27. Amelia
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
amelia
“Are you sure you don’t need me to cancel my trip? You know I would,” Charlie asks me again.
“Six.”
“Six?” Charlie repeats. “Are you having a stroke? That’s not at all what I asked.”
Propping myself up on my elbows, I look at Charlie from where I’m currently laying on her living room floor. “You’ve asked me six times in the last,” I tap my phone to look at the time, “Two hours. That’s an average of three times per hour.”
“Yes Millie, I know what six divided by two is. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
Flopping back onto the pillow, I grab another handful of Mike I just can’t bring myself to reply. Every time I think about texting him back, Julie’s voice replays through my head. “That’s such an inspiring story. And the fact that you’re with Judd after he was charged with the very thing that took your parents.”
I now understand what someone means when they say something feels like a slap to the face or a punch to the gut. I experienced both in that instant. The shock and sting of her words left me breathless and the only thing I could think of doing was run.
So, I did, despite my heart screaming at me to stop and go back. To let him explain that it’s just a mistake, a misunderstanding. But the look of anguish on his face confirmed that it wasn’t. That it was all true.
Sighing, I pick up my phone and unlock the screen, reading the new text.
Sexiest Man Alive
I talked to Lucy and Kessler… They’re going to make an appt with Jeremy to go look at Ruby. I think the chances are pretty good of them adopting her.
Sexiest Man Alive
I miss you.
I gasp and sit up, getting worried looks from both Charlie and Bruno.
“What? What happened?”
The screen blurs from the tears building in my eyes as I read the text over again.
“Millie?”
I turn my phone around to show Charlie. She reads the text and looks back at me. “Oh Millie. That’s great. They would be perfect for Ruby.”
I nod and turn my phone back around, staring at the screen. My thumbs hovering over it, itching to text him back.
“How long are you going to shut him out? I know what happened was a shock to you, but if you can forgive me for not telling you, don’t you think he at least deserves a chance to tell you his side of the story?”
I bite the corner of my lip. When Charlie told me she knew about the DUI, I felt betrayed, but she explained it wasn’t her story to tell. I know Charlie would have never kept something like this from me to hurt me. So why can’t I give Judd a chance to explain?
“You’re right. I know I need to let him explain. I just, I’m so hurt.” I stare down at my screen again. “How can I love someone who did the very thing that took my parents away?”
It’s the first time I’ve admitted my feelings for Judd out loud.
“Oh, Millie.” Charlie sits on the floor next to me and pulls me into a hug. She holds me tight while I let the tears fall. “I know nothing I say can make any of this better. But I can tell you one mistake doesn’t define who a person is. Does Judd seem like someone who would do something dangerous like that on purpose?”
I think back to the moment I first met Judd. He was annoying and cocky in the beginning. But also kind, protective and sweet. He’s never once done or said anything bad towards anyone. He doesn’t strike me as a person who would ever do something that puts himself or anyone else in danger on purpose.
“No, he doesn’t.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
Pulling into my parking space, I turn my car off and sit in the silence. Charlie’s question has been bouncing around my head all morning, and I still don’t have an answer. Flopping my head back against the rest, I notice it’s darker in here than usual. A light must have gone out. I make a mental note to tell Marty to let maintenance know and open my door, hitting the button to open the rear latch as I get out. I’m halfway to the back when something crunches under my shoe.
Glass. A lot of it.
Looking above me, I see that the light didn’t burn out. It’s been broken. A chill races up my spine and the hairs on my arms stand on end just as Bruno releases a low growl.
Turning in the direction Bruno is growling, I see a dark figure out of the corner of my eye before something strikes me in the head, causing my head to swim. The garage tilts sideways and my hand reaches out to grab something, anything to prevent myself from falling, but all I grab is air. I hit the hard, cold cement shoulder first, followed by my head. Black dots dance across my vision, and I try to blink them away.
I see the tall figure move closer when a streak of fur launches itself from the back of my car, grabbing onto the figure and snarling.
I hear someone yell “Fuck!” but it’s muted, like I’m listening through cotton.
I push myself to my knees and crawl to the cement pillar, using it to brace myself as I get to my feet. My vision blurs and my head pounds horribly, but I push through the pain. I need to get to Bruno.
The sound of grunting and Bruno’s growls gets louder as my senses come into focus. Pushing off the pillar, I stagger over towards where Bruno is still latched on to the person dressed in black. I see the man’s arm hitting Bruno over and over again, but Bruno is relentless and refuses to let go. I’m almost to them when I see the man pull something out of his pocket and jam it into Bruno’s side once, twice, three times before Bruno releases his arm with a yelp.
“Bruno!” I scream, blinking furiously through the wave of dizziness to get to him.
The man turns towards me and that’s when I see that he’s holding a knife. A knife with Bruno’s blood on it. Rage overtakes my fear, and I charge the last few steps and slam my good shoulder into the center of the man.
I must take him by surprise because I’m able to knock him off balance, which causes him to stagger backward a few steps, crashing into the taillight of my car before hitting the ground. Unfortunately, I’m unable to stop my momentum and I crash down with him, landing on top of him. He throws his fists towards me, hitting me in the side of the head, once again making my head swim.
I’ve never punched anyone before. Never felt the need. But the rage I have for this man attacking me and Bruno has me balling up my fists and landing blows wherever I can. The shoulder I landed on throbs, but the adrenaline rush blocks most of the pain.
In between blocking my fists and trying to land his own, the man is able to get one hand around my throat and squeeze. I reach up, trying to pry his hand away, but his grip tightens. Now that I’ve stopped punching, he’s able to get his other hand up and around my neck too, applying more pressure.
One last surge of adrenaline courses through me and I’m able to pry one of his fingers back, feeling the bone snap.
“AH! You fucking bitch!” the man yells, pulling his hand back.
I suck in what breath I’m able to with his other hand still wrapped around my throat and let out a scream that echoes through the garage. My vision starts to blur around the edges from the lack of oxygen and my strength starts to fade.
This can’t be it. This can’t be how I die. I still have things to do, like figure things out with Judd. Get married, maybe even have a family. This just can’t be it.
Just as I’m about to succumb to the darkness, tires squeal behind me, and I hear my name.
“Amelia!”