Page 41 of Simply You & Me

Wyatt whispers something in her ear and kisses the column of her throat. "I-I mean, he took it," Lynnie says, some strength hardening her words again.

"Did he rape you?"

She flinches at Zachary's harsh tone. Internally, I cringe, but I totally get it. Fuck! This is fucked.

With a gulp, Addie nods. "Yes, he did."

"And he spread rumors about you? People bullied you after your boyfriend raped you?" Julian's tone is incredulous, and borderline panicked too.

"Yeah," she whispers, a tear dropping from her thick eyelashes. "He was captain of the football team, and I was just… me." Addie's shrug feels like a fucking punch to the gut.

Zach stops pacing. With a hard look, he places himself in front of Addie and grips her jaw with his whole hand. "Just. You? Listen to me right fucking now. You will never say that about yourself ever again. As for your piece of shit ex, he has a special place waiting for him in hell. Which is exactly where he's fucking headed once I get my hands on him."

In the wake of Zach's declaration, the living room is silent, save for his heaving breaths and Addie's hitched breathing.

There's something else I want to ask. I've learned over the past six weeks that she says a lot with close to nothing. Many people might not realize the sprinkles of information she offers without ever truly saying it. I listen, though. This sweet woman just needs to be heard.

"You never told anyone?" She shakes her head once Zach releases her to wear another path in the carpet. "Why not? Not even your parents?"

In response to my final question, more tears track down her rosy cheeks again. "N-no, I didn't tell them. I tried a few times, but Rory was still just a baby. With Mom still running her restaurant and Dad keeping weird hours as a cop, they were pretty distracted. But I survived. I stayed under the radar, and my close group of friends knew the truth."

She survived. I hate that.

"Honestly, guys. Please let it go. It wasn't horrific or anything?—"

"You being raped wasn't horrific?! Addie, I'm fucking horrified hearing this happened to you!"

I agree with Julian. Not even Lynnie's glare drying up her tears will make me feel any better about what happened to her. The fire and annoyance burning in her eyes, though; that makes me feel better.

Leveling Julian with a narrowed gaze, Addie continues. "As I was saying. Johnny didn't beat me or anything. He just didn't listen, and it only makes me a little sick to think about now. So can we drop it?"

Zach opens his mouth, but Wyatt beats him to it. "We can drop it, baby girl. Just know that we are pissed as fuck that that happened to you."

Her shoulders, which were drooped and shaking, finally lift and settle. In no way do I think we will ever be able to let this go, but for Addie, we won’t pry anymore.

"Thank you," she whispers and presses her lips against his.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but their kiss turning fevered was not it. With a groan, Wyatt's hand grips a handful of brown hair at the base of her skull. I don't know how to describe the noise she makes, but holy fuck. Julian responds to them with a soft grunt as he shifts his weight around beside me. Zach settles himself against the wall by her new bookshelf and watches the pair with hooded eyes.

Gripping Lynnie by her hips, Wyatt has her legs spread wide across his lap. Jesus. The way her leggings hug her ass in the straddled position sends blood rushing to my cock.

"Wyatt," she whimpers as he grips her ass tightly. A little miffed about the change in the view, I huff and rub my hand over the tightness of my jeans.

"What do you want, baby girl?" Wyatt dips his head into the crook of her neck.

Addie's tiny body jolts and starts grinding down on Wyatt. "I—" Her words are cut off with a shocked choke and cry of pleasure.

"Holy fuck," Julian whispers.

Did she just come?

Wyatt grunts but runs a hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture. "Oh, baby. You were so needy. Why didn't you say anything before?" His voice is gentle, yet I bet the deep vibrations of his chest are lulling her into a doze.

To my surprise, she wiggles her firm little ass and giggles at Wyatt's gasp. "Can I—um." She hesitates, finally looking over her shoulder to find us staring. Her cheeks turn a deep shade of red, and I can't help but offer her a shit-eating grin.

"Don't stop on our account, Dolly." Zach's husky voice sends fucking shivers down my spine.

Normally, I would jump at him, but this feels like a monumental moment for our relationship with Addie. Allowing her control for the first time we are all together is important.

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