Page 2

Chapter Two

If I were hers, I would never dare hurt her. -Levi

She finally caught the asshole, and I didn’t even have to intervene. I’ve known he was cheating for two weeks. He wasn’t good enough for her anyway, but to have the balls to betray her…fuckin’ idiot. That feisty, beautiful girl had given him a chance and he had wasted it, thrown it away. What I wouldn’t give …I shake my head. I’m not here for that, no matter how much I wish I was.

I sigh heavily, watching as Flora walks outside with her head held highly. She passes people she knows on the sidewalk and gives them a small wave.

They don’t see how she’s hurting. They can’t see the way her eyes don’t hold their usual twinkle. I punch my fist into my hand. She deserves to have that twinkle all the time. She deserves to be happy.

Fuck that dick. Watching Flora doesn’t mean getting emotionally involved, but here I am anyway.

I duck behind the nearest tree as she stops on the sidewalk to look both ways before crossing the street.

No one notices me. My dark hoodie is pulled over my dirty blonde hair. I manage to hunch over in a nondescript way. No one spares a glance for the stranger who is probably down on his luck based on his old clothes and slumped demeanor. This is my usual MO. The dirty and poor are the ones people want to look away from. They don’t want to feel the need to help so they quickly avert their eyes. It’s a sad statement on humanity, but it works for me.

I see the moment she lets the facade go. As she turns down another street and gets further away from that jackass Tim’s apartment, her shoulders start to droop. Then she wanders over to one of the park benches in Columbia Square. She watches the serene fountain’s waterfall for a few seconds before her gaze falls to the ground. No one notices her in this quiet place set between two of Savannah’s busiest streets. No one but me.

Finally, her lush lower lips quivers and one single tear rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away as if it is highly offensive to her. She even gives it a disgusted glance.

I shove my hands in my dark jeans. I want to reach for her. I want to comfort her.

Instead, I do what I’m here to do. What I’ll keep doing. Keeping her safe by silently, secretly watching.