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In slow motion, he stumbles back, as I lunge forward.
A delicate hand grabs my wrist, grounding me.
Bash shoves my chest, forcing me back.
Grabbing Nat’s hand, I look at my teammates holding Darby back.
“Get him out of my house.”
Bash’s voice is slow and steady when he speaks. “If that fucker even thinks about calling the cops, remind him who my dad is and what happens to rats. Got it?”
Darby rounds the corner and is finally out of sight.
I turn to look at Natalie and watch the exhaustion overtake her beautiful face as her legs go out from beneath her and I scoop her up.
I know with absolute certainty I am never going to be able to let her go.
15
Natalie
Brady scoops me up and carries me into the house, then sits on the couch with me on his lap.
I sit there for a minute with my head buried in his shoulder, then wipe my face on the sweatshirt I’m wearing. Remembering its Darby’s hoodie, I pull it up and over my head, throwing it on the floor. Then I lay my head against Brady’s solid chest. “Burn that, please.”
Brady tries to laugh, but it comes out painful and strained. He runs his hand over my hair, and I wince as he touches the bump on the back of my head.
Then laying my head back on his chest, I close my eyes. I’m awake, just sitting here, trying to get my bearings.
I listen to everyone moving around and talking in hushed voices in the background.
Cooper especially.
Tiffany is trying to calm him down.
I’m surprised when I hear her say, “Cooper, stay out here with Murphy and Bash. Try to get it together before you step foot inside that house and bring your anger anywhere near your sister.”
“Chloe, snap the heck out of it and come inside with me. Let’s see if she needs girls to talk to right now. We don’t have any idea what happened or how traumatized Natalie is.”
I may have underestimated this girl. Maybe my first impression of her was wrong. Then I think about what she said.
Am I traumatized?
I don’t think so.
I was scared, and my adrenaline was running insanely high. I’ve never hit someone before, and I don’t believe that I’ve ever been terrified of anyone physically hurting me before tonight, either.
Hopefully, it’s not something I ever feel again. Maybe being sheltered by my family isn’t so bad after all.
Chloe squats down in front of me, and Tiffany stands by her side. They both look me over.
Chloe is the first to speak. “Do you want to tell us what happened, Nat? Do we need to call the police?”
“No. We don’t need to call the cops. I don’t want to talk about it right now, though.” I take a deep breath in and slowly blow it out. “I’m okay. I think I was more scared than anything.” I feel Brady’s arms tighten slightly around me.
It feels like safety. “I don’t know what I was thinking earlier. Going to the beach with him was stupid.”
Tiffany jumps all over that statement. “You should be able to walk on a beach with a guy without having to worry about whether or not he’s going to hurt you. You didn’t do anything wrong, and screw anybody that tells you differently.”
