During the ride home my mind raced with theories and explanations. There was no way for him to explain it away. Jared had basical y admitted to fol owing me. Maybe that was why he was so irritated; I’d managed to get myself in yet another situation that he would have to make clear that he was nearby. I should have been panicking—anyone else would have repeated the word stalker over and over in her head—but I only felt an overwhelming sense of calm. Beyond the calm I was even more shocked to discover that I was flattered.
Something else became clear to me: I had absolutely no common sense concerning Jared Ryel. I had become an irrational, ridiculous, sobbing fool and incredibly, he was stil in my life. I didn’t care if he was a stalker or a miracle. The thought that he was always near me—that he could have been watching me at that very moment—sent euphoric shivers down my spine.
The next night, a knock at the door prompted Beth to grab her purse. When I swung open the door, Kim, Josh, Ryan, Tucker, Chad, Lisa, and Carrie were al standing in the hal .
“We held hands so they wouldn’t get lost,” Kim quipped.
“That’s nice,” I said, turning to grab my keys and wal et. “We’re not al going to fit in the Beemer.”
“I’m taking my jeep,” Chad said.
“Sweet!” Beth chirped.
When I fol owed Beth through the door of the pub, I felt my body tense. I didn’t relax until I finished scanning the room and saw that Jared was nowhere to be found. With my relaxation was also discontent, but Ryan’s arm around my shoulders provided an immediate diversion. We took a table and Ryan fed quarters into the jukebox. Within an hour we were al on the wooden floor dancing to disco.
“Next time, I’m bringing a CD!” Kim yel ed over the Bee Gees.
When we returned to our table, a slow song crooned from the juke box and Chad asked Beth to dance. She was beaming, and I watched him pul her gently by her hand to the dance floor. I felt the corners of my mouth turn up as I watched them, not being able to keep myself from the bittersweet memory of Jared’s arms around me in the same space just a few weeks before.
“C’mon. Dance with me,” Ryan asked, pul ing at my hand.
I might have said no if he hadn’t already had me half way to my feet. It had become a ful time job to keep him from getting the wrong idea about our friendship. I fol owed him to the dance floor and he secured his hands behind my back.
“Oh, cheer up. It’s not that bad,” Ryan smiled.
“You’ve been drinking; I’m concentrating on not tripping over your two left feet.”
“I’l catch you,” he said, too close to my face.
“Great, then we’d both fal ,” I grinned.
Ryan hugged me to him. “I don’t mind fal ing to catch you.”
I relaxed my chin on Ryan’s shoulder until the song ended. He seemed to want to keep dancing but the next song was upbeat. He hesitated and then let me go, leading me back to the table by my hand.
We tabbed out after last cal , and Lisa and Carrie decided to take a cab to someone’s apartment for an after party. Beth decided to ride with Chad once again and my heart leapt for her when I saw him lead her by the hand to his Jeep.
We quickly crossed against the light to the parking lot and Kim and Ryan giggled while I fumbled for my keys.
I cursed as my keys tumbled to the ground into a pot hole. I reached down to get them, but a dirty hand beat me there. Kim and Ryan were silent as I slowly stood to face the raggedy man in front of me.
“Thank you,” I said, holding my hand out for my keys. I noticed there were three other men with him, emerging from the shadows of the al ey.
“You’re welcome,” he rasped. He had an unkempt brown beard and his black eyes were abnormal y deep-set. Upon first glance he appeared homeless, but his fingernails were too clean and his face wasn’t nearly worn enough. Even growing up on the East Side, I had seen my share of the destitute on the docks with my father.
“I don’t suppose you could spare some change for my trouble?”
“Er….sure,” I said, looking at Kim and Ryan before I dug into my wal et. I handed him a ten dol ar bil and he glanced over to my BMW.
“I’m sure the key to this car is worth more than that,” he insisted.
I reached into my wal et and handed him a twenty. “There. Please give me my keys,” I said, holding out my hand.
He stared at me for a long moment, prompting Ryan to walk over to us. “She gave you some money. Give her back her keys.”
The man looked Ryan over and then peered back at me. “I don’t think that’s quite enough.”
My eyes narrowed. “How much do you want?”
“How much do you have in your wal et?”
“What?”
“And I’d like that pretty green ring on your finger, too, baby dol ,” he nodded.
“You’re not getting her ring,” Ryan said, stepping in between us.
“Benson?” the bearded man cal ed behind him. One of the men behind him nodded and signaled the others to move forward.
“Ryan….” I whispered as he side-stepped to hide me behind him.
“Aw, look, Grahm. She’s got a little bodyguard.”
“Shut up, Stu,” the bearded man growled.
“Give me the ring…and the money. And you can go,” he said, spitting on the ground.
“I don’t think so, Grahm,” Ryan shifted as he assessed the other men.
“Ryan….” I warned, and then looked at the ring leader. “Listen, this is everything I have on me….” I said, shoving at him several large bil s and more fives and ones. “This is everything in my wal et. Take it.”
“And the ring,” Grahm said in an obstinate tone.
I looked at Kim’s horrified expression and then back at the thief. “I… I can’t give you my ring. My father gave it to me and he passed away recently.”
“That’s a very sad story,” he mocked. “Give me the ring.”
I hid my shaking hand behind me, and looked around for someone, anyone that could help. “I won’t,” I swal owed. “I’m sorry.”
Grahm looked away momentarily to fol ow my line of sight and Ryan took the opportunity to attack.
Kim ran around the car. “No!”
A scuffle ensued, with the other three jumping on Ryan. They were in a huddle, punching and kicking Ryan mercilessly.
I took a step toward the cluster. “STOP IT!”
Ryan let out a muffled cry and stopped fighting. My hands flew to my mouth as I saw that Stu held a knife dripping with blood.
“STOP IT, PLEASE!” I said.
The men were chuckling to each other; the brutality had ended with one last kick to Ryan’s ribs. I stared in horror as he lay broken on the wet pavement. Just as he attempted to pul himself up to al fours, Stu used his boot to press Ryan’s cheek back into the pavement.
“Agh!” Ryan groaned.
“I didn’t tel you to get up yet, did I?” Stu said.
The attention turned to my hand. I bal ed it into a fist; I wouldn’t give up my father’s ring. Grahm seemed to notice my decision and they al took a step forward, preparing to take it from me. Four sets of malevolent eyes shifted in unison as a familiar voice growled from behind me.
“I think it’s time you gentlemen moved on.”
Jared strol ed past me, and the air escaped from my lungs with overwhelming relief.