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Elodie’s cell beeped, and she pulled it out of her pocket, but as soon as she read whatever was on there, her shoulders tensed. “Everything okay?” I asked, placing my hand on the bottom of her back and leading her through the shop. We didn’t need to stand here where everyone could hear us—hear her.
“Yeah.” Her fingers typed away, and the sent-message sound whooshed out as I opened the front door. “It was Leo asking if I got my car.”
“Leo?” I pulled my keys out of my pocket and clicked the button to open the locks on my truck. “My Leo?”
Elodie snorted. “I totally forgot you knew Leo like that.” I pulled open the door for her and held my hand out to help her up. I boosted her up into the seat and closed the door behind her.
“Where to?” I asked, turning the engine on.
There was a beat of silence and then, “Do you know the trailer park over on Sixth?”
I pulled out of the parking space I was in and headed toward the end of the street, knowing exactly where she was talking about. “Yep,” I answered her and turned the volume down on the stereo system.
She was quiet most of the drive until I pulled into the trailer park. She told me where her trailer was, and once we were parked outside of it, she turned and asked, “Please don’t tell anyone what happened today.”
“I—”
“By anyone, I mean Leo.” She undid her belt and turned in her seat. “He’s my only friend and—”
“That’s the exact reason you should tell him.” I met her stare, not willing to bullshit her. After what I’d seen happen to her, it would have been easy for me to nod and go along with what she wanted, but I wasn’t that kind of guy. I wasn’t the person who would do something for an easy life. Hence why I was driving her home.
“I know, but…” She sighed. “You’re right. It’s not as if he doesn’t know what Knox is like anyway.”
She let her head drop back, and I frowned at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It was Knox who pushed Leo into the lockers.” Her eyes closed, and she looked so at peace but also like she was fighting to stay alive. “And that was my fault too. I shouldn’t have made friends with Leo. He wouldn’t have gotten hurt, then. It’s my fault—”
“Stop,” I demanded, my tone firm but low. I couldn’t resist not touching her any longer, so I reached over and grasped her hand in her lap. “It’s not your fault.” Her eyes opened, and she turned her head so she was focused on me. “Don’t take the blame for him. Never take the blame for anyone else.”
I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles and gritted my teeth at the softness of her skin. I wondered if her skin was this soft everywhere?
“You can only control what you do, Elodie, not what everyone else does.” I leaned closer to her, fully aware people were probably watching. “You do you, sweetheart. Ain’t nothin’ else you can control but that.”
She swallowed and gripped my hand. “Thanks, Asher. I mean it.”
“You need me again, you just call. Got it?” She nodded in answer and let go of my hand, but I knew deep down she wouldn’t call. She was a loner, a survivor, someone who never relied on anyone else. “I’ll get your car here for you by the morning.”
“Okay.” She pushed open the passenger door, took one last look at me, and got out of the truck.
I couldn’t do anything but stare at her as she went inside the trailer. I wished I’d been able to do more. Wished I could have kept her safe. Wished she didn’t have to put up with the shit I assumed she had to deal with. But that was the problem. I was assuming I knew, but I didn’t, not right then. But I would. I’d find out and figure out a way to help her, whether she liked it or not.
* * *
ELODIE
My eyes hadn’t even opened, and already, the pain ricocheting throughout my body was almost unbearable. I opened my eyes and wished I hadn’t. I could feel that my left eye was swollen, and I ran my tongue over my bottom lip, silently cursing when the sting from the cut made me wince.
Fuck. I hadn’t ever felt this beat up. I wanted to laugh, but only because the alternative was to cry, and I was afraid if I let the tears slip, I wouldn’t be able to stop.
I rolled over and groaned, just as my cell beeped for the second time. I had no idea what time it was, but I’d known when I got into my bed last night that I wouldn’t be going to school today—not after what happened. My body ached in places I had no idea it could ache, and the thumping of my head felt unlike anything else. And it was all because I’d stood up to Knox. Part of me was proud, but the other part was still terrified. He’d whispered, “This isn’t over,” in my ear a second before he’d been pulled off me, and I had no doubt he meant it.
But I couldn’t bring myself to care. I’d told myself time and time again that all I had to do was see it through to the end of the school year, but we were only just coming into October, and the thought of another seven to eight months wasn’t realistic. I couldn’t keep taking what he wanted to dish out, so I’d take the pain I felt right now because I was sure it would save more in my future.
My cell screen was lit up, so I reached for it slowly, feeling a twinge in my side as I did. And as soon as I saw who the message was from, a smile stretched on my face.
Leo: You okay? I didn’t see you at school this morning.
I unlocked my cell and typed a reply.
