Christian (The Mitchell/Healy Family #3)(33)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Please don’t do this to me. I went to that place with you last night and it left me more messed up.”

I slid my cell phone across the table. “Call your parents. Tell them we’re comin’ to see them.”

She shoved it back in my direction. “No way. They can’t ever find out.”

I rolled it back toward her. “If you don’t do it, I will.”

“I hate you right now.” I knew she didn’t. For some reason I knew she couldn’t. I hated being the only friend she had, but appreciated that she needed me.

“Please, Chris. You’re my best friend and I love you. Please trust that this is the right choice. Seth needs to go down, and I think with the right amount of legal assistance your roommates should be held accountable for destroyin’ your belongings.”

“You expect me to press charges against all of them? Are you crazy? I’ll be the laughing stock of the campus.”

“Then we’ll switch schools.”

She cocked her brow and shook her head. “You’re on a scholarship. Your family will have a shit fit.”

I wanted to tell her right then and there how I felt about her. I wanted her to know that my love wasn’t in a friendship kind of way. “You’re also on a scholarship. Besides, once the dean hears about Seth’s involvement I’m pretty certain he’ll be expelled.”

“And what about everyone else? You were there last night, Ethan. Stop pretendin’ things will be the same. Those girls will never let me live this down. As long as I attend this school I’ll have to see them, and know what they’ve done to me.”

Before she started crying, I reached my hand over and placed it gently on her knee. At first she began to move it away, until our eyes met. I don’t know what she saw in mine, but she froze in place. “You’re stronger than they are. Remember that.”

She picked up the phone and played with it for a second before sighing and dialing a number. “Hey, mom, it’s me. Yeah, I’m okay. Listen, I need to come home and talk to you and dad about somethin’ important. Ethan’s goin’ to drive me.”

Once she’d hung up she let out an air-filled laugh. “I think she’s under the impression that I’m pregnant too.”

I picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “You know, life wouldn’t suck if we had a kid together. I’m just puttin’ it out there.”

“I don’t think havin’ a kid with my best friend is how my parents saw my future going.”

“Maybe you need to step out of the box for a second and accept that this is your life. It doesn’t matter what anyone wants for you. What matters is if you’re happy.”

Chris looked down and shook her head. “Yeah, well I’m not. Honestly, I don’t know if I can be after this.”

“I told you this already, but I’ll repeat it again. You’re not alone. This will get resolved, and no matter how long it takes, you will get through this. I promise you.”

Twenty minutes later we were driving to the Mitchell ranch. As much as Mr. Mitchell made me nervous, all I could hope was that he appreciated what I’d done for his daughter.

Her mother, Savanna, was waiting at the door for us to arrive. Chris looked over at me before I could turn off the ignition. “I’m scared.”

“You’re loved. This is the one place in the world where everyone loves you. Sure, they may freak out at first, but my hand will be laced with yours, and if you get nervous just squeeze it. It will remind you that you’re never goin’ to be alone.”

When we stepped inside of the warm home the first thing I noticed was her father and brother sitting on the couch; my heart beat rapidly as I worried about them attacking me, before hearing the real reason we’d come to visit.

It wasn’t surprising when Chris let go of my hand and approached her parents. I could tell she was trying to smile, but was unable to do it properly. They already knew this was bad news, and the sooner they found out that I wasn’t the bad guy, the faster I could focus all of my energy on her.

After a few minutes of greets we all sat down facing each other at the dining room table. Noah, her brother, watched me like a hawk, as if he were ready to pounce. I folded my hands under the table to appear calm.

Her father, Colt, cleared his throat. “Christian, I think it’s time you tell us why you’re here.”

She placed her hands flat on the table. “I’m not pregnant. Let me just say that since I can tell you’re all freakin’ out.”

Noah got up from the table. “Well since that’s the case I’m gettin’ back to work. I only came to make sure I didn’t have to kick some ass.”

In a low murmur Chris spoke. “You might want to wait actually.”

Noah looked at me as he sat back down.

Her mother smiled. “Honey, just tell us what’s going on. Is it school? Is it your grades? Do you and Ethan want to move in together?”

“I was raped.”

Her words were finally clear as the people at the table gasped for air. As shocked as they were, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Chris, who’d covered her face and started to cry.

Her mother rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around her daughter. “Oh my God. How did this happen? Who did this to you? Colt, call the lawyer.”

Noah raised his brow, directing all of his attention toward me. “When did it happen?” He knew his sister was in no condition to go on as both of their parents now crowded over her.

“A couple days ago. She didn’t even want to tell me, man. It took everything I had to drag her here. She thinks it will only make things worse.”

Noah pulled out his phone, and right away I could tell he was on the phone with an attorney. He walked into another room but kept on talking.

Chris finally calmed enough to begin explaining what had happened to her parents. All I could do was sit there and listen as the story ripped through me yet again. There came a point when I knew they needed to be alone with their daughter. I stepped outside on the porch and found her brother leaning against the railing. “Thanks for takin’ care of my sister.” He spit something out into the grass then put his head back down. “Do you know who this asshole is?”

“Yeah, I know him. He’s on a sport’s scholarship. He’s a senior. He’s popular, and accordin’ to Chris’ roommates, he’s not capable of somethin’ so heinous.”