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They’d been out together? On a date? Jealousy burned through me, and I inched forward. Malachi’s hands flew up, the color draining from his face.
“Whoa, whoa, not like that. It’s nothing like that.” His line of sight dropped to my fists, pressed against my thighs. “I thought she could use somewhere to go, like a safe place.”
“A safe place?” What the fuck was he talking about?
“I go there sometimes. After Ami, and the shit with Kendall, I needed somewhere. You know, away from everyone at school, from the usual hangouts. They have live bands. The music, it—”
“And you thought it would be a good idea to take Becca there?”
He nodded, rubbing his thumb over his jaw. “But I think it was a mistake.”
“You’d better start talking, now,” I barked, and a couple of kids looked over. “Not here.” I started toward the side of the building, away from prying eyes and listening ears.
When we were out of sight, he said, “I thought she’d hang out, enjoy the music, but she was right there in the thick of it, being thrown around like a rag doll.”
“What the fuck?”
“It’s mostly rock, grunge, that type of thing. You know the sort.”
I ran a hand over my head and grimaced. “She was there alone?”
“Like I said, I screwed up. I thought she’d go hang out at the bar and watch the bands. I didn’t think she’d get so involved.”
My eyes snapped to his. Nothing about that option sounded like a good idea either, not to me. Not if she was alone. It made her an easy target.
“The owner is a good guy, his staff are good guys, and I told them to keep an eye on her. I thought she’d be safe, but now I’m not so sure. It’s like she doesn’t care. Last Thursday, I managed to drag her out before she got hurt. She crashed, and I drove her home, but she was there Tuesday too, and last night, she went alone. I swear I didn’t think she would. I told her I wouldn’t be there.”
The more he talked, the more I wanted to punch something, preferably his face. He’d taken Becca—my Becca—to a bar on the outskirts of town and what? Hoped she’d make some friends? Let loose a little? It was exactly the kind of place she didn’t need to be—full of drunken idiots, looking to let loose and work off their stress on a pretty, unsuspecting girl.
When I didn’t speak, Malachi let out a long breath. “It was a mistake, okay? I get that now. I thought she could do with a place to go where no one knew her. She’s hurting, Porter. She’s hiding it well, but underneath, she’s barely holding on.”
He thought I didn’t know that? Of course, I knew it. I saw it every time I looked at her. It was the reason that I’d used Eli against her, in hopes of trying to get her to lower her guard and forgive me. To let me back in.
“Did you tell her not to go back there?”
He cocked his eyebrow. “You think she’d listen?”
No. I didn’t. Becca was determined to shut everyone out and do things on her own.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll handle it.”
“How?” My eyes narrowed, and lips tugged up in a small smile. “Okay, whatever you say. It wouldn’t surprise me if she shows up Sunday.”
I nodded, and he started to walk off, but I called, “Listen, I get it. I do. And thanks, yeah? She needs people looking out for her.”
She would fight me at every turn, but maybe she related to something in Malachi. I didn’t like it—hell, I couldn’t stand the thought of her turning to someone who wasn’t me—but Becca hadn’t grown up in Credence.
Malachi tipped his chin and disappeared around the corner, but I hung back.
I needed a minute.
Leaning back, I pressed one boot against the brick wall and tilted my head up, letting the cool air wash over me. I was used to being alone. And until Becca, I’d preferred it that way. Keeping people at arm’s length saved me from more disappointment. But it was too late now. Becca was in my head and under my skin. So I would give her space and time to come around because I couldn’t lose her.
I wouldn’t.
* * *
She’s there.
