Chapter 22
Bayleigh
My pulse still hasn’t settled by the time I reach the corner. Just a few more steps and I’ll be inside the league office. Safe and sound. Until I have to make my way back to my car.
This time I’m scanning the area in front of me as I clutch the folder tight to my body. I’m not letting anyone catch me off guard again.
Korbin Brooks. My hero. Never thought I’d be thinking those words. Yet here I am. And it’s a reality. How he happened to be there at the right time is a mystery. Fate maybe. Whatever the reason, I’m just glad he was.
Then all I could do was stand there, frozen like a statue, before signing ‘thank you’ and running away. He didn’t even know what I’d said.
I step up to the building, grasping the handle in my hand and open the door, rushing inside.
Safe. I’m safe now.
The receptionist looks up from her desk and gives a warm smile when she sees me. I lift my hand and wave. Thankful that Georgia is here today. She knows sign language, and it’s going to make turning in these papers so much easier.
I move swiftly across the room, stopping at her desk, setting my purse and the folder on top.
Good morning, Bayleigh. Your brother called and told us you’d be dropping off the paperwork.
She looks at me though, taking in my disheveled appearance, maybe the panicked look on my face, before her eyes drop to the folder, seeing the smear of red.
Are you okay? No offense, Bayleigh, but you look terrified.
I look away, blinking fast, because if I see too much concern in her eyes, I’ll fall apart.
Not really. But I am now. Just shaken. An alpha attacked me on the street.
She jumps from her seat, rushing around her desk, her arms wrapping around me. I fight not to cry, but a tear manages to slip, anyway. She holds me for a couple of minutes before pulling away.
We need to call the cops.
I swallow hard before responding.
No. It’s fine. Someone stepped in and rescued me, and the man ran away. I’m fine, really, just shaken up a bit.
Then we need to call your brother. I can see the adamancy in her face, the way her lips are pursed together and her forehead wrinkles as she frowns.
No. My head is already shaking as I sign. He doesn’t need to know; he’ll just worry. Let’s keep this between the two of us.
Fine. But I don’t like it. Benton should know.
My eyes drop to the folder, and I change the subject. Unfortunately, some of the papers I’m dropping off are dirty. Stained. But they are all there.
Don’t worry about them. Where are you parked?
In the garage around the corner.
Stay right here. I’m going to have Mr. Brigman, our security guard, drive you back to your car.
Thank you.
Some of the fear of having to step back on the street eases away.
Mr. Brigman shows up and leads me out front to his car and drives me back. He doesn’t leave until I’m safely inside my car.
I’ve just barely started it when I feel my phone buzz beside my leg. Looking at the screen, I see a name that sends a wave of warmth rushing through me—Lincoln.
Lincoln: Korbin called me. Told me what happened. Are you okay?
Lincoln: Where are you? If you need me, I can come to you. Just tell me, Bayleigh.
He called Lincoln. I didn’t expect that.
My thumbs fly across the keyboard as I message him back.
Me: I’m fine. Just shaken up still. I should’ve been paying better attention to my surroundings.
Me: In the car now. Safe and sound and getting ready to head home.
Lincoln: What were you doing there? Alone? That’s a bad area.
Alone? Well, that’s kind of my own fault. I should’ve had James with me, but I knew he was busy and, well, I wanted to prove to Benton that I didn’t need a babysitter. I didn’t know the area was that bad. Well, not as terrible as any other place in this town.
Me: Benton needed to turn in some papers from the charity event. He forgot to do it, and they needed them today. He was stuck in practice, so I volunteered to do it.
Lincoln: I don’t care if he forgot them. He shouldn't have sent you there alone.
Me: He didn’t. He told me to take James. But he was busy. I figured I’d be in and out. I didn’t expect anything to happen.
Me: But thankfully Korbin was there.
I don’t want him to be mad at Benton when it wasn’t his fault.
Lincoln: Korbin said you walked away from him. You should’ve stayed with him, let him take you to the office.
Me: He’s not my babysitter.
Lincoln: Thankfully he had the sense to follow behind you. He made sure you got inside the building safely.
He what? Followed me? Yet again, I wasn’t aware of him or my surroundings.
Me: Tell him thank you for me. But honestly Lincoln, I’m fine. Can we please drop this?
A second later, a new chat pops up—Group: Lincoln + Bayleigh + Milton.
Lincoln must’ve added us all together, probably trying to keep everyone up to date, but why Milton? I haven’t seen or heard from him since the event.
Lincoln: She’s safe.
There’s no reply from Milton yet. Just the little “seen” notification hanging there. Why would Milton care that I’m okay? Why are they talking about me and the incident amongst themselves?
Before I even get a chance to type anything, my phone vibrates in my hand with a message from Benton.
Guess he wants to make sure the paperwork got there in time.
I open the thread, and it’s not what I expected.
Benton: ARE YOU OKAY? DID YOU KNOW THE GUY? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? WHERE WAS JAMES? WHY WASN’T HE WITH YOU?
His message comes through in all caps, letting me know he’s yelling and he’s pissed. How the fuck did he find out?
My trembling fingers move fast, typing out a response.
Me: I’m fine. I didn’t know him. Just some jerk. James was busy, and I knew the paperwork needed to be turned in. I thought I’d be okay.
Me: How do you know what happened?
Benton: Lincoln called me.
What?
Me: Lincoln called you? How did he get your number?
Benton: I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m glad he did, because I doubt that you’d even tell me. Are you okay?
I exhale, the tension finally easing a little. But he’s right. I wasn’t planning on telling him anything.
Me: I’m fine. I turned the paperwork into the league office. Then the guard brought me back to my car. I’ll be home soon.
Benton: Good. Bayleigh, go straight home. Nowhere else. Do you understand?
Me: Yes Sir.
I hope he hears every bit of sarcasm in the words.
I wait for him to respond back but he doesn’t. I pull up the thread with only me and Lincoln to handle the tattletale.
Me: You told my brother?
Lincoln: Yeah. Wanted to make sure my girl was safe. And he needed to know what happened.
I stare at the words, warmth blooming in my chest despite everything. My girl. He called me his girl.
Me: Your girl?
Lincoln: That’s what I want you to be. But I guess we should go on a real date first.
A date. I close my eyes, then open them a second later, and look at my phone again. The words are still there. I didn’t imagine them.
Lincoln: So, Bayleigh Lennox… will you go out with me?
My heart skips a beat, a laugh slipping past my lips.
Me: Yes.
Lincoln: It wasn’t the way I hoped to ask you. I wanted to send a video of me signing it and asking. But then today happened, and I couldn’t wait.
Lincoln: You can bring James if it makes you more comfortable.
Me: No. I don’t want him to join us. I want it to be a real date.
I send the message, biting on my lip as I debate what I’m about to say. Screw it. I’m doing it.
Me: We can always pretend that you didn’t text and ask me out so you can do the video.
Lincoln: I like that idea too. Will you still say yes? It’s not your way of getting out of the date now, is it?
Me: I will and of course I’m not. I’m actually excited, Lincoln.
Lincoln: Okay then. Go home and let me know when you get there safely. I’m going to make that video and send it.
Me: I will.
Me: And Lincoln. Thank you for caring and being sweet. For being you.
Lincoln: Anytime, Bayleigh. Anytime.
I place the phone in the cupholder, then shift into reverse and back out of the parking spot.
A smile spreads across my face; the last traces of fear fades.
My pulse finally steadies, replaced by something lighter, warmer, alive.
For the first time in a long time, I want to believe that maybe—just maybe—this could be real.
Could someone finally be interested in me?
Love the person that I am and not the image of who they want me to be?
The only issue now is what Benton’s going to think about me actually going on a date with the brother of his rival.