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Sloane?
Ha!
I’d rather walk barefoot over crushed glass all the way home than ask her for anything.
And that’s at least ten miles.
Jasper’s house is situated in a subdivision of mansions outside the city limits and on the gently rolling hills of a golf course. Our houses couldn’t be any farther apart if we tried. Ironically, it’s the perfect metaphor to describe our lives.
Just as I’m about to turn onto the street that leads out of the subdivision and onto the main county road, bright headlights fall on me and my belly plummets to my toes.
DELILAH
For a moment, I consider diving headfirst into the trees and tall weeds that flank the sides of the road to hide, but whoever it is has already seen me. My muscles fill with paralyzing tension as the vehicle pulls alongside me and slows.
Please don’t let it be Jasper.
There’s no way I’ll be able to fight him off for a second time tonight. Especially out here where no one will hear my screams.
The thought is terrifying.
Cool night air stings my lungs, getting clogged at the back of my throat as I swivel my head and peer through the open window. As soon as my eyes collide with green ones, my body wilts in relief.
Thank god.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful to see Austin Hawthorne.
“What the hell are you doing out here?”he snaps.
It takes a few moments to find my voice and force out a response. “Walking home.”
His brows pinch together as anger rolls across his expression. “Why would you do that?”
I’m conflicted about telling him the truth. I know exactly what will happen if I do. He’ll go back to that party and beat the shit out of Jasper. Even though I’m upset and angry, I don’t want to drag Austin into my problems. It’ll only escalate the simmering tension between them.
When he continues to stare, patiently waiting for a response, I say, “I didn’t want to stay at the party.”
It’s not a lie.
It’s just not the full truth either.
His lips press together as he studies me, seeming to peer beneath the surface. My heartrate kicks up its tempo. This time for different reasons. It would be so much easier to breathe if his attention wasn’t focused solely on me.
“Where’s Jasper?”
“Drunk.”
Again, it’s not a lie.
“So, for some reason, you thought it would be a smart move to walk home by yourself at night?”
Not really, but it’s better than being raped.
When another breeze rattles the treetops, I wrap my arms around my middle and try to warm myself.
“Get in. There’s no way I’m going to let you walk home alone.”
I pause and consider my limited options. The last thing I want to do is put myself in another precarious situation. I was barely able to fight Jasper off and Austin is more muscular than my boyfriend. If he decides to attack me, there won’t be much I can do about it.
