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I cut her off by scooping her out of her chair and into my arms. Without saying a word, I carried her the rest of the way to my truck. Just as silently, she wrapped her arms around me and turned her face into my neck as she soaked my shirt with tears.
Resting my cheek against her hair, I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on her, holding her closer. I hated it when she cried. When she hurt, I hurt. Feeling her tremors of sorrow ripped me to shreds.
A couple steps before we reached my truck, the passenger side door came open, surprising the crap out of me because I’d totally forgotten about Julianna. Concern flooded her features as she popped ou
t onto the sidewalk with us.
“What’s wrong? Is she okay?”
At the question, Sarah lifted her face from my shoulder and blinked at Julianna before swerving her attention to me. “You’re on a date?”
“I think it just got postponed.” Meeting Julianna’s gaze, I winced. “Do you mind sitting in the back? It’s harder to maneuver her—”
“No, that’s fine,” Julianna was quick to answer. “Whatever she needs.” She was even as helpful as to hold open the front door for us as I slipped Sarah into the passenger seat. Then she hurried to fetch Sarah’s wheelchair.
“Thanks,” I said before folding it and hefting it up to lay it in the bed of my truck.
When I turned back, Julianna was still there, wringing her hands as she watched Sarah pull on her seat belt through the opened door.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but what came out sounded more like, “Can you hang here with her for a second? I’ll be right back.”
While Julianna began to nod, Sarah snaked out her hand and caught my arm. “No.”
My bicep tensed under her grip. “Sarah,” I started.
But she shook her head. “Don’t go back up there.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” I fumed. “That fucker has to pay for what he did.”
She snorted out an incredulous laugh and shook her head. “You don’t even know what he did.”
“I don’t have to. You’re upset, and that’s enough to make me want to break his face.”
“Brandt, please.” A sob caught in her throat and more tears spilled down her cheeks. “I just want to go home.”
Pain wound so tight through my chest I could barely breathe. The one thing I could never handle was her tears. She rarely cried, so when she finally allowed them to fall, it was that much more devastating to me. Helpless frustration roared through me until I wanted to pound my fist against my truck.
I still itched to storm my way back up to the fifth floor and avenge her, but I heeded her wishes and waited until both ladies were shut inside before moving around to the driver’s side and climbing behind the wheel.
No one said a word while I started the engine and pulled out into traffic. Another minute passed. The only sound came from Sarah as she sniffed through her quiet tears. Finally, a throat cleared from the backseat.
“So...I’m Julianna.”
Sarah turned her head enough to acknowledge the greeting. “Sarah,” she murmured.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much. Brandt says you’re his best friend.”
I glanced over my shoulder into the back at her, wondering what she was talking about. She hadn’t heard “so much” about Sarah. Colton had mentioned her one time around Julianna, and that was it. When I met her gaze, however, she only shrugged, letting me know she hadn’t been sure what else to say. Then she added, “I work at Forbidden with him.”
Sarah nodded. “Our brothers used to work there together. That’s how we met.”
That was about all the friendly small talk I could stomach. “Do you mind if I drop you off first, Juli?”
The glare she shot me told me what a rude jackass I was being, but I couldn’t help it. Violence was bubbling just under the surface of my skin. Nice was not in my vocabulary at the moment.
“That’s fine,” Julianna answered, despite her irritation.
I nodded. “Thanks.”
