My heart hammered in my chest as the other one laughed low. I opened my mouth to refuse, but I didn’t get the chance because Sam ran up behind me and inserted an arm between me and each guy, shoving them out and away. He had enough arm strength to do it. Unfortunately, the men were not fazed, and they came quickly at Sam, pinning him up against the side of a building.
“Go get in the truck, Heven.”
“But…” I couldn’t leave him there.
“Oh, we just want to talk to her.” One of the creeps laughed.
Sam looked at me, appearing completely calm. “Go.”
I ran, climbing quickly into the truck and locking the doors. I reached for my cell and keyed in 911 resting my finger on the SEND button, keeping my gaze glued on Sam.
Sam straightened, shoving both the men off of him, and I realized they weren’t much older than us. They were both tall, dark headed and…grinning? Except their grins weren’t reassuring, they were frightening. In that moment the few, fat drops turned into a heavy avalanche of rain, pounding down from the sky.
Sam said something, and one of them laughed. Sam retaliated by shoving him full on, and the guy stumbled backward. He advanced on Sam, and I tensed, waiting for the worst, but the other stepped between them and said something causing the angry one to back down, but not before he yelled something at him. Sam got up in his face, his lips barely moving as anger seethed from every pore. The muscles in the recipient’s back rippled beneath his shirt, and once again I worried for Sam, but the guy backed down. The other guy said something and Sam shot a look in my direction, his eyes narrowing into slits. His jaw was set and hard when he turned back. It scared me, and I realized I didn’t really know anything about him. But then he turned back to point a finger in the man’s face and shout. Suddenly all three of them looked up the street, and I followed their gaze, but all I saw were shoppers running into stores, most of them covered with hooded raincoats.
Sam turned his back on them and walked, almost prowled, toward me, but it wasn’t over. I beat on the window in warning, but it was unnecessary because just as one caught up to him, Sam turned, throwing a fist that connected solidly with his pursuer’s jaw, and he hit the wet pavement. Sam challenged the other guy, but he shook his head and helped his buddy up.
Then Sam was at the door. I unlocked it, and he slid in beside me, starting up the truck.
He said nothing as he pulled into traffic and disappeared down the street.
“Who were they?” I gasped.
His jaw tightened as he pushed the wet hair off his forehead. “My roommates.”
“Your roommates?” Didn’t he live with his parents?
He nodded. He was soaked from the rain. I hurried to turn some of the heating vents toward him and pulled off the sweatshirt he gave me. “Put that back on. You’re going to freeze.”
“You’re soaking wet!” I slid over and used the shirt to dry his arms and face, running it over his head to dry his hair.
“Smells like you now,” he murmured.
“Are you hurt? Your hand?” I worried.
He flexed his hand and shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“What was that all about?”
“Nothing. They thought they were being funny.”
“They looked angry.”
“They aren’t very nice.”
“Why not?” I demanded.
“They’ve had some rough times.”
“That’s no excuse for bad behavior!”
He smiled.
“I’m serious!”
“I know. Don’t worry about it okay? They won’t act like that again.” Something in his voice told me he’d make sure of it.
“Are you going to get into a fight when you get home?”
“No.”
I twisted my hands in my lap. What if he did? There was two of them and only one of him.
He reached out and wrapped his hand around mine. “Everything’s fine.”
“Why would you live with them?”
He sighed. “It’s complicated.” Then I saw a wall go up. He was done talking about them.
I didn’t bother pressing the issue. Instead I turned my head and looked out the passenger window, but I stayed right next to Sam. After a few short moments he placed an arm around me and pulled me into his side. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know.”
We drove the rest of the way home in silence.
Chapter Seven
Heven
Kimber’s red bug was in the driveway when Sam dropped me off. When I climbed out of his truck, Kimber climbed out of the bug and ran to the front door.
“You didn’t answer your cell,” she hissed.
“I turned it off,” I hissed back, letting us into the house.
“Heven? I was beginning to worry!” Mom came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Oh, hello, Kimber.”
“Hi, Mrs. Montgomery.”
“Sorry I’m late, Mom. The bus broke down, and I got a ride from a friend.”
“Oh. Well I am glad you’re home. How was the competition?”
“We won.”
“Well that’s wonderful. I guess now that it is over that means that you’re no longer needed on the squad.”
She didn’t come right out and say it, but I got the impression that Mom would rather I didn’t cheer. When I told her I would be filling in for an injured Jenna, she didn’t tell me no, but she didn’t seem happy either. She wished me luck and told me I wasn’t allowed to miss Bible study to cheer. “Actually, the coach asked me to come back to the squad.”
I could feel Kimber’s excitement and Mom’s disappointment. My head began to pound. “I told her I would think about it.”
“Yes, you should take some time to think about your choice.” Why did it feel like she was trying to say something else, and why didn’t she just say it?
“Is it okay if I hang out with Heven for a while, Mrs. Montgomery?”
“Sure, honey. I’m making chicken. You are welcome to stay.”
I pleaded with her with my eyes. She sighed. “Sounds great. I love chicken.”
Mom returned to the kitchen to finish the dreaded chicken, and we escaped to my room, closing the door behind us.
“You have major explaining to do,” Kimber fiercely whispered.
“Oh?” I went to my dresser and began pulling out something dry and comfy to wear. I caught a glimpse of my limp hair in the mirror and winced. Geez, it’s like I tried to look hideous.