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“Yeah?” says Lonnie, smiling a little. “You don’t listen to pop music?”
“No, I listen to that too. But I love classical. I find it really moving.”
Despite this shared interest, Lonnie doesn’t talk much as he drives me home. So I’m surprised when we reach my apartment building and he gets out, too.
“I’ll walk you to your door,” he says when I look at him questioningly.
“Oh, you don’t need to, Lonnie. Thanks.”
And yet he continues to walk with me up to the building. I’m a little uncomfortable with it, but I tell myself that he’s just trying to make sure I’m safe. When I reach the front door of the building, I get my keys out but I don’t let myself in yet.
“Thank you for the ride,” I say.
“I can pick you up in the morning,” he says.
“That’s okay. I’ll get a ride.”
“From Mason?”
My chest squeezes tight. There’s something very off about this conversation. “I don’t know. Probably.”
Lonnie clears his throat and takes a step forward, putting himself between me and the door. “You know, Haley, sometimes we think we know what we want. But it’s not always what’s best for us. You deserve to be with a real man, not a boy.”
What the fuck is he talking about?
“I’d like for you to leave, now, Lonnie,” I say, trying to stay calm.
“What, I don’t even get a chance? Come on. That’s not fair.”
I grip my keys tightly. My mind is spinning.What the hell do I do? I take a step back, and Lonnie steps forward, looking like he might grab me.
“Go away!” I yell.
“Lower your voice, Haley,” he hisses. “I’m not—” He lets out a frustrated noise. “Just give me a chance.”
“No.” My eyes flick up to the apartment building above me. “Mason! Help!”
Panic comes into Lonnie’s eyes. He grabs my arm. “Stop it.”
“Mason!” I scream again, fighting to free myself.
“Stopit, Haley. Shut your goddamn mouth.”
I don’t know how Mason gets there so fast, but suddenly there he is, bursting out of the lobby of our apartment building. His arrival is enough to make Lonnie let go of my arm and flee. As I rush forward into the safety of Mason’s strong arms, the sound of Lonnie’s car peeling away fills the freezing winter air.
7
MASON
I kiss the top of Haley’s head, holding her tightly in my arms as she rests against my chest. We’re inside her apartment now, standing in her living room. She just told me about everything that happened, from her car not starting to Lonnie giving her a ride home to him turning out to be a total fucking creep. I’m full of protective rage, so angry that people like Lonnie think and act the way they do.
I close my eyes for a second, shifting my focus to being grateful that Haley is safe. I’m never going to let anything happen to her. That’s my job. My role. I’m going to keep her safe, and happy, and wanting for nothing.
And right now, I can tell that what she wants and needs more than anything is rest. The poor girl is exhausted, both mentally and physically.
“You should get some sleep, Haley,” I say, gently rubbing her arm.
She looks up at me with tired eyes. “But our date…”
