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I make it to the stairwell and collapse on the floor, putting my face in my hands and breathing hard and angry.
The door opens, and I look up, bracing myself for Thad. It’s Ramie. She’s carrying two wrapped sandwiches and a few bags of chips. She hands me a sandwich as she slides to the floor next to me. Relief fills me that it’s her.
“That wasepic,” she says, reaching over to give me a high five. “I mean, you should have seen his face. He waspissed. He barked orders at us, then demanded to know where you went.”
“What did you tell him?” I ask, unwrapping my sandwich.
“We told him you were on the seventh floor taking your break.”
I turn to her. “We don’t have a seventh floor.”
“I know,” she says. “Watching him take off to find you was funny, though. That should keep him busy for a while.”
I snort. “Thanks.”
“Here.” She tosses me a bag of chips.
I sigh. “Is it too much to ask to be respected?” I ask, then take a bite of my sandwich.
“From people like him? Yes. We’ve got your back.”
“Thanks,” I whisper with relief. “This is good.” I didn’t realize how hungry I was.
Thad isn’t going to let this go.
* * *
I do my best to avoid Thad for the rest of my shift. Much to the scheduler’s dismay, I even refused to take the extra shift. I grabbed my stuff and headed out when Thad shows up and grabs my arm as I walk out of the locker room.
“Get over here,” he bites out, trying to drag me by my arm off to the side. “We’re going to talk about that little stunt you pulled earlier.”
I shake my arm loose. “Don’t ever touch me,” I snap and glare at him. I turn and head to my car, walking quickly to get away from him. Fear chases through my veins, something I didn’t think I’d have toward Thad. Mostly I’ve just always thought he was a moron, but now I’m concerned for my safety and the staff at the hospital. Adrenaline pulses, and I walk so fast I’m almost running from him. I’m not taking any chances by remaining in his vicinity.
“You are such a dumb bitch!” he yells after me.
I’m almost to the safety of my car, my heart trying its best to climb out of my chest. His fingers dig into the flesh of my upper arm once more, pinching the skin, no doubt about to leave a mark. He tries spinning me back around to face him, but I don’t make it easy, struggling and squirming. I’m just about to scream at the top of my lungs, but before I can so much as get my mouth open, a wall is between Thad and me. Warm, hard, and smelling so familiar.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” SJ barks at Thad, shoving him so hard he falls on his behind, rearing back in fear.
“This is none of your concern,” he says angrily, scrambling to get up. “I’m talking to my girlfriend.”
“I’m not your girlfriend. I’ve repeatedly made that very clear, and you do not touch me,” I yell. SJ holds me firmly to his side.
He laughs bitterly. “What, you think you’re better off with this guy? The greasy mechanic? Don’t you work at the place I take my car?” He sneers at SJ and looks at him like he’s beneath him.
SJ ignores him, looking at me. “Are you okay?”
“I just want to go home. He won’t leave me alone.” I shiver.
“Callie, get over here, now!” Thad snaps his fingers at me and points next to him.
“You don’t get it, man,” SJ says. “I know you can’t be this stupid.”
“Oh, what don’t I get?” he goads.
“If you touch her again, it’ll be the last fucking thing you do.” SJ is eerily calm.
“She’s too good for you,” Thad spits out.
