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We spent the night together, sleeping on the pullout sofa, while Frankie fell asleep on the loveseat. It felt like neither of us wanted to be alone. I woke up to a flash, and Jordan stood above us.
“Kodak moment,” he said.
I flipped him off and tossed a pillow at his head. “Get out.”
Jordan laughed on his way to his room and shut the door, none the wiser of anything going on with us. I didn’t think telling him would help, so I didn’t. Plus he had a big mouth and I didn’t trust him not to let it slip.
Josie stirred when I pulled her closer to me. “Josie,” I whispered.
“Yeah?” she answered.
I pressed my nose into the crook of her neck, smelling the sweet scent of her soap. “I have to get ready for work. I’m working all day at Artie’s. Can you please stay in today?”
Josie sighed and turned to face me. I noticed the swelling underneath her eyes as if she’d cried herself to sleep. “Baby,” I whispered.
“I can’t stay in forever, Maverick. I have homework to do, a study group at the library today—,”
“Go with someone. What time is it? I’ll try to be back to walk you—,”
She shut her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks. “How long do you think we’ll be able to do this?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I have to keep you safe. Just trust me, we’ll figure something out.”
She didn’t believe me. I saw it in the way her mouth turned down into a frown. “I got paid yesterday. I’ll leave some money for takeout. You and Frankie call me if you need anything.Please.”
“Okay.”
I hated leaving her there stuck in her apartment. None of this was her fault. I pulled up to Artie’s at ten with doughnuts and coffee. I let Artie talk about the antique auction, and our game most of the morning.
I found myself busy pricing new items and unboxing his finds from the auction. It helped me forget about everything for just a while. Artie’s cane hobbled down the aisle and stopped at the storefront window. I glanced up at him, watching as he stared down the art gallery across the road.
“Look at that smug—,”
I looked up, seeing Derek stare at him from the window of the gallery. Chills raced down my spine.Does he know I work here?I wasn’t sure, but he knew about Josie and I. Not to mention it was Saturday and she wasn’t at the morning class like promised.
Artie scoffed and flipped him off.
I nearly jumped forward and pushed his arm down. “Artie,” I warned. “You don’t know that guy. Didn’t you say you thought he sold drugs?”
Artie smirked. “I dare him to come over here. I’ll show him where else I can put this cane.”
Derek stood in the window, hands shoved into his pockets as he watched us. If he hadn’t known I worked here, he did now. I couldn’t see his facial features from the distance, but I could picture the smug look on his face.
It was the same one he used when dragging me to his car and shoving me into his truck. The same one I knew he wore as he beat me to my attempted death. I knew I could take him now, but I couldn’t risk my scholarship, or losing guardianship of Frankie. All it took was one bad move on my part and we’d be where he wanted.
With Josie unprotected to do whatever he’d planned to do with her in the first place.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Josie
Monday morning rolled around, and my nerves fluttered when I walked into the writing center. Even with Maverick walking me to the door, the fact he had to walk clear across campus scared me.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “Of course.”
Maverick leaned down and kissed my mouth softly. “I’ll meet you at the fountain after this class, okay?”
