Chapter 15 #2
“No, I don’t have a car. I usually just walk or take the bus.” A troubled look passes her face as if she just remembered something, but it quickly disappears. Tightening her jacket, she looks over her shoulder. “I better get going before I miss the next one.”
I nod, taking a step back, even though my mind tells me to offer her a ride. I doubt she’d accept it—our few encounters have shown me that. “‘Kay, well, have a good night.”
Hesitantly, I turn around and walk back inside. The gym closed to the public shortly after my class started, but I need to make sure no one else is inside and then grab my stuff before setting the alarm and locking up.
Half an hour later, I’m driving through the streets on my way home, my mind lost on thoughts about the past, the guys.
Out of everyone, Neil’s the only one I’ve kept in contact with.
The last time I saw Campbell was at Jason’s funeral, and it was a fucking disaster. Regardless of barely seeing Jason since high school, I was gutted about what happened to him, and then Campbell had to go and be a dick while there.
I sigh. I can’t blame him since I’m the one who started building that tension-filled wall between us from the moment I met him and the others. I was the one who always acted like an obnoxious idiot and butted heads with him at any chance I got.
But this was different.
He’s never been able to accept that I had a different opinion from him about Jacob. He can’t understand why I would believe he was guilty and acted the way I did back then.
But I have my reasons . . . reasons he’ll never know about.
Neil was always level-headed and stayed neutral, even after becoming a dad at such a young age, which is probably why he still responds to my texts after I separated myself from them.
Seeing Jennifer—fuck, I mean Jayne—has all sorts of memories from the past resurfacing.
I drive another block before I realize I was so distracted that I missed my turn several blocks back.
“Shit.”
I turn down the next street and pull over, trying to orient myself. I’m unfamiliar with this area and not quite sure where I’ve ended up.
The street looks uninviting with the dim streetlight on the corner casting a circle that showcases glass and garbage scattered about.
I see a couple of shady guys loitering outside what looks like a cannabis store farther down the street, the neon glow from the sign lighting up their scruffy faces. One bald, and the other wearing a cap.
Not much else is going on in the area, though.
I put my truck into gear but then see movement on the other side of the street a little farther from the guys.
The person looks like they’re trying to stay hidden, rushing from shadow to shadow.
“What are you up to?” I wonder aloud.
Curious about the figure, I watch them for another moment as they hold their hood in place, creeping from one place to the next. And that’s when I realize the jacket looks awfully familiar.
Because I saw it less than an hour ago.
Shit.
Does she live close by?
Jayne must have taken the bus and is now walking the rest of the way home.
What are the fucking chances of that?
Wait, does she do this walk every night around here?
I look back at the shady guys, and a bad feeling settles over me when I notice they’ve turned in her direction.
Gripping the wheel, I flick my gaze back to Jayne, watching as she freezes when she sees them.
A second later, they’re running toward her as if she’s the prey they’ve been waiting for.
Fuck. Nope, that’s not happening.
I quickly rev my engine and drive to where the two men are running, coming to a screeching halt and getting out right in front of them. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
The bald one’s face scrunches up, his stupid mouth gaping after I stop them in their tracks. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Just a curious bystander.”
He scoffs. “Then go bystand somewhere else.”
On closer inspection, I realize the bald guy does have some hair—just thin blond strings combed across his head.
When I don’t move, they start approaching me instead, looking pissed off but also amused, no doubt thinking I’m a fool for interfering when there are two of them.
“You deaf or something?” the one in the ballcap asks.
“Not particularly.” I glance over my shoulder to look for Jayne, but I don’t see her. “But I suggest you leave her alone.”
Baldy steps closer. “This is between me and the bitch, so why don’t you mind your fucking business, bystander.”
“This is my business.”
His lips curl up, making him look like a rabid dog. “You know her or something?”
“Doesn’t matter. Just stay away.”
“Or what? Hmm?” They both step closer, but I hold my ground, not moving an inch. “I asked you a question. Or. What?”
“I’m not sure you want to find out.”
The bald one, who’s been doing all the talking turns to his friend. “You believe this guy?”
He laughs right before bringing his fist back, trying to punch me in the face.
But I anticipate the move and snatch his wrist out of the air mid-swing, twisting his arm around painfully before swiping my leg out and knocking his feet out from under him.
He lands on the ground with a heavy thud and a groan.
“That’s fucking what.”
I was in Jiu-jitsu and Taekwondo for several years, plus I’m a certified self-defense instructor. He didn’t stand a chance.
Blood pumping, I turn to the other guy, who holds his hands up in surrender before stepping back, then turning and running away like a pussy.
The guy on the ground rolls to his side with a grunt, but when he makes no effort to get up, I turn around and look for Jayne again.
At first, I still don’t see her anywhere, but then I catch sight of her running up the stairs on the outside of the cannabis store. There must be an apartment on top.
I wait until I see her disappear inside a door before turning my attention back to the piece of shit on the ground.