Page 43 of Indiscretion: Reckless Sin

“I need you to do this,” I say exasperatedly, waiving aimlessly in the direction of the mess of drugs, women, and men that gave me false hope of forever. “I just—I can’t.”

His eyes look me over, recognizing my pain for what it is, and they widen in surprise before turning into slits, reflecting the anger of a dad on a warpath seeking vengeance for his little girl. “Of course, baby girl. Go, I got this. I’ll call you later,” he tells me with a nod.

And with that, I do what I do best, I run and don’t stop until I’ve made it out to the street, where I crumble to the ground, too consumed with grief to care what anyone passing me by might think.

“AJ?” a familiar voice calls my name from a few feet away. “Are you all right?” he asks.

“Ranger? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I came for a party actually. It was lame so I bailed out early.”

“Oh.”

“Here, let me help you up,” he says, offering me a comforting smile and a hand to help pull me up off the ground. It reminds me of the old Ranger. The nice guy I’d first met when school started. “You never actually answered my question. Are you all right?”

“Um, honestly? No.”

“Lucky for you, I have the perfect remedy for a sad heart. Do you trust me?”

Normally I’d say no, but I’m too tired to care anymore. So instead I nod my head and let him lead me away from the people I thought were my everything.

“It’s all going to be okay, A. I’ve got you now.”

...

To Be Continued....