Hey,” I said, stepping past the threshold and lifting the first-aid kit. A shiver trickled through me, and I couldn’t tell if it was due to my damp hair, what I’d overheard Uncle Padraig saying on the phone, or the awful sight of Rhys’ injuries. He had a split lip, one of his eyes was swelling, and his right cheek was dark with bruising. There was also a nasty looking cut on his temple.