Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Twenty-One

Jones

Everything came to me in waves as I slowly woke up. Memories of last night drifted through my mind like petals on the surface of a lake. The tender words Charlie had whispered to me. How caring and gentle he was as he slid his length inside of me while my hips arched up toward him. The lust in his eyes. The feel of Charlie’s warm mouth against mine. The roughness of his scruff against my jaw. I smiled as I twisted my body toward the man who had taken my virginity, only to find his side of the bed empty and cool to the touch.

“Charlie?”

I sat up. When I didn’t hear anything, I threw the blanket off my body and flung my legs over the side of the bed.

“Charlie, where are you?”

The sound of silence echoed throughout the room. I climbed to my feet, grabbed one of his shirts and a pair of shorts, then I went on the hunt for my boyfriend.

Only the house was empty. Last night’s balloons, rose petals, and the remnants from our dinner were gone. I opened the front door to find that Charlie’s Jeep was missing, too. My stomach lurched. Had he gone to get breakfast and thought maybe I wouldn’t wake up? I rushed back upstairs to find my phone in hopes of a message. I didn’t find one.

Jones: Where are you? The house is empty. Did you go to get something to eat?

Error: This message was not successfully delivered .

What. The. Fudge.

Jones: Is something wrong with your phone?

Error: This message was not successfully delivered .

Bile filled my throat. Everything I had eaten last night threatened to come back up as I rushed to the walk-in closet where Charlie kept his things only to find it empty. My stomach twisted into notes as I quickly only the Facebook Messenger app on my cell so I could message him that way. But his name didn’t show up when I searched my conversations or my friends list. It was the same with my Instagram. My legs gave out beneath me, and I felt like my heart had been ripped right out of my chest.

Charlie cared for me. He’d given me a promise ring. He’d said he was mine and he would wait for me. Why would he do this to me after everything we did last night? He couldn’t just disappear and ghost me like this. Was this just a joke for him? A way to pass his time while he was here?

“No.” I shook my head. I refused to believe it.

I tried to call Charlie a few seconds later, but an automated message told me the number was out of service. Tears welled up in my eyes and slipped down my cheeks, then loud sobs wracked my body.

Hard, angry wails left my mouth. How could someone be so cruel? Why would someone do this to another human? Had this been Charlie’s plan all along? Was this something he did often, or was this the first time? Maybe he was in love with Beverly but wanted to sow some wild oats before he settled down with her. The least Charlie could have done was tell me. I dropped my head between my legs as I prayed for the hurt that had crept inside of my bones so suddenly to stop. I reached for my phone that had fallen to my side and somehow managed to dial my best friend.

“I’m surprised to hear from you this morning.” Ollie’s cheerful voice boomed through the speaker. When I didn’t answer, I heard him whisper something to his brother, Travis, my other best friend. “Jones, everything all right?”

“No,” I whispered.

“Where are you?” Ollie asked. “Stop it, Travis, this is serious,” he snapped. “Jones, where are you?”

I closed my eyes as more tears threatened to fall. “I’m at Charlie’s.”

“What did he do?” Ollie hissed. “He promised he wouldn’t hurt you, and yet here you are calling... Never mind, it doesn’t matter. We’re on our way. Hold on, okay, Jonesy?” The nickname Charlie had given me felt like a dagger to my heart.

I managed to get to my feet and went to the bathroom to splash water on my face before I got a good look at myself in the mirror. My eyes were red and swollen from crying, but it was all the hickeys that covered my left shoulder that caught my attention where the shirt hung off me. I remembered the way Charlie had pressed warm, soft kisses against my skin before leaving each one .

“I got you something, Jonesy. I thought it could be like a promise ring. For when I leave. A promise to come back to you. Be yours and only yours.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat as tears stung my eyes. Had he lied to me? Had he just used me over these past few weeks because he had nothing better to do while he was here in North Carolina. I had honestly thought Charlie was better than that.

“I’m yours. Don’t you forget it.”

My phone went off with a text, and I couldn’t grab it fast enough, hoping it was Charlie. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe something happened to his father, or he lost his phone. Disappointment filled my insides when I saw who it was.

Travis: We’re almost there. Hold on, Jones. We’re coming to save you.

I rushed back to the bedroom to gather my things together, only to remember I didn’t have anything to take with me. I had shown up last night wearing the suit Charlie had bought for me. I didn’t bother to take it. The clothes I had on right now—also Charlie’s—would have to do. I shoved on my shoes and headed downstairs just as Ollie pulled his car into the driveway. Both Travis and Ollie jumped from the vehicle as I ran to them.

“Where is he?” Ollie growled as I threw myself into his arms. “Huh, Jones? Where is the big jerk? Because I have a few things I need to say to him before I punch him in the nose.” He pulled back to look at me, his green eyes searching my face. “Oh, Jones.” He crushed me against his firm chest. “Come on. Let’s get you home.” He practically carried me as he ushered me into the backseat, then he climbed in behind me. I immediately put my head in his lap, desperate for the comfort only Ollie could give me.

I wasn’t sure I was going to recover. The pain was already eating me up, and it felt like it was going to swallow me whole, crush me from the inside as I silently begged for mercy. Ollie’s fingers combed through my blond curls as Travis backed up the car, and I wondered what they must think of all this.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“Why the heck are you sorry?” Travis snarled from the front seat. “Did you do something wrong?”

I sniffed. “I shouldn’t have gotten involved with him.”

I felt like I was going to start screaming. Why did it feel like this? As if my chest was cracked open and my heart was being broken into a million pieces. Why would anyone want to fall in love if this was what was going to happen?

“Charlie promised he wouldn’t hurt you. He’s the butthead who should be sorry,” Ollie commented, his fingers still in my hair. I was close to both Haley brothers, but Ollie and I shared a little bit more.

I closed my eyes as tears began to fall, soaking Ollie’s shorts and shirt. “I should have stayed away from him. I should never have listened to what he said or let him...” I buried my face in Ollie’s stomach. I had never experienced pain like this before. It hurt everywhere.

“Jonesy,” Ollie murmured softly. “Does that mean what I think it means? You know I won’t judge you for it.”

That only made me cry harder. I was inexperienced, stupid, and in love with a boy who had broken my heart. It was the type of summer romance you read about in books or saw in movies. Charlie Callahan had appeared in my life, only to ruin it in a matter of weeks. Maybe he had a habit of doing this and left a trail of broken hearts behind him every summer. I couldn’t face my friends. Not now. This wound was still too fresh.

“It’s okay.” Ollie dragged a hand over my back. “We’re here for you.”

Travis grunted in agreement. “Darn right we are. We’ll make sure you’re back on your feet in no time. We’ll have you saying, Charlie who ?”

“I was thinking...” Ollie’s voice was soothing, soft, and caring. “What we talked about before... Maybe I could come with you when you leave. You know, to NASCAR or whatever. You know I love cars, and maybe they could find me a job, too. Then we’d be together.”

My eyes flew open, and I immediately sat up. “Really, Oll? I wouldn’t want to take you away from here or your brother.”

“Jonesy, you’re my best friend.” He leaned over to drag his palms over my wet cheeks. “You’re going to need a bodyguard to keep all the boys away.”

I shook my head as a smile tugged at my lips. “I think I’m done with that for now. After this and what happened, I should probably just concentrate on my career.”

“Good idea.” Travis nodded as he slowed the car down near their house. “Figured you didn’t want to go home yet. Your mama might have questions.”

Just the thought of my mama had me leaning against Ollie again. Mama was marrying Charlie’s dad. That would mean holidays, family get-togethers, and who knew what else.

“I’m going to have to see him again. He’s going to be at the wedding. I’m going to have to see Charlie with someone else, and I don’t know how I’m going to be able to handle that.” I looked up into Ollie’s green eyes.

“Jones, listen.” He cupped my head in his big hands. “You can’t think about that right now. You need to worry about getting yourself back together. One piece at a time, and we’ll be here to do that for you. Right, Trav?”

He twisted around to look at me. “Darn straight.”

I was a lucky man to have the two most amazing best friends in the world. Even if it felt like my heart was completely shattered.