Chapter 14 #2
He shuts the door and walks around front to the driver's side, sitting down beside me, securing his own seatbelt. Completely unfazed. While I am over here, my heart pounding so loud in my chest I fear he can hear it.
We ride in silence for approximately fifteen minutes before he turns to look at me. “ We will stop at your house on the way to the bar. After I make sure it is safe, I will wait in the car, and you can go inside for whatever you need.”
I suppose that’s a good enough compromise. “I guess that will have to work, not like I have a choice” I huff.
“Damn straight baby.” He smirks.
“Good heavens, you are insufferable.”
I’m honestly terrified to go back to my house, but I need more clothes and I don’t want to be babysat at the bar.
He’s already seen me at my weakest, and I am so sick and tired of being this damsel in distress that he feels like he needs to rescue.
So I will do what I’ve always done, put on my big girl panties and deal with it.
We arrive at my place and Isaac has me wait in the car while he goes ahead and clears the apartment.
I know I said he was insufferable, but I have to admit that I do feel safer when I’m with him.
My eyes are glued to the front door like a hawk, and I am so focused that I don’t see the figure walk up to my window.
The person taps the window repeatedly with their nails, breaking me out of my trance. A scream tears out of me, loud enough to burst my eardrums.
“Serena? Oh my God, Serena? Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you!” Jules’s muted voice barely reaches me through the car window, and once my heart stops racing and I realize who it is, I can’t stop the tears from escaping.
I fling the car door open and wrap my arms around her neck.
“What are you doing here? I thought you had plans to get pampered today?” I sob into her shoulder.
She gently caresses the back of my head, her fingers threading through my hair as she lets me cry. Eventually, her voice breaks the silence. “I did,” her voice soft and gentle, “I was actually going to see if you wanted to join me. After the drugging, I figured you could use a little TLC.”
I let out a shaky breath. She never misses an opportunity to be doted on, making bi-weekly appointments at the spa in town.
“But when you weren’t answering any of your calls or texts, I got worried.
” She continues, still raking her hand through my hair and holding me close.
“So, I came to check on you, and your front door was opened. When I walked inside, I was so scared. The place was a fucking disaster and you were nowhere to be found.”
A quiet hiccup escapes me, and she holds me out at arms length, looking me up and down, the concern in her eyes growing as she takes in my current state. “There was also so much blood. What the hell happened?”
“Tyler.” Was all I manage to choke out before I am a mess of tears and snot again.
“That douchebag. I knew he was no good. It takes a real pussy to beat on a woman.” She brings me in for another embrace and softly rubs my back.
“Don’t worry. Our girl didn’t let him get off easy.” Isaac approaches us with his hands in his jean pockets and a proud look on his face. I pull away from Jules and stand next to him.
“ Our girl?” Jules gives me her we will talk about this later look, and I sheepishly look away. As much as I love this girl, I do not have the energy to go into everything with her right now. I know she is going to want every detail, and that is going to take an entire night and a bottle of wine.
Energy that I just do not have right now.
“And what are you doing here Isaac?” She crosses her arms sternly.
“I called him… after Tyler attacked me. He took me to his house and that’s where we just came from.” I couldn’t meet her eyes. I’m not ashamed that I called Isaac, but I know Jules. I know how she is going to be looking at me, and I can’t face that kind of scrutiny right now.
Isaac steps forward and puts his arm around my shoulders. “It’s nice to see you Jules, but we can’t stay long. You ladies can catch up later at my place.”
“Oh it appears we have a lot to catch up on.” She looks at Isaac skeptically, “You have my number. I expect a text tonight with an address.”
Isaac brings his right hand up to his forehead and gives her a small two finger salute. “Yes Ma’am.”
“Ew, don’t call me Ma’am.” Jules grabs my shoulders and kisses me on my cheek.
“If he didn’t save your ass, I’d be calling the cops, and you’d be coming home with me.
” She eyes Isaac and then turns her attention back to me.
"Be safe love, and if I don’t hear from either of you by midnight, I will be calling the cops. And you know that I am not joking.”
“Oh, I know Jules.” I roll my eyes, but I know she’s serious.
Jules gets into her car and just before she drives off, she rolls down her passenger window. “I love you bitch!”
I chuckle. “Love you too crazy!”
Isaac turns to me. “Are you ready?”
I take a deep breath, look towards my front door and then back at Isaac. His chocolate eyes calming any sense of fear or hesitation I had. “Yes.”