AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey, gorgeous ladies,” he says as we near him. “Why don’t you skip the movie and let me show you a good time?”
Jessa doesn’t do well in these situations and moves closer to me. Me? I can handle my own. I had to learn how after what happened all those years ago.
Back then, I was weak, which allowedhimto break me. So, I learned self-defense, how to fight, and I know I can hold my own if I need to.
“Fuck off,” I tell him with a sugary-sweet smile. “And go find someone your own age.”
His smile falters, and he rushes toward us, making Jessa gasp.
“You’ve got some mouth on you, little bitch,” he seethes. “Maybe you need to be taught a lesson.”
“Come one more foot closer to me, and I’ll be the one teachingyoua lesson,” I warn, reaching into my pocket and pulling out my Taser.
He immediately freezes as I give it a little zap.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, jackass.” I pocket my Taser and pull Jessa into the theater.
Once inside, I let out a shaky exhale while Jessa gapes at me. She looks pale, her eyes wide and full of fear.
“I love you to death, but did you really have to threaten to zap him?” she asks, her eyes wide. “We could’ve just gone inside.”
I shake my head as I approach the ticket box. “Next time he thinks about treating women like shit, the thought that they could have a Taser in their pocket will be in the back of his mind. And maybe, just maybe, that’ll stop him from doing whatever he was going to try to do to us, which I know wouldn’t have been good.”
“He could’ve just been all talk,” she points out as she nervously peers around.
“Maybe, but … people like him … it’s all about having power over someone else. He says that sort of stuff to make others feel helpless because it makes him feel better about himself.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” She grows quiet, probably trying to work through her fear.
I force myself to move past it. Tonight, I can’t be afraid. Tonight, I refuse to let fear own me, even if it’s just for one night.
“Two tickets toTitanic,” I tell the person at the ticket stand.
They start typing the info into the computer, and while they do, Jessa moves closer to me and whispers, “Wait—what if your mom tracks your phone?”
“I’m going to power it down,” I tell her. “But before I do, I’ll text her and tell her I don’t want it to make any noise during the movie.”
“She’s going to be mad at you,” she warns.
“I know, but I’ll deal with the consequences later,” I say. “She’ll still let me stay here as long as Ellis is right outside.”
“True.” She continues to eye the place and the groups of people who look extremely casual compared to us.
As I’m paying for the tickets, I dig out my phone from my jacket pocket and send my mom the message. Then, right before I turn the phone off, I receive a message that throws my entire night off balance.
Ryder: I’ve been sitting here, trying to decide how to send you this because I know no matter how I word it, you’ll get pissed. But whatever, it needs to be sent. I saw you walking out of the house, all dressed up, and I have this feeling that you’re not just hanging out with Jessa like your mom said. Whatever big plans you have for tonight, don’t go through with them. You have no idea how much you are at risk right now. And while I know you won’t, I would appreciate if you called me. Please.
I stare at the message in total shock. Is he kidding me right now?
“What?” Jessa says, leaning over my shoulder to read the message on my screen. She frowns, worry creasing her features. “What the hell do you think he means by that?”
I shrug, putting my phone back into my pocket. “Nothing. I’m sure he just wants to scare me.”
It’s what I really believe—that Ryder sent the message because he doesn’t want me going out and doing things when I’m supposed to belong to him. But he doesn’t get that I won’t ever belong to him, even after the fate ceremony.
No matter what fate tells me, I’ll never belong to anyone.
* * *
