BeautifullyUnfinished
By
Beverley Hollowed
Dedicated to all the survivors.
May your strength and courage shine forever
I would like to start as always by thanking my husband, Brian. You are my best friend, my person, my partner in crime and the love of my life. Thank you for never giving up on me and for all your help, patience, your support and your unconditional love. You are my rock and my happy place… I love you more :) xxx
Thank you to my two beautiful boys Aaron and Anthony. Love you all the way around the world and back xx
To my uncle Tony, love you so much xx
To my Dad and Mam, I hope you are watching over me and that I have made you proud. Love you and miss you every day xx
To my other best friend Barbara, thanks for always supporting me and reminding me what a real friend is xx
To Beverly Brantley, thank you for always being there. For kicking my butt when I needed it. Thanks for never letting me give up on myself live (love) you always xx
To Gemma Tucker, Sally Orchard thank you both for your help and for all your support. I love you girls Xx
Finally, a big thank you, to you the readers, for your loyal support and your kind words of encouragement over the last two and a half years has kept me going when the journey got too hard. This journey would mean nothing without you all….. Love always …..Bev xx
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Beautifully Unfinished©
Beverley Hollowed has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
Cover design by Beverley Hollowed
Book design by Beverley Hollowed
Editing by Barbara Kelly
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
For further information, contact the author at [email protected]
Prologue
2007
The very first time she met Riley Jones, Lucy Chance knew that her life would never be the same again. She had just moved to the sleepy town of River Springs from the craziness that was New York City.
Her dad had taken the job as Police Chief there, after almost twenty years as a New York City cop. He wanted to spend more time with Lucy after her Mom died in a car accident the summer before.
It was the first day of senior year, the day she met Riley. She had gotten lost, and he had helped her find her first class, which turned out to be his first class too.
Lucy was a quiet, but very bright girl, who knew her mind. She was so different compared to most of the other girls at River Springs High School, and that’s what Riley liked the most about her.
Riley was the star quarterback on the school football team and the most popular boy at school. Every girl wanted to be with him, so this made Lucy very unpopular, but she didn’t care, she had Riley and nothing else mattered.
They spent every waking minute together. Riley was the love of her life and her best friend.
When he asked her to go with him to the big end of season party, to celebrate the football team winning the championship, she agreed, though something in the pit of her stomach told her that it was a big mistake. She knew she didn’t fit in with that circle, and that the party wouldn’t be as much fun for her, but she loved Riley, so she went for his sake.
The party was at the coach’s house, and it was wild. Lucy felt like a fish out of water. Riley tried to be with her as much as he could, but being the star of the team and the scorer of the championship’s winning touchdown, he was being pulled in a hundred different directions.
So Lucy found a nice quiet corner to sit while she waited patiently for Riley and tried her hardest not to look as bored as she felt. She sat drinking a soda and got lost in her head playing moving party guest, as she blinked her eyes closed one at a time, over and over again.
“Hi there,” a voice said suddenly, startling her. Lucy looked up and saw the most perfect pair of brown eyes staring down at her from beneath a head of thick, blonde hair. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lucy replied, giving him the usual well-rehearsed answer.
“Now, is that really fine?” He asked with a smile that made his eyes twinkle as he sat down next to her. “Or is it, I don’t want to be here, I am having a horrible time, leave me the hell alone, fine?”
“Is it that obvious?” Lucy said with a sigh, but couldn’t help but smile.
“Only because I feel the same way,” the guy replied. “This isn’t really my thing either.”
“Then why did you come?” Lucy asked as she gave him a questioning look.
“It’s a long story,” he chuckled. “I’m Tucker Flynn, by the way.”
“Lucy,” she replied with a smile.
“I know who you are,” he said as he held her gaze, before he added, “My cousin Mike is on the football team with Riley.”
“I see,” Lucy nodded and forced a smile.
“Not his biggest fan I see,” Tucker laughed as Lucy blushed. It was true, she and Mike were not particularly close. The truth was, Lucy didn’t care for anyone on the football team, except for Riley. They didn’t believe Lucy was good enough for their star quarterback, and they never tried to hide their feelings. The fact that most of their girlfriends didn’t really like Lucy either hadn’t helped her case any.
Still, Lucy didn’t care what they thought, what Riley thought about her was all that mattered to her, and he loved her.
“Is it wrong that I think he is a jackass too?” Tucker whispered, surprising Lucy and she couldn’t help but giggle.
“He is your cousin,” Lucy replied in a whisper.
“And,” Tucker replied with a cheeky grin. “Doesn’t mean I have to like him. Doesn’t mean I have to like any of these assholes.”
“Then why are you here?” Lucy asked, giving him a surprised look.
“Because I am new in town,” Tucker shrugged, and for a split second, Lucy could see a look of sadness in his eyes. “My folks are getting divorced. Me and my mom moved here a couple of weeks ago and are staying with my aunt till we find somewhere of our own. My mom insisted it would do me good to come here with Mike tonight.”
“I’m sorry about your mom and dad,” Lucy said, and she could slowly feel her defences drop a little. Tucker seemed nice. He was different from the rest of the boys here, and Lucy liked that. “And I am sorry you are having such a crappy time here at the party.”
“I was,” he said with a smile a
s his eyes locked with hers. Lucy could feel her face flush as she realised Tucker was flirting with her. This was very new for Lucy, but she had to admit, there was a spark.
“Oh,” Lucy said, as she could feel her heart race a little. She would be lying if she said she didn’t find Tucker cute, but she loved Riley, so she wasn’t interested. “Why is that?”
“Because I finally got to meet the prettiest girl from school,” Tucker said without missing a beat, then added, “And she doesn’t like these assholes either, so I know that makes her pretty special.”
Lucy stared at him for a moment. No one had ever said something like that to her before. Not even Riley. She could feel her cheeks burn hotter as Tucker held her eyes with his. They stared at each other for what seemed like forever. Finally, Tucker inched closer to her, and Lucy knew he was going to kiss her.
He softly pressed his lips to hers and Lucy was stunned for a moment, but then as she slowly returned his kiss, she felt like the world had faded away and there was no one there, just her and Tucker. It was the most perfect kiss she ever had.
Suddenly Riley’s face crashed into her mind, and she pulled back from Tucker abruptly
“I…I should be going,” Lucy said standing up quickly and putting a little distance between herself and Tucker. “I should go find Riley.”
“No, wait!” He exclaimed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. Please, stay.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Lucy replied. “But I need to go find Riley.”
“Oh, okay,” Tucker said as he tried to hide his disappointment, but failed miserably. “Well, it was lovely to finally meet you, Lucy.”
“You too, Tucker,” Lucy said as she turned to leave, but she stopped and turned back to him. “Please don’t tell anyone about this. It should have never happened.
“Your secret is safe with me,” Tucker replied with a smile, but Lucy could see the sadness in his eyes.
“Bye, Tucker,” she whispered, giving him a warm smile before she turned and went in search of Riley.
As she pushed her way through the room, Lucy scanned the crowd looking for Riley, but he was nowhere to be seen. She was becoming anxious and a little bit angry with Riley for just disappearing on her.
“Hey, Lacey,” one of the girls Lucy recognised from the cheerleading squad called out as she grabbed hold of her arm. They always got her name wrong, and Lucy knew it was on purpose, so she didn’t bother to correct her. “Are you looking for Riley?”
“Yes,” Lucy replied, as she thought maybe this girl was actually being helpful. “Have you seen him?”
“I saw him head up to the bedrooms with Amber about twenty minutes ago,” the girl said, then laughed in Lucy’s face. Lucy just smiled and tried not to react, but inside she could feel a knot in the pit of her stomach.
Without replying, Lucy turned and slowly made her way up the stairs. Each step she took, her heart raced faster and faster. Deep inside she knew Riley wouldn’t cheat on her, but still she was afraid of what she would find. She made her way along the corridor, checking each room she passed. Most of them were empty. One had a couple making out on the bed, another had two girls talking, one of them was crying.
Finally, she came to the last room on the hallway and took a deep breath. She slowly opened the door. A wave of relief washed over her when she found this room too was empty.
What a lying bitch! She thought to herself as she walked further into the room. She knew in her heart Riley would never cheat on her, and she was angry at herself for ever doubting him.
She turned and jumped with fright when she found Trent McAlister standing in the doorway. Trent was on the football team with Riley and was another one Lucy didn’t really like.
“Hey, Luc,” Trent said with a broad smile as his eyes raked over Lucy’s entire body and instantly made her feel uncomfortable.
“Trent,” Lucy said with a nervous laugh. “You scared me. I…um…I’m looking for Riley, I was told he was up here.”
“No,” Trent said, stepping a little further into the room. He was about six foot four and was almost as wide. He was so big; his body blocked the entire doorway. “Last I saw Riley, he was out back with the coach and some of the other guys.”
“Thanks, Trent,” Lucy said and forced a smile as she cautiously walked towards the door. “I should go find him.”
“Aww, don’t go yet,” he said as he stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. “When Rachel told me you had come up here, I came to see if you were okay. The least you could do is say thank you.”
“Thank you, Trent,” Lucy said, as she tried to remain calm, but she knew she needed to get out of the room. “I am very grateful, but as you can see, I am okay. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
She moved to get by him, but he grabbed her arm.
“Don’t be like that, Luc,” he said pulling her flush with him. “Why do you always have to be such a stuck up bitch?”
“Trent,” Lucy said as she blinked back the tears blurring her eyes. “Please let me go, you’re hurting my arm.”
“I will let you go, when I’m done,” he growled at her, as he pushed her back further into the room.
Before Lucy could react, she was on the bed, and he was above her, kissing her hard.
“Please, Trent,” Lucy begged as she tried to wriggle free, but it was no use. “Please don’t do this!”
“Come on, Luc,” he grunted against her throat. “All you need is a good fuck, then maybe you will lighten up. Riley told us how you were saving yourself. Well, it’s time to start sharing.”
He suddenly tore back her blouse, then he bit her on the chest, just above the lace of her bra. The pain shot through Lucy’s entire body as she tried to scream, but it was like the fear had sucked all the air out of her body. She tried to fight him; she tried with everything she had, but he was just too big.
So she pinched her eyes shut and prayed to God for the ordeal to be over.
Lucy lay in the corner of the darkened room curled into a ball, hoping Riley would come and find her. She felt numb and sick. She wanted to cry; she wanted to scream but she couldn’t. Just like she couldn’t stand up and leave the room. She was paralysed with fear.
Her stomach heaved as she could still taste the beer and stale cigarettes from Trent’s breath. She just wanted to go home to her dad.
The door to the room opened, and Lucy froze. She prayed it was Riley, but she was terrified it was Trent coming back.
“Lucy,” a familiar voice said. “Are you in here?”
Lucy held her breath. She wasn’t sure who it was, but she knew it wasn’t Riley. Whoever it was, stood in the doorway for a moment then sighed. She could hear him turn to leave the room, and a sudden sob escaped from deep inside her.
“Lucy, where are you?” His voice said, coming further into the room. Lucy pulled her legs closer to her, as fear gripped her entire body. He moved around the bed and gasped when he saw her curled in a ball in the corner. “Oh God, Lucy! It’s okay.”
When he touched her, she cried out and pulled away.
“Lucy, it’s me, Tucker,” he said, as he moved closer to her. “I am not going to hurt you, I promise.”
Lucy didn’t respond. Instead, she finally let go of the tears she had been fighting.
“Lucy, I need to get you out of here,” Tucker whispered. “I am going to pick you up.”
“Don’t…don’t touch me,” she cried. “Please, don’t…”
“I know you are scared,” he said, keeping his voice even and calm. “But I need to get you out of here; you’ve been hurt. I need to get you somewhere safe.”
“I…I want Riley,” she whispered without looking up at him.
“And I will find him for you,” Tucker said as he pulled a blanket from the bed and carefully wrapped it around Lucy before he scooped her up in his arms. “But first, I need to get you out of here.”
“NOOOOOO!” Lucy protested, but she was too weak to fight him.
He held her closer to him and quickly headed for the door. Lucy buried her face in his neck and cried.
As Tucker carried her down the stairs, Lucy could hear the blare of the music and the noisy chatter of all the party guests. Then suddenly everything went quiet, and Lucy knew all eyes were now on her. A low hum started and Lucy felt mortified. Now they all knew what had happened to her.
“It’s okay, Lucy,” Tucker kept whispering over and over as he stepped out into the night air. “I have you.”
“Lucy,” Riley’s voice came through the night, as Tucker made his way down to his car. Lucy just wanted to die. Now that she heard his voice, she suddenly didn’t want Riley to see her like this. She could hear him running towards them. “Tucker, what the fuck has happened?”
“She was attacked,” Tucker explained as he opened the back door to his car and carefully placed Lucy inside. “I am taking her to the emergency room.”
“Wait!” Riley said as he reached the car. “What do you mean she was attacked?”
“Christ sake, Riley, do you really need me to spell it out for you?” Tucker said as slammed the door and hurried to the driver’s side. “Look, I am not standing here discussing it with you. She needs to be seen by a doctor. Now either get in or get out of my way.”
Riley stared at Tucker for a moment before he climbed into the front passenger seat. He turned around and looked at Lucy, who was curled into a small ball on the back seat.
“Luc,” he said as he reached out to touch her, but she pulled away. She closed her eyes unable to look at Riley. She felt dirty, broken and so ashamed. Why would he ever want her now? She pinched her eyes closed tighter and placed her hands over her ears. All she wanted to do was shut out the world. She knew things would never be the same again.
Chapter 1
2016
Lucy sat staring at the screen for what seemed like forever. She was looking through the pictures from her latest photo shoot. As she was on a deadline for the magazine that had commissioned them, and she needed to make the final selection of which photographs she was submitting.
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