Do It Again

Chapter 20

"Ryland." I breathed. "Get out of here."

Ryland's eyes softened when he saw my red cheek. "It's time for me to take her home." He never took his eyes off of me.

"We've already claimed her." Jake stepped in front of me.

"She's not yours to claim." Ryland moved closer. "She's mine and she's coming with me."

"Who's this?" Paul pulled my arm. "Your boyfriend?"

"Yes." I said quickly. "Let me go and he won't call the cops."

"I don't know." Jake smirked. "I think we could take this kid." He pointed to Ryland.

"Ryland, just go." I begged. "Get out of here. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm not gonna let them take you." He moved closer.

"You think you can take us?" Jake stepped toward him. "We're about to see."

I watched as Jake took off toward Ryland. Ryland pushed him backwards and punched him in the face. Jake returned the blow, but it was much more forceful. Ryland staggered back into a rack. I pushed Paul off and jumped on Jakes back.

"Get her off!" Jake screamed at Paul.

Ryland ran over and kicked Paul backwards. I fell off of Jakes back as Ryland punched him in the jaw.

"Let's get out of here." Ryland took my hand.

"Brittany's across the hall." I cupped my stinging cheek.

Ryland pulled me across the hall and around the underwear display in Victoria's Secret. We ducked down behind it so Jake and Paul wouldn't see us.

"I can't believe he hurt you." Ryland touched my cheek.

"How did you know I was in there? How did you know we were at this mall?" I pulled away from his touch.

He looked away. "I sorta followed you. It's a good thing I did."

"Why did you follow us?"

He shrugged. "I told you I wanted to talk."

"Thank you for stopping them." I looked away.

"Can I help you?" A worker came over to us.

"No." I pulled open a drawer. "Just looking."

"Looking for anything in particular?" She wasn't buying it.

"Actually." I picked up a random thong. "Do you have this in black?"

She took it out of my hand. "I'll check in the back."

"Are you really buying that?" Ryland watched her walk away.

"No. I just didn't want her to know we're hiding." I looked up over the table. "I think they're gone."

"Hey I was just coming to find you." Brittany's voice came from behind us.