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“Okay, I guess.”
We walked to the small parking lot on the side of the diner where his beat-up Ford was parked.
“Is that thing roadworthy?” I eyed it warily.
“Get in, Torrence,” he ordered, and I complied, wanting to get out of the cold.
“So this is new,” I said when he climbed inside.
“Look, I thought you could use a friend. What they did…”
“Did you know?” Malachi had encouraged my relationship with Evan. It made no sense that he would know, but a lot of things didn’t make sense these days.
“I figured it out.”
I sat back, hands clasped in my lap. “Oh.”
“They just wanted to protect you, Becca.”
“Don’t, okay?” I let out a heavy sigh. “They lied, Malachi. They hurt me;hehurt me.”
“I know. Shit, I know.” He fired up the engine, and the car whirred to life. “Do you want to go somewhere?”
Did I? My social life was non-existent thanks to Scarlett and Evan. Even Lilly—although I expected it to happen—was back in Scarlett’s corner, and I had no one again.
“What did you have in mind?”
Mom and Dad would flip when I texted them to say I wouldn’t be home, especially on a school night, but I couldn’t find it in me to care right now. I caught a hint of a smile on Malachi’s lips as he pulled out of the parking lot and turned onto the street.
“You’ll see.”
* * *
Heat clung to me, licking my skin, as the room vibrated with the force of the bass.
“They’re good, right?” Malachi yelled over the music.
I grinned over at him and nodded, rocking on the balls of my feet. Someone’s arm brushed my back, and I inched closer to Malachi. The place was small and busy; so busy I’d felt anxious at first, being among so many people, strangers. But once the band started and the first beat played, my anxiety washed away. No one paid me any attention. To them, I was just another reveler out to enjoy the music.
I was no one.
It was refreshing, and it was exactly what I needed.
As the tempo increased, the crowd surged forward like waves crashing against the shore. Malachi’s chest ended up squashed to my back. But better him than anyone else.
After six or seven songs, the lead vocalist, a huge guy with shaggy brown hair wearing a tight ‘Rock My Life’ t-shirt, announced they were taking five.
“Drink?” Malachi really wasn’t a guy of many words.
“Sure. Lead the way.”I was thirsty, and my tank top had molded to me like a second skin, but everyone looked the same—hot, sweaty, and completely at ease.
We pushed and shoved our way through the crush until we reached the bar. “Beer?”
I shrugged. One wouldn’t hurt.
“Here. It’s on me.” He handed me the bottle.
“Thanks,” I said, feeling more awkward now without the music and cheering crowd to blend into. “Do you come here a lot?”
