Page 94 of Sing Me Home
I’d almost forgotten it was partially visible—thanks to the outfit Aunt Peyton had bought me just for the occasion. A deep V-neck sleeveless crop top, in mocha and cream toile, with its matching flowy skirt, left two inches of skin visible. ‘You just have to show the world you’re not ashamed,’ she'd said so confidently, I’d believed her.
What a delusional fool I’d been.
“She’s probably frightening little children everywhere she goes,” another girl seethed.
“Charlie!” Theo called somewhere behind me.
Leave, one half of my brain screamed. But the other half locked up. Believe it or not, when fight, flight, or freeze kicked in, sassy, strong-willed Charlie Dupree was a freezer. Not only could I not make my legs move, I couldn’t even turn to look at my brother.
The girl to Miss Delta Gamma’s left sported a short blond bob like Maggie’s. But she was nothing like Griffin’s spunky but kind girlfriend. She tipped forward, bursting straight through my personal space barrier, and with eyes like poison-tipped darts, snarled, “It’s cute that you think you can actually compete. You might have a real shot at keeping a man like that if you weren’t so…” She eyed my scar, her lip curling. “Disgusting.”
Delta Gamma herself took back over. “Anyone wanna make bets on how long it takes Cash to realize his mistake and move on to someone better?”
“He can move onto me right now,” another snickered.
Say something. But I couldn’t. I could barely breathe.
“Dad!” Cash called into the microphone mid-song. “Charlie needs some help.”
My head snapped around, like his voice was a beacon and I was locked into it. He stood center stage, eyes frantic like he was thinking about crowd surfing to get to me.I’m so sorry, he mouthed. There was no way he heard what they were saying but he didn’t need to. The tears streaming down my face said it all.
I appreciated the save but the damage was already done. If my self-esteem hadn’t already been bleeding out onto the ground, the dozen people and two news crews who’d caught the whole thing on camera would finish it off.
Jeff slid into place next to me. “Back off,” he said in a tone like thunder.
Theo arrived right behind him. Followed by all my guy cousins, uncles, Blue, and my Dad. The sorority of pit bulls was shrinking back. Dad wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
Ford snapped his fingers at security. “These ladies need an escort to their vehicles! And make a copy of their IDs. They won’t be coming to any Clean Slate Production concerts ever again.”
“What?” The ringleader shrieked. “You can’t do that!”
“Just did,” Ford said.
“You don’t even know what went down!” she shrieked again.
“Don’t need to,” Uncle Holden said. “You don’t mess with our Charlie.” She started to protest yet again and he cut her off. “Say another word and we’ll sue for slander and harassment. I’m the commonwealth’s attorney for the county of Seddledowne and I will make sure it happens.” The girl was stupidly stubborn and opened her mouth like she couldn’t help herself. “One more. I dare you,” he hissed, glancing around at all the people filming. “I’m sure these lovely folks will let us look at their footage and use it as proof.”
One guy handed his phone over on the spot.
Delta Gamma turned pale and her friends shrank away from her like she’d suddenly caught leprosy. But every other bystander was staring at me and my stomach, wearing varying expressions of pity.
Then, finally, my body and my mind connected. I choked on a sob, determined not to cry one more tear with all of these people watching, slithered out of my dad’s grasp, and looked at Theo.
He put an arm around my shoulder and we took off.
I lifted my skirt, jogging next to him, tears blurring my vision. I didn’t know what I hated more: that they’d done that, or that I’d cowered, locked up, and not defended myself. I just stood there like a terrified little girl until Cash stepped in and saved me.
But mostly, why did hurtful things keep happening to me?
It was a stupid question when I already knew the answer: God would not relent until I let go of my very last secret.
They say the truth will set you free, but I didn’t see how that was possible. Not when that truth was so heavy that I felt myself stumbling under its weight every day.
There was no amount of confessing that would change that.
thirty-one
Cash
