Page 86 of Broken By the Bad Boy

And if it doesn’t, Ben might miss out on his scholarship. If that happens, I will never forgive myself. There is a backup Juliet, but she has never been on stage because I was always present.

“What do you want me to do?”

It’s a far stretch, but I reply, “Maybe have them cancel the suspension for that day or extend it to Tuesday? I don’t know, Mom.”

The suggestion sounds strange coming from me. I’m not one to break or bend the rules. Mom frowns, then hugs me briefly. Planting a kiss on my hair, she says, “Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Mom?” I call out when she’s at the door. My breath comes out in shaky pants. Her head tilts when I say nothing. I am doing the right thing, but the tiny voice in my head thinks otherwise. That Ben will never talk to me again if I do this. “There’s something else. It’s about Olivia.”

Her body goes rigid. She storms toward me like the overprotective mother she is. I love her.

“What about her?”

I fake a tiny laugh. “It’s fine, Mom.”

Concern is all over her face, but my laugh does nothing to help. “Are you sure?” The pad of her thumb runs up and down my cheek. “Did she put up another video? You’re scaring me, Tessa.”

Because I’m unsure. What if I lose Ben forever by doing this? I take a deep breath.

“It’s not that bad.” I pat the spot beside me, sitting up to create more space on the bed. Mom nods for me to continue. “I think Olivia needs help,” I whisper. Mom laughs. It starts slowly until she is bent over, laughing too hard to care. “Mom, I’m serious. It’s not a laughing matter.”

“Theresa, Olivia Beckham put up that video of you. She bullied you,” Mom intones like I forgot. Ben also bullied me, but we are past that. Maybe I can also forgive her. But she’s not apologetic. The doubts creep in faster. I was not in the wrong by punching her. “Of course she needs help.”

But did she really put up that video? It could have been anyone. Noah. Zoey. Every other person who was there that night is a suspect. Ben would never forgive me if she didn’t put up that video.

“I know. But I’m not sure she’s the one.” Mom waves off my reply. She’s also convinced Olivia posted it. I believe she did. She has a motive. Others don’t. “Mrs. Beckham is getting a divorce.”

The news hit her by surprise. “Since when?”

“Since I don’t know.” But I think I do. For that new year dinner with Ben’s family, Mrs. Beckham was also there. She would have spent it with her husband if they were on good terms. Maybe I’m overthinking the scenario. I shrug again. “Ben told me.”

“Ben?”

“Yeah. They are good friends. One night, we went to her house, and her eye was swollen.” I leave out the details Ben told me. As much as I hate Olivia, no one deserves to live like she is doing. I tug on the hem of my shorts again. “So, um… Mrs. Beckham’s boyfriend hits her sometimes.”

Mom squeezes my knee and meets my gaze with a hint of doubt. I remind myself I am doing the right thing. Olivia may be too old for child protection services, but she can get help away from her family.

“I’m not lying, I swear. She covers it up with makeup.” My eyes water. I feel like an asshole all over again for putting Ben in the position to pick. I wonder now if Olivia has always loved makeup or was motivated by the scars she had to hide. “Lots of it. I don’t know if we can help. Ben is really worried.”

Mom dabs my wet cheeks with a tissue she pulls out from her purse. “Ben?” I nod and sniff. I miss him. She smiles as she returns the tissue to her purse. “Ben is who you are worried about in this mess?”

“I’m worried about Olivia too, but Ben doesn’t want to talk to me. I think we broke up.”

Her brows furrow. “Why?”

It made sense when I asked him to choose, but I can’t voice the reason without sounding stupid. Mom nudges me with her elbow. She won’t let this pass until I tell her. I clear my throat.

“I asked him to pick. I know, it was stupid. He was worried about her, and I asked him to pick between us.” She slips an arm around my waist, and I rest my head on her shoulder. “And he picked her.”

“Oh, honey. He should never have put you in a position where you think he wants his friend more than he wants you. But that was not the perfect time for that request.” I know that now. “I’m sure he will get over it.”

He won’t.

“Can you help? Talk to someone. Ben says her mom’s boyfriend also molests her.” Mom curses and slaps a hand over her mouth. I am in full ranting mode as I spit out the rest of the details, making sure she knows Olivia is being sexually harassed. “I don’t understand the details, but her mom won’t do anything.”

“Are you sure about what you’re saying?” Mom doesn’t let me speak. She squats in front of me and curls a finger under my jaw. “Sweetheart, we can get into big trouble for this if you are wrong.”

My head blanks, and I burst into tears. Mom engulfs me in a hug, rocking us from side to side until I calm down. “I’m not lying. It’s why Ben is so mad. I shouldn’t have made him choose.”

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