Perfect Strangers |Complete|

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Now what?
Marcus gets up as my sobs start to slow. He glances down at me, offering his hand."Come on, let's go."
I nod and let him pull me up as I glance around to where our bodyguards are pulling Jack down the hall towards to the manager who's been ordered to call the police.
He smiles reassuringly as he follows my gaze.
"You're okay now."
I engulf him in a hug, not letting him see the fear still overtaking my face.
He hugs me back, meeting my eyes. "What is this for?"
I force a smile. "I can't just hug my idiot?"
"You normally don't hug me so fiercely..."
I sniffle and his playful smile fades.. "Are you okay?"
I shake my head. "I...I was so scared that I would...I'm just grateful you came when you did."
I bite my lip and he smiles. "You can't get rid of me that easily."
I crack a smile. "How could I forget that?"
He nods. "It's not like you to forget such basic facts."
I lean my head in his shoulder as he slips his hand into mine. "I'm glad I got there when I did...I don't want to lose you."
I force a smile, as my voice cracks. "Bold of you to assume I'm going anywhere."
He laughs stiffly. "You better not. I couldn't handle that.
"I wouldn't if you did either.."
He as squeezes my hand just as Annie comes over, her eyes overflowing with concern. "Are you guys okay? I just saw your bodyguard walking away with Jack..."
I nod."It was a close call but we're okay."
"Close call is an understatement."
She sighs in relief. "That's good.... "She pauses.
"What did he do do this time?"
Marcus bites his lip. "He tried to choke Lyla."
She gasps, meeting my eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine."
She nods. "Should we all go? I don't want to make you stay here with all that just happened.."
Marcus meets my eyes and shakes his head. "We'll go, you stay and enjoy yourself."
She looks between us. "But..."
I meet her eyes."No buts. Enjoy yourself."
Marcus nods. "You deserve it. Baby sitting us is a full time job, and you need time to enjoy your freedom."
She laughs."It is a full-time job..."
I meet her eyes."We should pay you more.."
She grins. "I was thinking that too.."
Marcus grins. "Great minds think alike."
"Exactly. Tell us how it goes. I'll text you when we get home."
She bites her lip. "Fine. Enjoy the rest of your night."
"You too."
"How will you get home?"
"I'll call my dad."
"You sure that won't be a problem?"
"I'm sure. Now go take care of yourself."
"Bye Annie."
She waves and we watch her head back in to the theater.
Marcus he turns to me. "Where we we?"
I sniffle and the smile he plastered on for Annie fades. "What can I do?"
"Can we go home?"
He nods. And we get head to the car. "I'll drive."
"Okay."
He starts the car and he smiles. "Do you went to cuddle at my house?"
I crack a smile. "You're using me for cuddles again."
"Saving you is hard work."
"Well we can't have you stop doing that..."
"Exactly what I was thinking."
He smiles. "What was he saying to you?"
"The usual...just more intense as you saw."
He sighs. "I think if I hadn't come over, he might have...."
I look away. "I saw my life flash in front of my eyes..."
"I could tell..." He glances at me. "I never thought he would go that far..."
"No one would. It's too far our there to even consider."
"Yet here we are."
"We always end up in the worst spots."
"You don't say."
"What are we going to tell our parents?"
I sigh. "I don't know...can we figure that out in the morning?"
"Yea."
I meet his eyes. "Why didn't have to be us? Out of all of the kids there, why is who had to neatly die and be hated by the whole town? I can't even go anywhere and do anything without being glared at, tripped, threatened, anything normal is now impossible. I can't even go on a date with you without everything be in ruined!"
I look away as tears start to fall again. "I just want to be able to me normal..."
He squeezes my hand. "Two days until the trial and we'll be partially free. And then we have the three months til we graduate and we'll be free for good. And then we can be normal. I can take you wherever we want around our college, do whatever we want and have no backlash. How does that sound?"
I meet his eyes. "It sounds amazing..but do you promise?"
He nods. "I promise. We will be normal again."
I smile as we turn into his driveway. He stops the car and I get out, slipping my hand into his. He opens his front door and we walk in, heading to the couch. He grabs the remote and flips the TV on as I sit next to him.
He wraps his arm around me and grins. "What do you want to watch?"
"Hmm Hamilton?"
His brows furrow. "Let's see if I can find it."
He flips through his streaming services and grins. "Hamilton, as you requested."
I smile. "I love you."
He smiles, rising my forehead. "I love you too." He pauses. "Can we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?"
"No more giving the other on a heart attack."
I pause. "Hmm that is a tall order..."
He glares at me. I nod. "Fine. I promise."
"Thank you. And I do too."
I squeeze his hand as he pulls me closer. "I never want to have to think about having to be without you."
I meet his eyes. "I know you don't." I can't even think about losing you. And we won't have to."
He nods. "Let's enjoy Hamilton now."
"Okie."
He presses play and I smile. We'll be okay.

Cuddle timeee 🥰 Two more chapters left!