Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis

dorm room and recorded me undress—” She cleared her throat. “Undressing...all the way.”
    His steps faltered for an instant before he settled back into their gentle rhythm. Well, hell.
    “Then she…she posted the video on the internet, and it went viral. There’s a naked video of me out there, for everyone to see, and laugh at.”
    He muttered a long string of curses and kissed her forehead. If only he could have saved her from the cruelty of this woman.
    “Everywhere I went, I was the target of jokes and snide remarks. My first instinct was to run home and hide. But I remembered Grandpa telling me nothing good ever came from running away. So I toughened it out until I realized how much he needed me here.” She shook her head. “God, it was an awful time. Just knowing my classmates—and strangers around the world—were looking at me taking off my clothes was humiliating, to say the least.”
    He rested his chin on her head and sighed. “Oh, Sugar.”
    She burrowed into him. “The video even had a title—‘LaAss LaRoche.’”
    He squeezed her. “Took a lot of guts to stay and face everyone. Did you have anyone to talk to?”
    “No one. I wanted to call Megan and Carrie Jo here in Texas, but I was too embarrassed. I never felt so alone and so ugly in my whole life.”
    “What about your grandpa?” Frank would have kicked ass and taken names. For all his blustery ways, he adored his granddaughter.
    She shook her head. “No. He was grieving too much for Grandma. Besides he doesn’t understand how the internet works. How it can be used for good, and for bad.”
    The slow song ended, and the Rattlesnakes began a lively number. Tyler escorted her back to their table. He collapsed into his chair.
    “I have to admit, I’m glad to be off my feet, although I do miss the feel of you in my arms.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Did you contact school officials? Didn’t anyone on campus help you?”
    “I went to the department head that handles such problems. He asked me for proof. I told him the video was proof enough. When he called Zoe in to question her, she claimed it was a prank I’d agreed to and then changed my mind about once it went viral. She was more believable telling a lie than I was telling the truth.” She sipped at her drink and returned the glass to the table. “I contacted the website, told them the video was taken against my knowledge and posted against my will.” Trembling hands pushed curls back from her forehead. “They promised to take it down, but…” Her shoulder lifted as her voice trailed off.
    “Well hell. I’ve heard of cyber-bullying, and that some kids have even committed suicide over it. Never knew anyone who was the victim of it before. Must have been tough.”
    She nodded and looked away, as if she still couldn’t face him. “The taunting, the jeers, the laughter. I didn’t think it would ever end.” A large shuddering breath escaped. “It still hasn’t ended. I had a customer email me the other day with a link to the video, asking if this was me. Having your painful past slapped into your face isn’t very pleasant, especially when you’re trying to build a business.”
    He ran a hand down his face. Dear God, how had she endured all this with no one to confide in, no one to share the bad times with her. His respect for her grew ten-fold. “People who know you won’t care about the actions of some loathsome bitch. I mean it, Lacy.”
    She ran her fingers through her curls and blew out a breath, as if the telling of it all had drained her. “Do you think we could leave?”
    “Sure, let me settle the check, and we’ll go.” He motioned for their waitress. All the while his gaze kept flitting back to her.
    How could he help her get over this?
    Large raindrops splattered on the gravel when they stepped outside into the quiet of the night. Off in the distance, a storm rumbled. A large jagged spear of lightning attacked the sky. Tyler huddled her into him