by R. Linda
I searched through her backpack and my bag and came up empty. I checked the floor, the seat, everywhere. Nothing.
We’d left her hoodie at school, balled up in her locker. No wonder she was sitting inside, a complete mess. There were three customers I noticed in my rush to get out to the car, the waitress, Ryder, and I was sure there was someone else floating around the back. There always was.
I needed to get her out of there. Locking my car, I ran back inside to see Ryder whispering to Harper in the corner. She looked at Audrey, rolled her eyes, and held up her finger to indicate she’d be back in a minute, before darting up the stairs to her apartment above the diner.
I walked over to Audrey, stood behind her, and pressed my chest against her back. She leaned back into me, so I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I just wanted to get you out of there.” I looked around, trying to find something I could give her to wrap around herself in place of her hoodie, but there was nothing. It was me, or my shirt. That was all I had to offer. “Want my shirt?”
“Dude! Keep your clothes on,” Ryder hissed and stepped behind the counter to grab me a bottle of water. “Harper’s coming back.” He walked into the kitchen.
I tightened my arms around Audrey protectively and used my body to shield her from the view of the other customers, the ones who weren’t even paying her any attention or looking in her direction. Most people, honestly, usually looked straight past her. Their eyes may linger for a second—out of shock, I guessed—before they’d move on and not give her a second glance. This fear of people staring at her was entirely in her head. Most days she seemed to improve and was able to push the feeling aside, but for whatever reason, today she was struggling.
“Here.” Harper’s voice was soft as she stopped beside us and held out her hand. “It’s Nate’s.”
I took the material from her, noticing it was a grey hoodie. It was huge, perfect for Audrey. “Thank you.”
I placed the jacket around Audrey’s shoulders, raised her trembling arms and pushed them into the sleeves, and smiled when she took a deep, shaky breath to calm herself down.
“Want to go for a walk?” Harper asked Audrey.
I opened my mouth to say something, to stop her, wanting to keep Audrey with me where I could look after her, but Harper smiled and nodded reassuringly. “Bennett, you can bring the food out when it’s ready.”
“Where?”
“Out the back. You’ll see.” She grabbed Audrey’s hand. “Come on, I’ll show you my favourite spot.”
They left, so I sat at the counter and contemplated calling Brody. He’d want to know his girlfriend had a panic attack. He’d also probably walk out of work and come straight down here to see her. I’d wait, get her to eat something, and then decide whether he needed to know now or later.
Ryder returned from the kitchen a few minutes later with a bag. “Wrapped it up for you. And made her a fresh shake.” He handed over the food and paper cup full of sickly coloured milk.
“Any idea where they went?” I stuck my nose in the bag and inhaled the fried goodness. “Bacon burgers?”
“Breakfast.” Ryder shrugged by way of answering. “The tower.” He pointed through the kitchen to the back door.
“What tower?”
“You’ll see.”
I laughed. “What’s with everyone around here not being able to give a straight answer?”
Ryder pinched his bottom lip and stared at me, still not saying a word. Then he clapped a hand on my shoulder and left. Figured. He wasn’t much for talking.
I grabbed the food and Audrey’s milkshake and snuck through the kitchen and out the back door, into the field behind the roadhouse.
There was an old car rusting on a patch of dirt, and dry, yellow grass as tall as my knees. Someone badly needed to get the ride-on out and cut it. A few patches of flowers grew. I didn’t know what sort. They were blue. Maybe purple. And trees lined the property border. I’d never noticed how big the property really was until right then.
I looked around, trying to locate Harper and Audrey anywhere, but they were completely out of sight, and then I remembered Ryder said something about a tower.
I squinted up at the water tower on the left side of the field. No way.
There was Audrey, perched at the top with Harper, and if my eyes weren’t mistaken, she was laughing. It wasn’t often that she smiled or laughed with other people because she was so self-conscious about her appearance, but when she did, it made my heart stutter. Shit, I sounded like a freaking girl.
I held the bag of food between my teeth and Audrey’s milkshake carefully in the other hand and climbed the rickety old ladder to the top.
Pausing to catch my breath, I handed Audrey the food and drink and looked around. The view was incredible. Down in the far corner, I could just make out a stream, and I was sure if I walked around the other side of the tower, I’d be able to see all the way into town.
“This is your favourite place?” I asked Harper.
“Yep. I love it up here.” She smiled. “Anyway, I better go.”
“Don’t leave on my account.” I held up my hands to stop her.
“No, I have to study before I go to work tonight, anyway. I’ll see you guys later.” She stood and brushed off her pants before climbing down the ladder.
I sat next to Audrey and picked up her hand. “You okay?”
“Better.”
“What happened?”
She shrugged in response. “I don’t know. I can’t explain that one.”
She never had an attack come on for no reason, like this morning, and that was what scared me the most. Usually, she’d be able to pinpoint what sparked the anxiety and deal with it, but it was alarming when she couldn’t figure it out.
I pulled out the two breakfast burgers Ryder had cooked. The dude really knew how to work a grill. Sunday night dinners at the Kellerman house tended to consist of Ryder’s burgers, and he had an unlimited number of types he liked to make, with different toppings, sauces, cheeses, salads. They were to die for. “Anything said in homeroom?”
“No more than usual.” She peeled back the wrapper and looked at the burger. Her lips twisted in disgust, and she folded it back up and put it down.
“I thought you were starving.”
“Lost my appetite.”
“Eat. You’ll feel better. It’s just your anxiety.” I picked up her burger and handed it back to her. “We’re not leaving here until you eat it all.”
And we didn’t.
We sat at the top of the water tower all day. Not speaking. Not eating. As much as I tried to convince her, my attempts were futile. We didn’t do anything until Brody showed up.
“Thanks, man.” He clapped me on the back when he reached the top of the tower. “I’ll take it from here.”
I pressed a kiss to Audrey’s head. “I’ll talk to you later.” And then I climbed down the ladder and left them alone.
Maybe Brody could figure out what caused her to freak out the way she did. That way, I’d be able to help her avoid another similar situation in the future.
I stopped by the workshop on my way out and spoke to Jeremy about shifts and when he wanted me to start.
“Soon as you can, man. With the kid on the way, Ryder will be even more tied up, and I need all the help I can get.”
I promised I’d start the next day after school. Anything to get away from my father for longer periods of time.
I left the roadhouse and drove around for a while, not wanting to go home, and not having anywhere else to go. I should have asked Jeremy if I could start work then instead of tomorrow.
Stopping my car at the top of the cliff, I climbed out and leaned against my door. Toying with my phone, I contemplated texting Christina, even though I knew I shouldn’t. It was wrong. We were over. And I was still pissed at her for leaving Audrey a mess in the bathroom. But I still wanted to see her, even after that stunt this morning.
She was suppo
sed to be a teacher. Any normal teacher would have cared enough to make sure Audrey was okay. The only thing I could think of that would cause Christina to ignore Audrey like that was jealousy. She had to be jealous of my friendship with Audrey…or she really was as big of a bitch as everyone made her out to be.
Chapter Nine
Christina
Bennett had ignored me all week, which both pleased me and pissed me off. I didn’t like being ignored. I wanted his attention, but I knew it was wrong, and I knew I needed to move on and forget I’d ever met him.
It was hard, though, because he flaunted Audrey in front of me, and I got the impression she didn’t like me very much. Perhaps because I left her to have a panic attack in the bathroom alone, but she wasn’t my problem. I’d managed to find out from Bailey that they were just friends, and Audrey had a boyfriend, but it still didn’t quell the jealousy. I couldn’t wait for the week to be over so I could hide away in my apartment and not have to see his handsome face, or her.
It was Thursday night, and I’d somehow been roped into the going out for dinner and drinks to farewell Bailey. I didn’t know what idiot organised goodbye drinks for a pregnant woman, but the last thing I wanted to do socialise with a bunch of pathetic forty-year-olds who probably still lived at home with their mothers…with the exception of Carter, the PE teacher.
I watched him from across the table as everyone waited for Bailey to arrive. For someone who lived by a schedule, I was amazed she hadn’t shown up yet.
Carter was handsome in a traditional way with his square jaw, deep-set brown eyes, and dark hair that was styled to perfection. He knew he looked good, but he didn’t seem to abuse it or use it to his advantage. He was laidback and easy to get along with. He also appeared to have the attention of everyone in the bar, myself included. The thought had crossed my mind that maybe he’d be an excellent way to rid myself of Bennett.
I shouldn’t be pining after a high school student.
I should be throwing myself at men like Carter.
“Here she is!” Carter smiled and climbed out of the both to greet Bailey with too much enthusiasm. He gave her a hug, kissed her cheek, and rubbed her stomach.
Ryder’s nostrils flared, his hands were fisted at his side, and even from where I was sitting, I could see the tick in his jaw and the vein pop in his neck as Carter touched his wife and child. Some things apparently never changed.
Carter introduced himself and shook Ryder’s hand, who looked at it in disgust at first before schooling his features and giving him an easy smile. Ryder dragged his gaze around the group until it landed on me.
If looks could kill.
His eyes narrowed, and his jaw twitched again. He took a step forward. Bailey, apparently sensing he was about to approach me or make a scene, placed a hand on his arm and stopped him with a barely noticeable shake of her head. He whispered to her, and she smiled at him before he walked over to the bar. He ordered drinks and chatted with the bartender, greeting him with a fist bump like they were good friends, before he returned with soda water for Bailey and a beer for himself.
I twisted uncomfortably in my seat. I felt out of place. I knew no one, not really. I’d only been at the school for four days. I didn’t know what I was thinking when I’d agreed to come out. I should have stayed home with my wine and popcorn and watched home reno shows.
I pulled my phone out and pretended to be texting, just to give myself something to focus on, when it buzzed in my hand, and Bennett’s name appeared in a text window.
Damn.
I really should delete his number, but that would seem so final.
Why did I finally have to meet a guy I liked, who was normal, and he turned out to be my student?
I could change schools.
I brushed that thought aside almost as soon as it occurred. No guy was worth ruining my career over, not even a six foot four, blond Adonis with a body that would rival any superhero.
I opened the message.
Bennett: Question the third. Do you ever just lay down and look at the stars?
What? I frowned at my phone. What was he talking about? If it weren’t for the fact it was a school night, I’d have thought he’d been drinking. Maybe something was wrong.
Christina: No. Are you okay?
Bennett: I’m the one asking questions, remember?
Christina: You haven’t said a word to me for days. Not since that episode with your girlfriend.
Bennett: She’s not my girlfriend. It wasn’t an episode. And you were a bitch. Just admit you’re jealous of Audrey, and I’ll move on.
Christina: I’m so not jealous. Why would I be? I’ve moved on.
Bennett: That quick, huh? Guess you haven’t changed since high school.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. High school. He knew what happened in high school. But how?
Christina: Don’t know what you’re talking about.
Bennett: You’re a sucky liar. I know about Bailey and your ex-boyfriend. I know everything.
If it was at all possible to feel the colour drain from your face, I did at that moment. I paled, and my stomach knotted. How could he know such a thing? His dad? Maybe, if my father opened his big mouth. But I doubted it.
Christina: How do you know about that?
I stared at my phone. He was playing with me. Again. I finished my drink and walked over to the bar for another one.
“Whoa, you might want to slow down, there,” Carter said when I gulped down the fresh glass of whiskey.
“Bad day.” It was a poor excuse, and it was more like a bad week. Month. Hell, a bad life. “I’ll be back.” I forced a smile and straightened. “Just need some air.”
“I’ll keep your seat warm.” Carter smiled, and for a moment, I thought about asking him to dance, but I didn’t want to lead him on. I knew what I said to Bennett was a total lie. I hadn’t moved on. Not even close. I was just trying to keep my distance.
I grabbed my drink that the bartender placed down with a scowl, and before I could wonder what his problem was, I walked out the side door and around the back of the bar.
There was an old park bench under a single light, so I sat there and tilted my head back to look at the stars. I’d never really done it before, and Bennett had me curious. It was a clear night, and the Milky Way was visible. It was beautiful.
I was pulled from my thoughts by my phone buzzing again.
Bennett: That’s for me to know. So, you’ve moved on, huh?
Christina: Yep. On a date right now, actually.
The lie came easily. Too easily, and that wasn’t a good thing.
Bennett: And you’re texting me? Must be boring.
Shit. I walked into that one.
Christina: He’s on a call.
Bennett: In the middle of a date? Douchebag.
Christina: It’s for work. He’s a doctor.
Bennett: Question the fourth. Can you see Orion?
Christina: What?
Bennett: In the sky.
Christina: I’m on a date, in a nice restaurant.
Bennett: Yeah, and I’m totally not watching you from the top of the water tower.
Water tower. What was he talking about? I looked around and squinted, and sure enough, in the distance, I could make out a water tower in the field. A soft glow flashed, probably from his phone.
Christina: What are you doing there?
Bennett: Uh uh uh. I ask the questions. Question the fifth. What are you doing at the roadhouse on a school night?
He was asking what I was doing on a school night. Why was he creeping around the back of the bar?
Christina: Date.
Bennett: *scoffs* He’s a keeper.
Christina: What’s the supposed to mean? Are you jealous?
Bennett: Not at all. Just wondering what kind of loser brings a date to the roadhouse.
Christina: And where would you take a date?
For a moment, I let myself imagine what a date with Bennett Sawyer would
be like. A real date, not a drink in sleazy bar. A date where he picked me up from my house and took me to a classy restaurant, not grabbing me and pushing me against the wall. Then maybe a walk along the beach in the moonlight or stargazing in a field like this one instead of sneaking into my house quietly in the middle of the night.
Bennett: Not a fucking roadhouse.
I climbed off the bench and moved in the direction of the water tower to speak to him when the back door opened, and Carter appeared on the back step.
Bennett: Who the hell is that?
Christina: My date.
I wasn’t sure if he could see me very well from up there on the tower, but I smirked and put my phone away.
Maybe for just a second, he’d feel the jealous rage I’d been feeling all week.
“Just thought I’d check on you. You should come inside. It’s not safe out here alone,” Carter said as he approached.
I smiled and ignored the buzzing of my phone in my pocket as I followed Carter back inside. I could feel Bennett’s eyes on me the entire way.
Back inside, Bailey and Ryder were at the bar talking to the bartender, who scowled at me again when I walked over to get a water.
“Christina, I didn’t expect you to come,” Bailey said as she put herself between Ryder and me. Probably to stop him from saying something. I knew how he felt about me and was sure if it was okay for a man to hit a woman, he’d have probably knocked me out a few times over the years.
I didn’t hold it against him. I just wished we could all move on. I was trying to be a better person and didn’t want the past to haunt me.
