Page 30

Kate

Buzz. I grab my phone, hoping it’s an update. I sigh in relief.

Landon: They can’t do anything yet, Babe. I’m so sorry. They do want you to come in and get your statement on file. Shit, I feel like I’ve failed you somehow.

Me: Crap...well, you tried. Not going to say I’m not disappointed, but I’m not disappointed in you. You have done so much to make me feel safe. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t here. What’d they say about Kristy?

Landon: She’s got a history of disappearing, so they aren’t worried yet. So basically, nothing.

Me: That’s unsettling.

Landon: Yeah, it is. Coach is suspending him for the stuff he’s pulled with me.

Me: Sigh...that’s just going to piss him off more.

Landon: Yeah, but Coach can’t just let the behavior slide either.

Me: I know. I just hate all of this.

Landon: Me too. I love you.

Me: Ditto xoxoxo

I blow out a breath and get back to work. It’s almost five, so Mel and I will be done soon. She comes up to the station a few minutes later from stocking upstairs in the fiction section.

“Gabe just messaged me. I’m sorry, girl. This whole situation just blows.”

“Right now, I’m just worried about how he’s going to react to the suspension from the team. That also means that he’ll have more free time while the guys are working out,” I think aloud.

“Shit... I’m ready for Thanksgiving break so we don’t have to deal with this crap for a couple of weeks.”

“Meeeeee too,” I exaggerate.

Buzz.

Trevor: Tell your boyfriend he’s an asshole. He’s lucky he doesn’t have to see me for a few weeks. That pussy can’t deal with a little competition. Btw, you look good in red.

I gasp and hold my phone out across the table I’ve been cleaning for Melissa to read.

She snaps her head up to the windows and looks for him. It’s already dark out, so we can’t see much out there. I’m wearing a fitted red v-neck tee with some skinnies and Hey Dudes.

Buzz.

Trevor: Bend over that table a little farther for me so I can check out that ass. I can’t wait to fuck it.

I drop my phone.

Buzz. I pick it back up.

Trevor: Just kidding, just kidding. Maybe. Your face though. Don’t break that new phone.

Melissa walks around to my side and reads over my shoulder.

“What the actual fuck did he just text you?” She looks around the room for him and back out the front windows. He’s nowhere that we can pinpoint, but he’s fucking watching.

Buzz.

Trevor: Tell that nosy bitch friend of yours to stay out of our business.

My face pales and I look up at her.

“Go to the bathroom and call Gabe. Tell him to come walk us to our cars. If he can’t, tell him to get one of the other guys. Not Landon. If I raise my phone to call him right now, Trevor will know.”

“Kate?” She looks nervous.

“Melissa, go do it now. Stay where we can see each other. Keep it cool,” I warn her.

Buzz.

Trevor: What? Not gonna show her that one? Probably for the best. She’s getting on my nerves. Now clean that table nice and slow for me, baby.

I’m disgusted with his crudeness.

Buzz.

Trevor: I know you’re reading these. I’d appreciate it if you’d answer me. I don’t enjoy being pissed off. Your prick of a boyfriend and that blonde bitch already have me on edge. Don’t add fuel to the fire. It might not be pretty.

Trevor: Back to that amazing ass. I got a nice peek of it the other night with your skirt bunched up all around your waist. I wonder if your pussy tastes as good as Brooks made it seem. I promise, I can do so much better than that.

If there were any food in my stomach, it would be coming up right now. I am stunned.

Melissa comes back out with a worried face. I tell her to smile and act normal. She goes to the station and picks up the last of the books to be loaded onto the cart to be put away. They’ll have to be done another night. I don’t know where he is, so neither of us is going anywhere.

“Gabe and Jameson are coming,” she mumbles. It’s five minutes past the end of our shift. We grab our stuff and sit at a table casually.

Buzz.

Trevor: Damn, I was hoping to have a few minutes alone with you. I’ll talk to you later.

The guys walk in and smile at us.

“I told them to act like nothing’s up,” she informs me.

“How bad did the texts get?” Jameson asks.

“Bad” is all I can manage to spit out.

“Can I see?” he asks softly.

“Let’s get to our cars,” I croak out. I don’t want to show him.

“Okay. Can I read them on the way to the car?” he prods again.

“He might still be watching.” I shake my head no and start for the door. “Landon will have to fill you guys in. I just want everyone to get home.” I catch Gabe’s eye and look to Melissa purposely then back to Gabe. He stiffens, catching my drift that there’s a bit more to the story that involves her.

We step out the door and walk toward the parking lot. Gabe throws an arm around Melissa’s shoulders coolly but protectively and tosses a worried glance my way. I nod my approval of that gesture. He huffs, not happy with my choice to stay tight-lipped.

My car is the closest, so Jameson drops me off first, waving goodbye all friendly like when I close my door and start the car. I notice he double checks all my tires inconspicuously before walking to his car. He will be following me from a distance to make sure I get home okay. They rode together, so Gabe decides to ride with Melissa. Jameson stated he’ll drop by to grab him after he makes sure I’ve made it inside. These guys are truly the best.

I park as close to our door as possible and book it inside, locking it as soon as it closes. Immediately, I’m consumed by the heat and safety of Landon’s arms.

“What the fuck happened?” His eyes are rounded with worry and untamed rage. “The guys wouldn’t tell me anything, just that you specifically asked that I not come to get you.”

I give him my phone and start for the kitchen. Tears of frustration sting behind my lids from holding them in so long. When I get to the fridge, I let them go. I didn’t want Trevor to have any indication that I was as upset as I was. Seeing me drop my phone was enough.

“He’s aiming his anger toward Melissa now too. This is the worst he’s ever been.” I lean in and grab a bottle of water, trying to find something to fidget with.

I know Landon is livid because I can hear each sharp inhale and slow exhale at every new text he reads. I hear him set my phone on the entry table. I look up to see him scrubbing his face with both hands. His features are scrunched up, and he pinches the bridge of his nose tightly with his eyes closed. He’s so upset. I can tell he’s trying to keep it together for me.

“When I see him...” He inhales and slowly shakes his head, trying to shake the rage. He looks up at me, and his eyes are full of angry, unshed tears. My heart breaks a little.

“Fuck, I hate him for what he’s doing to you. It’s going to take every ounce of my self-control not to lay him flat on his ass,” he grits through his clenched teeth.

I cross the room quickly to him and throw my arms around his neck. He envelopes my back with his big strong arms, burying his face in my neck. I feel his hot tears on my skin. It only makes me sob harder. I hate that this beautiful man has been provoked to this point. I hate that there’s nothing anyone can really do.

“I’m so sorry, Kate,” he croaks into the safety my neck provides.

“You had to tell your coach. Someone needed to be made aware of everything even if it’s only for Kristy’s sake if it’s connected. I would feel guilty if we just kept quiet. Clearly, the cops didn’t know they were involved. Landon, I really hope she just took off for a bit,” I ramble.

He pulls me back, freeing the hair from my face like he always does and takes my cheeks in his hands. Determination has taken over the fury in his eyes.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he promises and sips a sweet kiss from my lips. My stomach drops at the knowledge that there’s only so much he can truly protect me from. I also know that if he’s able, he will stand in the way of any danger that comes looking for me.

“Landon, we don’t know where he was watching us from. He could’ve been in that library with us. It’s not just me he aimed his attentions at tonight.”

“I know. I’ll call Gabe.” He gulps nervously. “Did the guys read those messages?”

“No, I couldn’t stomach it, and I didn’t know if Trevor was still watching,” I rasp out. He visibly relaxes and nods his assent.

“Good thinking. I’ll let them know the gist of the messages and Trevor’s involvement of Melissa.”

I squeeze his arm in gratitude, happy that he won’t share Trevor’s crude words. Landon strolls off to the bathroom. I hear the water for the tub turn on. He peeks out around the doorway, motioning for me to come in there.

“I added some of your salts. Hop on in and relax for a little, Love.” I smile at the endearment and his thoughtfulness. He steps out while I strip down and sink into the blissful heat. He was right. I definitely needed this. He ambles back in with a few candles from our night out a few weeks ago and sets them sporadically around the room after lighting the wicks. Smiling, he flicks off the overhead light, bathing me in a room of ambient candlelight. I sigh, tipping my head back to enjoy.

“Hey, Gabe. Yeah… just a second,” Landon says into his phone as he leaves me and pads down the hallway to his room. The conversation lowered to murmurs from this distance.

Just a few more days of exams and one more shift at the library before I can shut it all out for a while. You can do this. I want to hug my mom. I wish I could hug my dad. Tears of grief streak down my cheeks at the sudden longing to feel his safe arms around me. I swipe them away angrily. They will do no good.

Of course, Landon chooses that moment to walk back in. Sitting down on the ledge of the tub, he takes me in for a minute or two.

“You know what? That looks good.” He stands up, ripping off his clothes, and I snicker, enjoying the show.

“Move over and scoot forward, let my big ass in.”

I snort.

“It’s not big, it’s muscle-y...” Praise croons from my smiling lips, and he chuckles warmly.

He settles behind me, the water sloshing a bit, pulling me back against his chest. I hear his head thud back against the wall, and he moans at the delicious feel of the warmth surrounding his skin.

“Now I see why you chicks love this shit.”

“You’re telling me you’ve never soaked like this?”

“I haven’t taken a real bath since I was like seven years old. I don’t recall ever lounging. I had too many battleships to sink.”

An image of a younger Landon submerging boats in loads of bubbles leaves me smiling.

“I can’t wait to look through baby pictures of you with your mom.”

“Oh gosh, that will make her entire day. You just don’t even know.”

He squirts some body wash in his hands and uses it lotion style to massage my shoulders and upper back. I melt and give a moan of appreciation. It feels glorious.

“Hey, I’m trying to relax you. Don’t be making sounds like that and get me all hard back here.”

I guffaw, and he splashes me a little. Sweet, playful Landon is the best. He rinses my back and gives my shoulder an adoring nip.

“Time to get out and go snuggle.” I rise, grabbing a towel, drying the droplets of water clinging to my breasts and step out.

“Just snuggle?” he asks, his eyes traveling up and over my body appreciatively.

It’s my turn to splash him back a little using my fingers. Snickering, he stands and grabs his towel, staring at me intently as he runs it over his body. I know where his brain has gone.

“We’ll see. You have to catch me first.”

He grins devilishly and starts blowing out candles.

“Run.”