Just Love Me Once Again

Page 22

"So, are you two friends yet?" A very drunk Dustin hooked his arm around my neck at the bonfire after the race.

I knew who he was talking about.

"I wouldn't go that far." I took a sip of my warm beer and kept my eyes forward.

"I'm sure it'll work out." Natalie followed us along with Cisco, "Now that she's got a boyfriend, I think you'll both move on to more interesting pastimes than hating each other. And Adam is going to try to put his hands on her tonight."

No.

Trixie and Adam weren't together tonight as friends. I knew that, but Natalie saying it aloud made my stomach burn with rage.

"You see all those guys?" Dustin jerked his chin and waved his hand to the group that Trixie and Adam were chatting. "They all want to put their hands up her skirt. You know that, right?"

Just breathe.

"And sooner or later," Dustin continued, "she's going to let all of them."

Damn him.

I swallowed and relaxed my grip on the red plastic cup.

Dustin walked away, having done the damage he came to do.

I looked over at Trixie, who immediately glanced up at me across the fire, and it was like trying to walk away from the water that you knew you needed to live.

There was no choice but to drink.

"God, I've missed you." A sweet-smelling body pressed against me, and soft, moist lips groaned against my neck.

Natalie.

She came around to face me. "How about you, and I go back to your place?"

What? I blinked, not sure if I'd heard her right.

Did she just offer-

I closed my eyes and ran my hand down my face.

Was she serious?

I looked to the ground, blinking with the realization that I didn't want what she was offering.

I was going to hate myself for this someday.

I pulled Natalie's hand off me again. "Stop." And I backed away.

"What?" she blurted out, her tone surprised.

I shook my head. "Just get home safely, okay? Cisco or Dustin will drop you." And I went off in search of Trixie.

I didn't care if she was Adam's date.

She was leaving with me.

I trudged through the dirt and wet leaves, keeping my ears peeled for any sound. After I'd run into a tipsy Adam, who admitted he'd lost her, I'd darted into the woods, towards the parking lot, looking for Trixie.

She wasn't around the bonfire, and it's not like she had many friends there.

A loud, guttural moan echoed in the woods, and I twisted my head towards the wail.

What? Shit.

I started running, jumping over logs with my heart pounding so hard that it hurt to breathe.

" Why are the guys at this school suck dicks?" I heard a voice growl.

Trixie.

"Shit!" I heard a male voice spout. "You fucking bitch!"

I peeled through the trees and came into a clearing of fallen trees, and sawed-off tree trunks. My chest heaved with every hard breath as I took in the scene before me.

Trixie stood over the crumpled mess of Rowan, as he lay in visible agony on the ground. He had one hand covering his eyes, and one holding his crotch.

"Beatrice!" I barked, more out of the sting of fear than the heat of anger.

She spun around, and I struggled to keep myself in check. Rowan subjugated, but I caught sight of her ripped tank top strap, and every muscle tensed.

"Did he hurt you?" I asked through nearly clenched teeth.

She placed a hand over her shoulder and torn shirt. "He tried, but I'm fine." She would barely look at me.

I slipped off my shirt and tossed it to her.

"Put this on," I ordered. "Now."

She didn't rush to obey, not that I had expected her to, but my temper was up, and God help her if she didn't do what she was told.

I wanted to throttle her for being so reckless.

I walked to Rowan, grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and hauled him up before slamming my fist into his stomach. He caved, hunching over, as all the air was forced out of his body.

And I didn't stop.

I punched and slammed, hit, and gutted Rowan, pounding his body and face until he was too done to do anything but take the abuse.

The ache in my hand vibrated through my bones, and travelled up my arm as the full force of temper descended on him.

Lowlife piece of shit!

"Stop." I heard Trixie yell behind me. "Caleb, stop!"

I didn't want to stop until he was done breathing, but I was getting Trixie the hell out of here. Now.

I yanked Rowan by the bend of his elbow and threw him to the ground. "This isn't over," I promised, not feeling the slightest bit guilty about his bloodied eye, nose, and mouth.

I looked over to Trixie, whose eyes looked scared and chest rose and fall in fear.

A fear she didn't have when I first found her here.

"I'm taking you home." It wasn't open for discussion.

"No thanks," she argued, tipping her chin up.

I turned to look at her and then walked towards my car, fully prepared to throw her over my shoulder if I had to.