“Well congrats on both. Why don’t you all join us at our table for drinks?” Greg suggested.
Once he’d received a few reluctant glares, he saw we were going to say no. “Aw, come on. Are you really going to pass up on free booze, Mark?” He pressured.
As Mark and Buffy signaled the waiter as to what we were doing, I still hadn’t noticed Hope. When we stood up to move to the table in the other room with Mr. Thomas, I noticed why Hope had gotten upset. Sitting there at the table was Trevor and he wasn’t alone. I remembered the slender darkly tanned girl from the bar, and pictures in Hope’s room. He was with Rylee and they were all over each other.
Not wasting any time on a missed opportunity, I turned to Mark. “I am going to go find Hope and tell her where we’re going.”
Mark gave me a nod, right before realizing how bad of an idea this really was. His face turned pale even as I toddled past him. He’s lucky I didn’t jack his ass up for being so selfish. Obviously his daughter wouldn’t want to be near Trevor. He belonged in jail.
Buffy looked like she was ready to cry. I kept walking, determined to find Hope before she had to face them.
The ladies room was just off the main dining area. As I ambled toward the door listed “ladies”, an older woman was stepping out. Without any regard for who might see me, I rushed inside.
I could hear Hope’s sniffles even before I approached the stall. Lucky for me there were no other women inside. “Baby, it’s me. Are you okay?”
I heard the door unlock and crack open. “No,” she said as I entered and closed the door behind us. “Did you see who he’s with? I don’t get it. She knows what he put me through. She saw the bruises he gave me before, before I sent her the pictures. She knows he used to make me have sex with him, Chance. I told her how I hated it.”
“He what?” I started to rush out of the stall with all intentions of killing the fucker, but Hope seized my arm.
“Please, Chance, don’t! He can’t hurt me now, not ever. Don’t risk being sent away again. I just got you back,” she pleaded.
“Fine, but we should have called the police before. In addition, Hope, as far as your friend goes, she deserves him. She obviously only cares about herself. Let the money-hungry bitch get what’s coming to her,” I suggested.
“It’s not like I wish for her to get hurt. Even after all the lies; I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Hope and I stopped talking when we heard the door opening. I climbed behind her and stood on the toilet in case they looked under the stalls. When I heard the voices, I knew everything was going to play out differently.
The female was giggling, while the male voice was mumbling between kissing sounds. “Trevor, wait! You shouldn’t be in here. We’re going to get caught.”
“Fuck them. My father will raise Hell and they won’t do a thing about it,” he said.
Slow moaning sounds came from outside of the stall. “Oh, that feels so good. Don’t stop, Trevor. Oh yeah, you know what I like,” she purred.
I pulled Hope into my chest. This was unreal.
Suddenly, we heard the door to the next stall open and their bodies began slamming against it. More nasty sounds were being made and I was sure Hope was about to lose her dinner. I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers while I covered her ears with my hands. I knew it didn’t help much, but I was trying my best to keep her sane.
Their next words made me cringe. “I should have picked you from the beginning, Rylee. That little bitch friend of yours was a waste of my fucking time. I’m not even going to count how many times she denied me,” Trevor said.
“Mmm, I tried to tell you that, baby,” Rylee replied.
“Stop running your mouth and start sucking my dick. I need to cum.”
This little punk was going down, just as soon as I got my girl out of this bathroom.
I could see the shock and pain on Hope’s face as I climbed down from the toilet and slowly opened the door to the stall. At the very last second, it creaked.
Hope and I turned around to see Trevor and Rylee looking back at us wide-eyed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Trevor said while trying to re-button his shirt. “Now you decide to put out in bathrooms, Hope?”
Hope couldn’t restrain me. My fist went right into Trevor’s jaw. He managed to keep his balance and smile before coming at me. “Don’t you ever fucking touch me you cock-blocking prick. You can have your little bitch and her church-going attitude. I don’t fucking want her,” he said as he took a swing at me.
Despite the fact that I was directly in front of him, I was able to duck making it so he only clipped me on the edge of my shoulder.
I hadn’t even noticed the girls trying to separate us, but when my sister spoke, everyone froze. “What the hell is going on in here?”
“Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, blondie, not unless you want in on this.” He motioned to his body.
I raised my arm to hit him again, but Buffy jumped in front of us. “Let me tell you something you little fucking prick. You’re lucky that I didn’t cut off your little dick and feed it to the birds for what you did to Hope. You’re scum, and you deserve nothing in life. Now you’ve involved my brother, and I’ve reached my breaking point. If you so much as look at either of them again, I will call my friends, who will call their friends, who happen to have ties to the mob, and they will never find your body parts when they’re done with you. Do you fucking understand that?”
Trevor’s eyes were huge, and he started to say something back, but Buffy hauled off and smacked him clear across the cheek. “Come on, you two, we need to get away from all this trash.” Her last words made her look at Rylee. My sister obviously knew exactly who she was.
Once outside of the bathroom, Buffy turned around and made sure our clothes looked okay. She faced Hope. “Your father wanted me to give you your purse and tell you that your food is boxed up and waiting by the exit. He said he had no idea that they were here. As soon as we sat down he told the waiter to pack your things, and to go and to tell Chance to take you home. He said he is so sorry, Hope, and I believe him,” she explained.
Hope nodded her head while I reached my arm around her and marched us out of the building. For the record, at this point, I didn’t give a shit who was watching. Hope was safe with me, and I wanted everyone to know it.
38
Seeing and hearing Trevor and Rylee was horrible. How did I end up in that bathroom at the same time they decided to get it on in a public place? I had the worst luck ever.
Thankfully, Chance was with me and managed to get a good punch in before Buffy tore Trevor a new ass. The situation had been intense, but I’d never wanted to laugh so bad in my life. Rylee looked like she wanted to die. Just when I didn’t think I could love Buffy more, she gave me another reason.
Once Chance and I got to my car, he insisted on driving us home. I didn’t argue with him over it, because it was pointless. I kept replaying Chance punching Trevor in the face, and every time I felt exhilarated. Maybe it was wrong of me to want that bastard to pay for what he’d done to me and probably many other girls. It really hurt me that Rylee would want to be with someone like him after she had known firsthand what he’d done to me.
“You okay, baby?” Chance asked.
He took my hand as he continued down the lane of the Country Club. I noticed him making quick glances at me when I didn’t answer him right away.
“I’m fine. I should have never assumed they wouldn’t be there. It’s a weekend for God sakes.”
Chance let go of my hand so that he could move it around while he was talking. “Hope, I wanted to kill him, for today and everyday he put you through hell.”
“He’s not even worth it. He never was.”
“So what are you doing tonight?” He immediately changed the subject.
I gave him a sly smile. “I was planning on spending it with this hot guy. He has strong arms and rock hard abs, and the nicest ass I’ve ever seen.�
�
“Damn, he must be a lucky guy.”
“He is!” I boasted.
We both started laughing, which was something that we really needed considering the shitty evening we were having.
“For what it’s worth, I wish I was your first. I would have taken my time and waited until you were ready. I’d never take you for granted.”
I touched his hand and smiled. “I know. Trust me, I know that. So, not to change the subject, but how long do you think we have before they come home?” I asked.
Chance shrugged. “Probably no more than a half hour. The way Buffy talked they weren’t really that happy about being around Trevor. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I ran my hand across the top of Chance’s neck. “I’ve waited forever to have you back home with me. All I want is to spend time with you. I actually think that Trevor helped us out, in some kind of messed up way. Did you see how my father wanted you to take me home? He trusts you with me. That’s got to be a good sign.”
Chance chuckled. “Trusts me. That’s not a good thing, Hope. Not while I’ve been hiding a relationship with you from him for months. When he finds out that will be the last thing he does.”
We pulled into the driveway then got out to head into the main house. Chance pulled me into his arms. “I’m so happy that I never have to spend another night away from you again. God, I missed you.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting him pick me up to carry me into the house. He sat me down on the couch, but only so that he could get comfortable beside me. When my Dad and Buffy came home, we would see their car pull up and be able to separate quickly. “I can’t wait for you to tutor me,” I laughed out loud admitting it.
“Oh really? What subject do you need help in first?” He asked as he pushed his body on top of mine. He stared down into my eyes waiting for a response. I could already feel his growing bulge pressing on his pants. My body reacted by becoming increasingly hot. I felt like I needed to rip off my clothes and give myself to him, with no regard for when my dad would return home.
“I think I need mouth to mouth and then maybe some physics, or chemistry,” I said, as his lips slowly brushed mine.
“I don’t think you have any problems in chemistry. We already have that subject taken care of.” He kissed on my ear lobe and then my neck. “Your skin tastes so good.”
Things started to progress quickly. Chance’s hand began roaming as he kissed me, and soon found my breasts under my dress. He pulled the front completely down for easy access. For a moment he sat there silently looking at me, then he slowly moved forward and nibbled on each of them before coming up to my lips for another kiss. Just as I grabbed his shirt to remove it, we saw headlights pulling into the driveway. Chance hopped off of me, and I made a mad dash for the stairs.
I immediately threw on some different clothes, and was already heading back down when they came in the door. I could tell from the look on their faces that something was wrong.
“Hope, where’s Chance?” My dad asked.
Before I could answer, I heard his voice coming toward us. “I’m right here. What’s wrong?”
“The police are on their way,” Buffy interrupted. “We tried to get him to reconsider, but he refused.”
I started to panic. “What are you talking about?”
My father approached me. “Trevor is pressing assault charges on Chance, sweetie. Buffy explained what happened to Greg and me. He’s not involved in his son’s actions.”
“Well, how do you know they’re coming?” I asked in a frantic.
“It’s okay, Hope. I can handle it.” Chance interrupted.
Buffy chimed in. “No, it isn’t okay, Chance. You already have a record. You’ll be found guilty for that fact. This is bad,” she explained.
“Let me tell you both something before I get hauled away tonight. A couple months ago, I caught that son of a bitch sexually assaulting Hope. Then today, he had the nerve to bring her friend into the bathroom and talk shit about Hope while they were banging each other. When I confronted him, he talked more shit about her. There is no way I will ever regret hitting him. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Hope doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.” Chance did his best to explain, but as my father raised his eyebrow, I could see that he read between the lines.
“I appreciate that you took up for my daughter, Chance. It seems like you have been there for her more than once.” My father said as he gave Chance a pat on the back.
We watched the headlights pulling into the driveway, followed by two officers marching toward the front door.
My dad let them in, while Chance stood between Buffy and I. Even before the officers spoke, I had tears forming in my eyes.
“Sorry to bother you tonight folks. Are you Mr. Chance Avery?” The officer asked.
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“Please turn around.” While pulling out the handcuffs he started giving him his Miranda rights. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”
Chance looked down at the floor. “Yes, I understand those rights.”
I didn’t know what came over me, but I threw myself in front of the officer, preventing them from taking Chance out of the house. “No! Please you have to wait! He was protecting me. I was being assaulted.”
Part of it was a lie, well kind of. Trevor might not have assaulted me today, but he did two months ago. They didn’t need to know that.
“Are you saying that you want to come in and make a formal charge against Mr. Thomas?” One officer asked.
“Hope, sweetie calm down,” My father blurted out.
“No, Dad! I won’t calm down. I won’t let Chance get in trouble like this for protecting me. Trevor should be the one in trouble.” I looked at the officers. “Yes, I will come and tell you the real truth.”
“Officers, my daughter is not eighteen. Don’t I have the right to prevent her from perjuring herself?” My father asked.
“Stop it. You can’t take him away. He was protecting me,” I reiterated.
They all seemed to be arguing with me, but as if time froze and left me and Chance alone in the room I caught his stare and everything stopped. I didn’t hear the arguing. I didn’t hear anything. All I saw was the man I loved.
“Miss, if you would like to follow us down to the station to file charges against Mr. Thomas, feel free to do so.” They said as they started taking Chance out of the house.
Buffy stopped me before I could run after them, but the tears became worse.
Before the car pulled away, my father had a lawyer on the phone. We all packed into the SUV and headed to the station.
At first, my father was quiet, but after a few minutes he shocked us both. “Hope, I need to know if you’ve ever been intimate with Trevor. He has a reputation at the club and I want to know the truth.”
I was afraid, but I wanted my dad to hate Trevor. “Yes. He was my first. He practically forced me then too. He’d said I didn’t love him if I didn’t go through with it. He cheated on me and lied to me, and if Chance hadn’t been there over the summer, he would have raped me, while his brother stood there watching,” I confessed.
It was difficult to admit it out loud. In some ways I knew I was breaking his heart, more than any other thing in life possibly could. Through our struggling relationship I finally saw my father; the one that helped raise me when I was little.
He got all choked up and then began hitting the steering wheel. “How could I have been so stupid? Damn it! I brought him into our home. I did this,” he yelled.
Buffy reached over to grab his shoulder, and I leaned forward doing the same. “You didn’t know, dad. Nobody knew. Chance was the only one.”
“I sent him away; away from the only family he
has, for a fucking business deal, and now he gets arrested for keeping you safe?” His remorseful words touched my heart. He was finally opening his eyes. “Honey, I’m so sorry.” He looked to Buffy. “And I’m sorry the most to you, Hope. God, I can’t believe I put a business deal before my own daughter’s safety.”
“Dad, let’s just worry about Chance. He’s the important one tonight. We can deal with everything else once he’s home safe.”
For the rest of the ride to the jail we all remained quiet. Once we got inside we were told that Chance was in intake. My father left Buffy and I to find out what bail would be set for. After we waited another forty minutes he came back out and said that Chance couldn’t face the judge for a bail hearing until morning and there was nothing that we could do.
I thought about going straight to an officer and filing a report about Trevor, but I had thought of another plan while I waited.
During the drive home my father and Buffy talked about going to court in the morning, and how they were going to deal with things. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and searched for a number I never thought I would be using again.
39
This was my last resort. I buried my pride and built up the strength to do it; and then I texted the number.
Rylee we need to talk. ~ Hope
We were almost home before she responded.
We really don’t have anything to say. ~ R
No, there is A LOT to talk about. U owe me. ~ Hope
Look, I’m sorry. ~ R
I’m pressing charges against Trevor for sexual assault. ~ Hope
Please don’t!!! ~ R
This is what is going to happen. You are going to bring Trevor to talk to me right now. If you don’t show, I’m going straight to the police. ~ Hope
What if he doesn’t want to come? ~ R
Then I guess he can call a lawyer. You may want to tell him I have pictures of everything he did to me and witnesses. ~ Hope
Where? ~ R
The park in one hour. ~ Hope
Rylee didn’t write back, but I knew she was going to do her damndest to get Trevor there. The last thing she wanted was for her meal ticket out of this town to be incarcerated or have a criminal record.
A Hope and a Chance Page 25