Page 40 of Simply You & Me

Julian's fingers tickle my neck where I'm tucked into his side. "The gym we went to is actually where I worked all throughout high school. We hadn't thought of starting something with our skills, but my manager asked us to help out at one of the galas. They needed extra muscle stationed around the building, so that's where the idea began."

"Wow, you guys. That's amazing! Wyatt, how did you become their tech guy?" These men amaze me. The way they built something out of nothing is admirable.

Their easy grins slip from their faces, and Tate shuffles anxiously on my other side. The couch suddenly feels too tight, but I stay, knowing whatever they have to tell me makes them uncomfortable. I don't take it back, though. Wyatt can tell me however much he wants. They know a lot of the monsters in my closet.

Beside Zach on the loveseat, Wyatt clears his throat. "Uh, so I told you we moved to Seattle because my dad got a big promotion at his firm." I nod, and he gulps, his eyes dropping to his lap. "Well, my mom and dad were never around, so I had all the time in the world with my electronics."

"Wyatt, I'm so?—"

He cuts my apology short. "It's okay. No need to apologize, baby girl." Sighing, Wyatt braces his arms on his knees while his clove twists and whirls between his fingers. "I was a nerd and the new kid. So, I'm sure you can imagine how kids treated me. That's actually how I met Julian and Zach; they did their best to keep the bullies at bay. I was either lost in computers, or the three of us were at Julian's house."

Peeling myself away from Julian and Tate, I don't hesitate to crawl into Wyatt's lap. His black jeans and black T-shirt prove to be snuggly, even all dark and broody. I can't take his pain away, nor can I change the past. What I can do is comfort him and offer my man a piece of myself in return.

"I'm sorry that was your childhood. I was bullied too, Wy, and nobody should be treated that way."

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tate

"I'm sorry that was your childhood. I was bullied too, Wy, and nobody should be treated that way."

You could hear a fucking pin drop. How in the hell was this sweet woman bullied? Actually, scratch that. Whoever bullied our girl is going to die. I just know it.

"Excuse me? What did you just say?" Julian asks, leaning forward with an intense look on his face.

Yep, someone's gonna die. My stomach twists uncomfortably, some of my trauma nudging my heart into a gallop. I would kill for Addie and for my guys, but my experience with defending my loved ones left lasting scars.

"Uh, I was bullied too. But I'm so glad you had the guys, Wyatt. Even though I know nothing will ever quite heal those moments." Addie turns back to Wyatt and attempts to smooth his frown with her thumb.

It would be adorable if the four of us weren't about to freak the fuck out. How she isn't aware of the tension surrounding her, I have no idea.

"Lynnie," I hedge. "Why were you bullied?"

The hand petting Wyatt pauses. "W-what kind of question is that?" I see some fire burning in her eyes but a whole heap of hesitancy, too.

There's something there, and I want to know what it is. Zach looks like he's about to pummel the wall, too.

"What happened, sweetie?" Julian whispers.

"Nothing happened," she states, but her eyes water.

Beneath my girl, Wyatt tenses further at the wobble of her tone. "What aren't you telling us, baby girl? Please, you know you can trust us."

"I-I've never told anyone before. Really, it's nothing. There wasn't really a reason. Just stupid rumors that my boyfriend made up. Or I guess he was my ex when it started. It doesn't matter. We were talking about Wyatt, anyway." Panic laces each word with an unnerving amount of insistency.

"Lynnie," I murmur, some of my violent thoughts muting at seeing her all flighty. "You don't have to tell us if you really don't want to. We would never judge you. We want to protect and care for you, and this is part of that."

I despise how far away from her I am right now, but by the way she wilts into Wyatt, I know he has her covered. I know from experience how good he is at soothing our frayed edges. Addie will always be able to count on Wyatt.

"It wasn't too bad," she trails off when four sets of eyes narrow on her. "Well, um. Johnny t-took my virginity and broke up with me the next day. After that, everyone started calling me names and stuff."

"What names?" Zach rumbles, hands fisted on his knees.

Addie hesitates, but it's enough to guess. One thing stood out to me, though. "What do you mean he took your virginity, Lynnie?"

Julian jerks and looks at me with wide eyes. Zach grunts a noncommittal sound as he gets to his feet to pace the living room. A whimper sounds from Addie, Wyatt having squeezed her too tight if his ticking jaw is anything to go by.

Her bottom lip trembles, making my insides twist and riot for me to go to her. She's already shrinking away from the room, and more of us in her space wouldn't do her any good. As Julian goes to stand, I grip his knee and shake my head, never taking my eyes off her.

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