AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, then release it slowly. “And if I don’t?”
“You know all those pictures of your mom you stashed in the back of your closet?”
“Yeah,” I answer, my stomach sinking like a rock. Of course he’s been through my things. I’m so stupid for thinking they were safe.
“I’ll fucking burn them all.”
“Travis—“
“Don’t fucking try to sweet talk me. I’m sick of playing games, Christy. I’ve waited two years for you!”
How do I even argue with him? He’s gone completely off the deep end and he’s taking me with him. It’s not like he was ever really stable before… but somehow he’s gotten even worse. It could be the drugs, or the booze, but honestly I think they’re only intensifying his natural crazy.
Inside my head, I cycle through my options but ultimately I only end up feeling utterly screwed. What can I do?
I could involve the police, but then he’d probably destroy the pictures just to spite me. And I can’t lose them, I can’t. They’re all I have left of my mom.
I could get the guys involved from the gym, maybe call Chase, Dale, or Avery. But I don’t want them involved in this because it’s so damn humiliating.
And Alex. Fuck. I really don’t want him involved in this. It might make him think twice about our relationship. What if he decides I’m too much drama and decides to leave me?
I suppose the only thing to do is to confront Travis. To deal with this for once and for all.
“Fine,” I say with a sigh and slump against my seat. “I’ll meet you, but you better not fuck with Nicole.”
“She’s fine,” he tries to reassure me but he sounds too gleeful for comfort.
“I’m fucking serious, Travis! She’s a minor, if you fuck with her you’re in deep shit.”
Not to mention I’ll cut his little dick off.
“I haven’t done shit to her,” he says defensively. “I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Put her on the phone. I want to talk to her.”
“For fuck’s sake, fine!”
The speakers pop and crackle and then Nicole’s voice comes through. “Christy?”
“Hey, are you okay? He hasn’t…” I trail off. I can’t even get the rest of the question past my lips without feeling sick.
“No, he and his friends just threatened to wreck my car if I didn’t get in touch with you.”
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too,” she sighs.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
“It’s not your—,” she starts then stops. “Oh, good, they’re leaving,” she says a moment later. “Wait. Travis wants to talk to you again.”
“Give me that,” I hear Travis growl in the background and then his voice is coming through loud and clear. “I’ll see you at the house. You’ve got thirty minutes.”
“I’m an hour away.”
“Thirty minutes,” he snaps and then my phone beeps as the line goes dead.
I pound my hands on the steering wheel. “Shit!”
Beside me Muffin whines and I feel like an ass for upsetting her. Leaning back, I reach over and give her a good scratch behind the ears and a pat on the head.
“Looks like we gotta stop by my house real quick,” I tell her. “You don’t mind, do you?”
She stares at me and then licks her nose.
“I’ll take that as a no,” I sigh. “Hang on, girl, we don’t have much time to get there.”
Throwing the car into drive, I squeal out of the parking lot and hit the main road.
Thank god Alex’s car is packing some serious horsepower otherwise I don’t think I’d make it in time. I drive like a madwoman the entire way, maintaining a speed of at least eighty-five and blowing through every yellow light.
I’m actually hoping to beat Travis to the house. There’s a tiny chance he could totally be bluffing about my pictures.
Pulling onto my street, my hopes soar even more when I see that the driveway is empty. Parking in front of the garage, my heart races so fast I have to take a moment to calm myself before getting out the car. I can’t believe I actually beat him here.
Walking over to Muffin’s side, I open the door and let her out. It’s way too hot outside to leave her in the car, and in this neighborhood I can’t just leave the car running.
Walk-running up to the front door, I try the handle to find it unlocked. I’m in too much of a hurry to wonder about all the good luck I’m having. Rushing inside, Muffin is hot on my heels as I make a dash for my room.
“Christy!” Travis calls out from behind me and I spin around to face him.
I guess my luck is rotten after all.
Shit.
Travis grins at me and lifts the little box filled with pictures of my mom. “Looking for this?”
