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Turning left, I started with all the usual places we hung out. This wasn’t the first time Simon had gone off the rails, but last time, I’d at least been there and known. I felt like a horrible friend at the moment for having missed this, too wrapped up in my own head to pay attention.
The year I didn’t like to think about, much less remember, was the last time Simon had disappeared for a few days, until I found him stranded in a Motel 6. He still hadn’t told me what occurred, just that it hadn’t been good, and they’d taken his money and phone. He was bruised and smelled of old trash, but I was just so happy to have found him, I gave in and dropped it.
Now, I was kicking myself for never asking more. Maybe he secretly had a gambling problem? Perhaps he had online hook-up orgies? Was he secretly training to be a drag queen? Or maybe, he was part of a weird cult? Fight club?
It really could be endless when it came to Simon, the man was unpredictable.
Driving by his parent’s house, I didn’t see his car, so I kept going. Next, I tried our favorite restaurant, park, and even the library. It had already been an hour, and I was running low on gas and ideas.
Attempting to try one more place, I turned around and prayed I’d make it there. It was about ten minutes later when the worst thing that could happen, happened.
“No, no, no, Betty. Come on, girl.”
Despite my encouragement, the sputtering and deceleration of the car continued, and I soon found myself pulling over on the side of the road as the car died a slow death. Dropping my head to the wheel, I sucked in a few breaths as I attempted to reign in my emotions. The tears burned my sinuses as I kept them at bay.
“It’s going to be okay. You can do this, Lennox. You can. You’re tough and capable. You don’t need a man to do this for you.”
Feeling determined, I lifted my head, resolute in finding a solution. When I turned to open my door, I screamed, jumping back as I clutched my chest to slow my heart.
“Cheese on toast! You scared the crap out of me, you big meanie head.”
His deep resounding chuckle filtered through the closed door, the sound determined to make me tingle where the sun didn’t mingle. Narrowing my eyes, I tried to persuade my body to stop having a hay day and remember we hated him, for reasons unknown, but we did.
“Talk to yourself a lot there, James? Looks like you could use a hand.”
“Sorry, what? I can’t hear you.”
I cupped my ear, attempting to fake not being able to hear, not wanting to admit anything to him. His smirk confirmed what I feared. He didn’t buy it for a second. Sighing, I rolled the window down painstakingly slowly as I attempted to act put out by him being there. The squeak of the handle with each turn had the hair on my arms raising at the sound. I think dogs in the whole state of Kentucky heard the window whine.
“Peach, this car is a piece of shit, and I think it’s finally decided to die. You need to put it out of its misery.”
“What?” I couldn’t even form words. My head was spinning as I tried to formulate a response back, fear crawling up my throat at the thought. “No! She’s not. Betty just needs a rest. She’s a good girl.”
I caressed the wheel, attempting to soothe her hurt feelings, not caring that Tatzilla probably stared at me with ridicule. The crack of thunder overhead had me tensing, and I started to roll the window up as quickly as possible. My arm was cramping with each spin, but I managed to get it up.
He knocked on the window, causing me to jump again. My nerves were officially shot, and somehow, I kept forgetting he was there. How? No clue. I’d go with the brain injury again, despite being cleared by the doctor this morning.
“James. Come on.”
“No.”
Crossing my arms, I planned to stay in my car until I figured out a plan. He could go away and leave me to it. I’d think a lot clearer if he wasn’t distracting me with his hot bod voodoo.
“James! You have two seconds to get out of the car before I grab you myself. The storm is coming and moving fast. We need to go,now.”
Shaking my head, I kept staring at the front and decided to call my dad. It wasn’t handling it entirely by myself, but it was better than asking Tatzilla for help any day. Leaning over, I went to grab my purse and phone when my door was wrenched open.
I was beginning to seriously think the doctor had gotten it wrong because, again, it took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. Which unfortunately, allowed Tatzilla to gain the upper hand as I just stared blankly at him like a clueless kitten.
Slade’s head appeared in the open spot, his tattoos sharp against the grey interior. One second, I was staring at him, my mouth open, my phone and purse in hand, and the next, he was grabbing my keys, and then, well, me.
In one swift move, he’d grabbed me up by the legs and managed to bundle me in his arms as he pulled me out of the car. Squealing, I barely kept my balance and ahold of my purse as I went flying over his shoulder. He stomped off with a purpose, not wasting a second as I attempted to wrestle out of his grip.
Tatzilla sat me on the seat of his bike, tossed me a helmet, and straddled the beast in quick succession. When I felt the purr of the engine roar under me, I succumbed to my fate, not feeling brave enough to jump off. Quickly, I secured the helmet, threw my purse strap over my body, and shoved my phone in, just as he took off.
Grabbing a hold of him, I ignored how his body felt as I gripped him tightly. My body shook, the adrenaline and impending storm sending me into a tailspin. The crack of thunder had me huddling into his back, my face burrowing into his shirt, his smell invading my nostrils. I expected to be disgusted, but I found it soothing, like a warm blanket around a fire.
When we came to a stop at a stoplight, I felt him place his hands over mine for a brief second before we were taking off again. The small gesture comforted and confused me enough that my body stopped shaking the rest of the trip.
