A year after losing her older sister in a tragic accident, Charlie's Mom marries the father of the most popular boys in school. Still grieving, Charlie struggles to accept her new family and gets involved with her stepbrothers worst enemy, the capta...
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By the time I found Billy again, he was on the porch with Milo — of all people. Milo was the first to notice me.
"Charlie, where've you been hiding?" Milo said.
"Bathroom," I muttered.
"That thing that came up during the game — don't sweat it. Probably just Lizzie being salty I wasn't paying her attention."
I raised an eyebrow, but didn't answer.
"Seriously," Milo added, resting a hand on my shoulder, "I'd never do anything like that."
"Someone was just being a dick," Billy cut in. His voice was calm, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
I forced a nod, not knowing how to respond.
"Yeah or someone's being a bitch." Someone butted in and I turned around to Sadie.
I felt my chest tighten.Was she going to tell him now? In front of Milo? He couldn't know I did it. Shit. What would someone like Milo do if they found out I had just exposed him in front of his friends? I couldn't wait twenty minutes. I needed to get out of here now.
"Billy," I blurted. "My mom said I need to be home early — can you drive me back?"
He looked disappointed, but nodded. "Sure."
I muttered a goodbye and started for the car. Sadie called after me, saying it was wonderful to see me again. I had to fight the urge to flip her off.
I reached the car six steps ahead of Billy and got in. He followed quickly, giving me a confused look. I ignored it, wrapping my arms around myself.
"You good, Char?" he asked as he turned the keys.
I nodded. "I just want to get out of here."
"Me too. Wanna come back to mine? We can order pizza."
I froze. There were too many ways to interpret that offer. But whatever we were wasn't the point of tonight—I came for answers.
"Actually, remember that thing I needed to talk to you about?"
"Yeah? Everything okay?"
His voice was gentle. Billy had always treated me kindly. The red flags had only come from others. Now I had to figure it out for myself whether he was just caught up in all of this or if everyone had been right about him. or were they right about him?
I took a breath. If Billy didn't know what Milo had done, maybe I'd just blown up his world for nothing.
"Did you know about Milo?" I asked.
Billy scoffed, glancing at me. "Know what?"
"That he's a... a rapist."
My voice was hollow. All my confidence drained. Billy's eyes left the road. The softness disappeared. His stare turned sharp. I'd just drawn a line in the sand and he knew where I stood.
