Chapter 21
Sage
The Holder drop-off had gone well. They’d been over the moon about the arrangements, and the way they reacted to my flower choices made my day.
It had even dissipated some of the creepiness that had lingered from that bouquet that had been delivered.
Tonight, I’d call Wade and let him know about the flowers like a responsible person, even though I didn’t want to.
I just needed a few hours to think about things and figure out how to talk to him about it without making it sound like I was insane.
Humming happily, I stopped at the gas station on my way back into town.
They had a restroom in the back, and my bladder wasn’t going to make it to the shop.
Sometimes, being a woman and not being able to whip it out on the side of the road was a big bummer.
Guys just didn’t understand all the privilege they had with their shlongs attached to their bodies like that.
The convenience of it must be staggering. Just whip and whiz.
Punching in the little code on the door that I’d memorized the first time they gave it to me, I deadbolted the door and did my business.
That chai had done me in. Washing my hands, I tried to tidy up my braid, but my curls were out of control.
I looked like that Disney character from Brave on a bad hair day.
Splashing a little water on my face after I washed my hands with the watered-down version of what passed for soap, I peered at my reflection. I was a hot mess today.
I was never that girl. In high school, I was teased (when my brothers couldn’t hear) about my hair or my boobs.
I’d developed a little early. When I got old enough to date, most of the guys had already been chased off by my brothers.
Now, as an adult, I dated here and there, and I was content.
My personality was banging. Everything about me was awesome, but Rhodes was way out of my league.
So far that he could be light-years away.
Right? I had no business thinking so much about him and his giant self.
Wiping my hands on a paper towel, I decided I needed to get my head screwed on straight.
There was no reason to be this overwhelmed.
I opened the door a bit too forcefully, and it banged as I headed toward my van.
Today was warm, and I was glad I’d worn my lighter gardening overalls, though they’d have to be retired for the season. From now on, it was going to be shorts.
The feeling of being yanked off my feet surprised me as someone grabbed both of my arms and pulled me backward.
It felt like all the air was sucked out of my lungs as sheer panic overwhelmed every part of my being.
You tell yourself that if it ever happened to you, you’d yell for help, but it seemed like my voice had evaporated.
All I could do was struggle against their grip, battering to try to pull in the opposite direction.
The only thing on my mind was Wade telling me that if they got me to a secondary location, I was as good as dead.
Fingers gripped my arms and then tried to pull against my mouth as they scrambled for purchase, as I twisted and pushed hard against the hoodie-clad figure.
They weren’t much bigger than me, and in an absolute blind panic, I wrenched free, stumbling and heaving as I made it to the van and locked myself in.
I couldn’t even find it in me to look back to see if I was followed.
Fumbling in my purse for my phone, I hit the first button I could find before I sank my head against my knees.
“Holy shit.” I trembled for a second as I hit ‘dial.’