CHAPTER 15
MARI
The half-full, sticky cup—aimed directly at the retreating back of the asshole biker—was about to leave my fingers when an arm came out of nowhere to rip it from my grasp.
“Mari,” Leo hissed as he tossed it into the trash. “That was a Wraith.”
I saw red. Anger pulsed my temples, and I had no clear thoughts. “Oh, I know.” I chuckled without humor. “I was gonna hit him dead center on his precious little vest.”
“And then what?” Leo’s eyes were frantic and wide.
“This isn’t your problem.” I stomped my foot and wiped my hands on my jeans.
“You really think starting shit with the local biker gang is your best idea?” he asked, a vein throbbing in his temple as he whisper-yelled.
A few passing pedestrians had glanced over when they heard the bike ride through and my accompanying shout of rage. They stopped to watch the drama unfold as I’d prepared to launch the cup. “He shouldn’t get away with that,” I growled back.
He looked around again and tried to bring me to the car. I dug in my heels. I wasn’t done here.
“Do you have a death wish? Why am I always pulling you away from danger?” He mumbled the last part to himself.
“I would prefer if you didn’t!” I shouted, and I heard a cackle of laughter from across the street, but I didn’t break my eye contact with Leo.
His shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath in and out.
“Mari, can you just?—”
“Do not finish that sentence with ‘calm down.’” I hated that my voice shook with pent-up emotion.
“I wasn’t going to.” He held up his palms to me.
“I’m so sick of people telling me to calm down. To be quiet. To let shit like that slide. It’s because nobody is making a scene or standing up to these...thesebullies, that awful stuff continues to happen.” My body thrummed with pent-up energy; it begged to punch or scream.
“I’m starting to think this isn’t just about the litterbug,” Leo said.
I shook my head. “I’m sick of people treating the world, people, like they’re disposable. Nobody tries anymore. Nobody takes the time to make things right.”
Leo blinked at me and then let out another long breath.
I’d been so happy only seconds ago. I’d caught up with Clara’s best friend, Molly, and her husband. I’d secured further donations. And when I’d walked out to find Leo watching and waiting for me, I had a frisson of hope. This could be my life. I could have my students and band while a thoughtful, sweet man made me meals and waited for me with that goofy half-smile.
And then that Wraith roared through, and it was like a switch had flipped instantly. A reminder that I couldn’t have those things. Just like with the crashing tree, every time I started to let myself think about a future where I wasn’t alone, the universe delivered a sign.
It wasn’t healthy to get angry so fast, to flood with such venomous rage that I couldn’t think straight. I should be quiet, mind my manners, let things slide. But with every passing year, I struggled to remember why remaining passive was so important.
The older I got, the louder my inner voice wanted to scream out at all the injustices it saw.
“I have an idea,” Leo said. “Let’s get out of here.”
Of course, he just wanted me out of there. He wanted to return to the safety of his house and get far away from me. He hadn’t even wanted to come out in the first place, and I was living out his nightmares. The more I stood up for what I wanted, the less attractive I became, and that was the crux of an aging woman. I couldn’t keep anybody around me.
I wouldn’t have to set boundaries with Leo because my natural human-repellent was doing just fine. “You can just take me home. Or I’ll walk. Whatever.”
I shoved past him. The anger that made me feel like I could flip a bus deflated, leaving my shoulders hunched.
“Mari.” He jogged to keep up with me. “Actually. My idea is something else. Can you trust me enough to come with me without asking a hundred questions?”
I stopped and chewed my lip. He wanted me to come with him? Wasn’t I glad for the boundaries? But his curls were all mussed up, and his brows were contorted in hope, and ultimately, poor decisions were what made life interesting.
