The Beauty Beneath

by DC Renee

  “I also suggest you leave now,” Chris said when I was a few steps away from Matt. “You okay?” he asked more softly to me.

  “Yeah, I am. Thanks,” I muttered. “He’s cheating on my friend,” I said, feeling the need to explain myself even though no one had asked for a reason.

  He nodded in response. “That was one hell of a hit.” He chuckled and so did a couple of the other guys. “Well, all right, see you in a few weeks,” he said, and they walked away.

  Kids were cruel with their insults, adults were harsh in their initial judgments, but I was learning lately that there were always exceptions to the rule. Matt was the stereotype, Chris was the exception, and Carter … well, Carter broke all the rules. At least, he broke all of mine.

  Sixteen

  Carter

  “Why won’t Em hang out with me? She hangs out with you all the time,” Beth whined when I stopped by to check on her after work. She was an adult, I knew this, but she was still my little sister. We started snacking on whatever was in her kitchen as we talked. Somehow, the conversation went from work to Emerson in a matter of minutes.

  “Because I’m me.” I smirked.

  “Which is exactly why she should be blowing you off instead of me,” she said with a giggle. “But no, she decides to be friends with you.”

  “She’s not exactly my friend, per se,” I said with a wince.

  “You hang out all the time, right?” I nodded. “And you talk every day?”

  “Yep.”

  “Then you’re friends,” she stated.

  “Try telling her that,” I muttered, but I didn’t think Beth heard me.

  “And that’s great for you. You need some girl friends besides me. Girls ground guys like you.”

  “Guys like me?”

  “C, you know I love you. But you’re not exactly nice to chicks unless they are Mom or me. But you’re more than nice with Em.”

  “And how would you know?”

  “Because we talk all the time too. She just refuses to hang out with me in person. Do I smell?” she asked as she actually sniffed her armpit. I laughed.

  “You don’t—”

  The knocking on her door cut me off.

  “Who is it?” she asked, and I cringed when I heard Matt on the other side say, “It’s me, babe.” He really bugged the crap out of me. But I had learned that if I tried to pull Beth away, she’d cling to Matt out of spite. Trust me, I’ve tried, and that was the result.

  “Oh my God, what happened to you?” she asked with worry in her voice.

  I smiled happily that something bad had occurred even before I saw the black eye he was sporting.

  “Oh hey,” he said when he saw me.

  “Nice to see you too,” I replied dryly.

  “What happened?” Beth asked again.

  “Long story,” Matt replied eyeing me. “Do you have any pills or ice or something for this shit?” he asked as he pointed at his eye. “I came straight here. I wanted to see your face to cheer me up.” He smiled, and I wanted to punch his other eye. There was charming, exhibit A – me, and there was sleazy, exhibit B – Matt.

  “Well, I’ll let you handle this, Beth,” I told her as I kissed her cheek. “Talk to you later,” I told her and then just nodded at Matt.

  I hated that Beth would have to take care of him, but I was beyond thrilled someone got the better of Matt. I knew he had to have deserved it and maybe even more.

  There was only one other person I knew who didn’t like Matt right off the bat, and I wanted to share this interesting bit of news with her. I checked my phone, and the battery was dead. “Why not?” I said out loud as I shrugged and got in my car heading toward Emerson’s house.

  “What are you doing here?” Emerson asked when she opened the door.

  “I had something to tell you, and my battery was dead,” I said as I held up my phone for her to see.

  “And you couldn’t just wait until you charged it? Or called me from your place?”

  “Nah, what would be the fun in that?”

  “So what’s the big news?” Emerson asked when I settled against her counter.

  “Well, you’re the only other person I know who can’t stand Matt,” I started, and she winced when I said his name. “So I knew you’d appreciate the fact that someone finally clocked the asshole. He’s sporting a nice shiner right now,” I said as I nodded with a smile on my lips.

  “Oh,” she responded, her mouth forming a perfect, “o.”

  “Isn’t that fucking awesome? Hey, what happened to your hand?” I asked as I finally noticed the ice on her wrist.

  “Well, I, uh, clocked an asshole today.” She said it with a strained laugh while holding up her wrist, and it was almost comical. I would have laughed if I wasn’t in the moment.

  “What the …” I trailed off as I put two and two together. “What happened?” I asked as I pushed off from the counter, coming closer to Emerson. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you? What did he do?”

  “No, I’m fine. He’s just got a thick skull.” I shrugged.

  “But you … and he … how? What the hell made you punch him?” I asked, seriously in shock.

  She looked around the room as if she was trying to find a way to escape, but finally looked me in the eye as she said, “I was defending my friend, er, Beth.”

  “Wait, wait, back up. Your friend? So Beth’s your friend and I’m not?” I asked, half teasing her, half trying to get a real answer out of her.

  “Slip of the tongue,” she said as she waved her hand to dismiss me.

  “Freudian slip,” I countered.

  “Unbelievable,” she said. “You’re more concerned with the fact that I accidentally called Beth my friend instead of why I punched her asshole boyfriend.”

  “Sorry, you’re right. What happened?”

  “Well, I was at one of our clients tonight, a hotel.” She spoke slowly, hesitantly even. “I don’t really know how to tell you,” she said after a pause. “I mean, I’m going to tell you, and I’m going to tell Beth, but I don’t want to hurt her, and I’ve never had to break the news gently to anyone.” She was rambling, and it sounded like she was talking more to herself than to me.

  “Em, spill. What the fuck did that asshole do?”

  “He was cheating on Beth; I saw him sucking face with some chick at the hotel, so I clocked him.”

  “Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?” I asked again.

  “No, he tried to warn me away from telling Beth, might have gotten a little grabby, but Chris took care of that.”

  “Chris?” I asked, and I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice.

  “One of the guys I work with over there. Guess he heard the commotion and he and the other guys came out. Told Matt to get out.”

  “That motherfucker,” I said as I started to storm out of Emerson’s house.

  “Where are you going?” she called after me, and I could hear her footsteps as she tried to keep up.

  “That piece of shit is at my sister’s house after he fucking cheats on her, threatens you, and gets physical.”

  “He barely touched me.”

  “But he touched you,” I yelled. “I’m going to go fucking kick his ass.”

  “Been there, done that. It was quite fun,” Emerson said, obviously trying to calm me down, but I wasn’t having it. I got in the car, slammed the door, and started to drive off.

  I made it to my sister’s house in record time, but as I walked up the steps, I heard Emerson calling after me.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked her after she ran up to me.

  “I couldn’t let you leave like that. I needed to make sure you were okay. And I wanted to tell Beth what happened myself, probably more gently than you would. And hey, if you’re going to pound him, I wanted to be there for the free show.” She shrugged one shoulder. I was fuming, and still, she managed to calm me down just a bit, a fraction only, but I did smile.

  I didn’t bother knocking. I opened the do
or and walked right up to Matt, who was sitting at the dinner table with Beth.

  “C, what’s going on?” Beth asked at the same time as Matt said, “What the hell?”

  He stood up, and I swung my arm back and got him in the other eye. It was a sucker punch, sure, but he deserved it. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching him fall backward on his ass from the surprise of the hit.

  “Carter!” Beth screamed. “What’s gotten into you?” she asked as she ran to Matt.

  “How’d he get that black eye?” I asked Beth. “What bullshit did he tell you?” I looked back at Matt, who was glaring at Emerson.

  “Don’t you fucking look at her,” I screamed at him.

  “Some client went on a rampage, and he got that restraining them,” Beth said softly, still holding on to Matt.

  “Em, want the honors?” I asked.

  “Beth, I don’t … I’m so sorry to have to tell you, especially like this … It’s not right, but Matt lied to you.” I felt bad for putting Emerson in this situation. I knew it was hard for her to get the words out, but I needed Beth to hear it from her. I was too riled up. “I’m the one who punched him.”

  “You?” Beth asked as Matt practically flung her off trying to get to Emerson.

  “Fucking bitch,” he said, but I stood in front of Emerson and grabbed Matt. I looked like I could take a beating, sure, but I was fast and strong, and I was powered by rage and a protective surge. Matt didn’t stand a chance against me.

  “I told you not to fucking look at her. And if I hear you call her another name, you’re dead.”

  “Threats, lawyer boy?” he spat. “Not very smart. What would that do for your career?” He laughed sinisterly when he realized he wasn’t going to win a fight against me.

  “I have two witnesses here who will say you’re the one who threatened me. And tried to assault Em here. I’d say you’re the one who’s shit out of luck,” I replied smugly.

  “Beth, baby, don’t listen to them,” he said as he turned toward my sister.

  “Don’t fucking look at her either,” I roared, and then I felt Emerson’s hand on my arm. Her touch was calming.

  “I don’t even know what they’re talking about, but I don’t know who you are either. I’ve never seen you like this,” she said to Matt, her brows drawn together in confusion.

  “He cheated on you, Beth. That’s when Em punched him, when she saw him with another woman,” I informed Beth. Not the nicest way to handle it, but I wanted the asshole gone.

  “Is it true?” she asked Emerson.

  “Yes.” Her voice sounded hoarse, like it was hard for her to speak. I knew it was because it was hard for her to admit.

  “Get out,” Beth said quietly to Matt.

  “Babe,” he responded.

  “Get out!” she yelled. “Get out, get out, get out,” she repeated. “Get out of my house and don’t ever come back!” she screamed.

  “You know what?” Matt said as if he had some light bulb go off in his brain. “Fuck you all,” he said as he stormed out.

  “Beth,” I said as I walked toward her.

  “Thank you, C, for sticking up for me, but I think I just want to be alone,” she said as she held a hand up.

  I felt Emerson tug on my arm, and I turned to face her. “Go,” she whispered. “I’m sure the last thing she wants is her brother hovering over her. I’ll stay,” she added. “I promise,” she tacked on as if I didn’t believe her. “I’ll make sure she’s okay.”

  I nodded. “I trust you,” I told her. “But please let me know how she’s doing. And call me if you need me. I’ll drop everything to be here.” I leaned in and grazed her cheek with a kiss. “Thank you, Em,” I said and walked away. And the only reason I could was because I knew my sister was in good hands. I really did trust Emerson, more than she could possibly know.

  Seventeen

  Emerson

  “I’m so sorry, Beth,” I said as I walked into her room after Carter left.

  “Don’t be,” she replied as she furiously wiped at her tears. “I always pick assholes, so I should have expected this. There was the thief, the druggie, the married man …” she trailed off as she laughed mirthlessly. “I guess Matt wasn’t even the worst of them. It just … it sucks when you invest your time in a person, and they fail you,” she said, and I nodded as I sat down next to her on her bed. I knew exactly what she meant. I knew it all too well.

  “I really loved him. Well, I guess I still do. It’s not easy to shut off your feelings just because the person turned out to be someone else. But I’ll get over him,” she said. I admired her. I knew just how hard it was to pick yourself back up after something devastating happened to a person you loved. My situation was completely different, but I knew to Beth, this was one of her worst moments. And here she was already telling herself she’d be okay just minutes after she found out her boyfriend was cheating on her.

  “I know a thing or two about losing people you love,” I admitted. “The heartache lessens with time,” I told her. “And I haven’t exactly been in this type of situation before, but I imagine it’s easier to move on because he doesn’t deserve your pain.” She nodded in response, and I put my hand over hers. “He’s an asshole, Beth. And you’re far, far from it.” I chuckled, and that brought a tiny smile to her lips. “But really, you’re beautiful and smart. You have a great job, can support yourself, and you’re so caring. I mean, look at me. I’m not exactly Miss Congeniality, and I certainly don’t give off the ‘let’s be friends’ vibe.” I said that last part with a very high-pitched nasal voice, trying my best to imitate snobby teenagers. I didn’t think I succeeded, but Beth did giggle, so that was a plus. “Yet you took one look at me and decided we were going to be friends when plenty of others would have cringed, your brother included.”

  “Guys are idiots,” she said, and I knew that included Carter as well. “They never see what’s right in front of them.”

  “Exactly!” I said a little louder than I meant to. “So if Matt, or the thief, or the butt-crack plumber—”

  “There was no butt-crack plumber.” Beth cut me off with a laugh.

  “Whatever”—I shrugged, a smile on my lips—“you know what I mean.” She nodded. “If none of them could appreciate you for what you are, and see just how amazing you are, and cherish you like you deserve, then fuck them. Well, I don’t mean literally, although, you probably did. I just mean … oh, you know what I’m trying to say. They should go fuck themselves,” I rambled a bit and blushed.

  “Oh, Em,” Beth said between laughs as her entire body shook and she patted my hand like I was a child. “Oh God, you should see how red your face is right now.”

  I started laughing uncontrollably too. I couldn’t help it; Beth’s laughter was contagious. There were even a couple of times we’d stop, then look at each other, and start laughing again.

  “Thank you,” Beth said after we had both managed to calm down. “I needed that,” she added, breathing hard. “Who needs the gym? Just spend a day with you and you get a fantastic laughing-abs workout. You should patent that.” She giggled.

  “Glad to be of service,” I said with a little half-bow, which was impressive considering I was still sitting on her bed.

  “But you know what? You’re right. Fuck Matt. He doesn’t deserve my tears!”

  “No, he doesn’t. He deserves chlamydia, maybe gonorrhea, but definitely not your tears.” Beth chuckled.

  “You’re definitely good for my brother.” She smirked. “And you’re a good partner in crime for me too.”

  “Huh?” I asked.

  She ignored my question and asked one of her own. “So now that you’ve all but admitted we’re friends, are you going to stop avoiding me?”

  “I don’t avoid you,” I replied. “We talk almost every day.”

  “Girl time, Em. Girl time. You know, like getting coffee, watching chick flicks, shopping.”

  “I don’t really do all those things.”

  “Yo
u do now. Get up, we’re going out.”

  “What?” I screeched.

  “Come on. I need a distraction, and you’re giving it to me. Don’t make me go crawl into that bed and think about Matt and cry again,” she said.

  “You’re manipulating me,” I cried. “You’re totally guilt-tripping me into this.”

  “Is it working?” she asked with a smug smile.

  “Ugh! You’re exactly like your brother.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. Now, let’s go get some dinner. I don’t really feel like finishing the food I had here.”

  Right then, my stomach grumbled in response. “You’re lucky I’m hungry.”

  “Oh please, I would have gotten my way regardless.”

  “You Andersons sure are a cocky bunch.”

  “If the shoe fits.” She shrugged, grabbed my arm, and practically pulled me out the door.

  Twenty minutes later, we were at a small hole-in-the-wall Thai place that Beth swore was the best.

  “Doesn’t it bother you?” Beth asked when we were seated.

  “Doesn’t what bother me?”

  “The looks people give you? The way-too-obvious whispers.”

  “You mean about my looks?” I asked.

  “The way you make yourself look?” she countered. And that was why I had avoided Beth in the first place. She knew too much, clearly, but she gave me a look that said, “Don’t worry, I’m not telling anyone. It’s not my story to share.”

  “I’m used to it.” I shrugged. “It was weird at first, I guess. But I didn’t care about it then. I was too deep inside myself. And I just kind of wanted to hide in plain sight, if that makes sense.”

  “I get it,” Beth said with a nod and a faraway look that said she held a secret of her own. Maybe that was why we seemed to get along.

  “And then I appreciated the looks, the pointing, the whispering because it meant I was doing things right. Now, it’s just a part of my everyday life. People don’t tend to say anything outright to my face. And the few people I interact with on a daily basis get to know me as a person, so they don’t care about how I look.”