Page 52

In the distance, Shane’s Mustang kicks up gravel, spraying against the row of cars parked behind him.
“We should call the police,” Frankie says, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my God, look at her face.”
“No, we shouldn’t,” Ethan growls, knowing exactly where my mind is too. If we call the police, Shane will be arrested. He doesn’t deserve jail. He deserves so much more than that.
“Ethan, you know where to find him, right?” I ask, my voice wavering. Adjusting my hold on Evie, Frankie hands me my keys.
Ethan’s jaw tightens with a nod. “I’m on it, man.”
People around here don’t call the police. We don’t. You fuck up, you pay by the southern law we have. My eyes drift back to Evie. Our stare connects. Shane’s going to pay for this.
“No! Please don’t,” Evie begs. “It will only make things worse. Just stay with me, Grayson. Please, don’t leave me!” she pleads. Her pleas are broken and restricted from her shaking.
I look at the bruises, the bleeding lip, the eyes that keep holding on when all I wanted to do was let go. From reality, life, everything around me. And now here I am, holding her, and she’s giving me an option to keep holding on.
My jaw tightens, my breathing kicking up, and a familiar strain rages through my chest. I wrap my arms around her. She needs me and I can’t fuck this up. I’m not ever going to deny her, not now. Never again will I leave her, even if she pushes me away.
“If that’s what you want, then we won’t.” I use every ounce of self-control I have to fight my own inner impulse to fight, what I was trained to do, what I need to do at this point. For those few minutes I hit Shane, I knew it wouldn’t be enough. That son of a bitch is going to pay. Maybe not tonight, but very soon.
“No, fuck that.” Ethan doesn’t see it that way and immediately gets in my face. “I don’t fucking think so.Seriously,Grayson, you can’t be serious? This guy needs to pay for this shit! Look at her fucking face!” he roars, staring at me in abject horror as he punches the side of my truck. “Look at her goddamn face!”
It’s difficult for me to see Ethan this way. It’s like watching her own reactions and that kills me.
“Ethan.” I try desperately to keep my voice even and controlled. “I know you’re angry, so am I. But we need to think about what’s important right now and that’s getting Evie home, safe,” I insist, taking a deep breath to calm myself. “Find Kathy. Tell her come over to our house tonight. I don’t think she should be home alone, and Evie is not staying over there tonight.”
I want her with me where I know she’s safe. In my arms. In my bed where I can watch over her.
My dad is the one to open my door. As I set her down, she curls up on the seat, her nearly naked body so fragile and bruised. My head fills with rage because for a moment, I don’t see her. There’s a flashback of Matt—a man I desperately tried to save but couldn’t. But this girl, I can save her.
“Grayson, don’t do anything stupid,” Dad warns.
“I won’t. I’m taking her to the house.”
Nothing is said between Evie and me for the next twenty minutes. She lays her head on my lap, her tears never slowing.
My hands shake on the steering wheel and I fight through urges to find Shane. I breathe in and out and try everything I can to calm myself down, but it’s not enough.
When I pull into the garage, Kathy is already there, pacing back and forth, her hands fidgeting. The very second I open the door to my truck, Kathy is in my face. “What happened?”
I shake my head, unable to answer and slide out of the truck. She looks at my hands, and then Evie’s face. “I didn’t touch her.”
Kathy gasps at me. “I never thought you did, Grayson.” She pushes past me to where Evie is still lying on the seat.
“Grayson, do you think she needs to see a doctor?” Dad asks. “Maybe Frankie can check her out or have Dr. Andrew stop by.”
I look over my shoulder and lean into the side of the truck, my arms crossed over my chest. “I think she’s okay for now.” He nods, taking my word for it.
Kathy and my mom help Evie from the truck and I pace the garage, trying to breathe, trying to function without falling to the ground.
Evie shies away from her mom’s embrace, her eyes on mine.
“Evie, oh my God.” She cradles Evie’s face to her chest like she’s a child. “Baby girl, oh, honey… I’m… I’m so sorry!”
“Mom… I want to sleep,” Evie whispers and turns toward me. “Can I sleep in your room?”
My heart jumps into my throat, but I manage to nod. I reach for her and wrap my arms around her. Ethan and Frankie help me get her back to my room. I’m not going to leave her alone at this point. As soon as we reach my room, I sit her on the bed. She stares at Frankie, then Ethan. They stand by the door next to me and look around my room. I’ll admit, it’s a bit of a mess and resembles a frat house but whatever. They shouldn’t be judging me with the week I’ve had.
“I’m fine, guys,” Evie says, avoiding eye contact. “I just want to sleep.”