AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s not okay!” I yell back, slamming my hand against the steering wheel. “Goddammit,” I curse under my breath.
“I’m fine,” she says, but when I look her way, her eyes are blank.
It scares the shit out of me. She’s cold. She’s so fucking cold.
I slam on the brakes and pull the car over on the side of the road. I hop out of the truck and run to the other side, yanking the door open. “Get out!”
“What?” she asks, not listening to me.
I reach in the truck, unbuckling her seatbelt and lifting her out of the truck by her waist.
“What are you doing?” she protests.
I set her down on the ground and wrap my arms around her, squeezing her close up against my chest.
She tries to push me away. “Stop! I don’t need this!”
I squeeze her tighter. “I don’t care.”
“No! I don’t need this! Let me go!” she cries, her voice hoarse. She pounds against my chest. “Let me go!”
I squeeze her tighter, pulling her head up against my chest, lowering my voice to a whisper. “Thea, please let me in.”
Her body finally goes slack as she leans into me, her fingers grabbing onto my shirt for support. I pull her against me harder as she buries her face in my chest. “Mack…” her voice cracks.
“I know,” I say, running my hand down the back of her head. “I got you.”
Her body trembles in my arms as silent tears run down her face. We stand there on the side of the road until our breathing syncs up and the tension leaves her body. I kiss her forehead, pushing her hair back and wiping away the few tears that are running down her face. “I’m sorry, Thea.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
It’s more than just tonight. I should have protected her. If I didn’t start this whole fucked up situation between us, then maybe I could have prevented this. I need to make things right. I’m just not sure how.
I give her a forced smile. “So how about that date?”
She rolls her eyes, but a hint of a smile appears before she turns back to the truck. “Take me bowling. I want to get drunk.”
Chapter 25
Mack
“I’m going to the bathroom to clean up while you get the shoes,” Thea says when we walk inside the dark bowling alley.
I get us set up on a lane, and pull out my phone to call Trevor.
“Hey man,” he answers. “What’s going on? What did he do this time?”
“He was just being a prick like usual. I needed to get her out of there. We’re at the bowling alley. She needs a distraction.”
“Agreed. I knew we shouldn’t have done this. Fuck,” he curses himself.
“It’s not your fault, dude. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
“Should I meet you there?” he asks.
“I think it’ll be best if she distances herself for the night. You know how she always blames herself for everything. I think it’ll be better if you let it blow over first.” Part of that is the truth, and part of it is because I’m being selfish in wanting a night alone with her even if the timing couldn’t be worse.
“Alright, I guess you’re right. Let me know if I can do anything.”
