Page 28 of Weather the Storm
“I’m walking out the door now. Is there somewhere nearby that’s still open?” he asks, his tone calm and soothing.
“I-I see something with l-lights on. I’m n-not sure what it is.”
“Okay, good. Go there and have them call the police.”
With my phone pressed to my ear, I dash to the store. I barge through the doors, not bothering to check where I am or the name of the business.
“Namaste and welcome to Elements.” The cheery blonde-dreadlocked receptionist greets me without looking up from the computer screen in front of her. “Are you here for our group class or—” Her words stop when she glances up and takes in my disheveled appearance. “Oh, shit! Are you okay?”
“S-s-someone v-vandalized my c-car,” I stutter out. “C-can you c-call—”
She finishes my sentence for me. “The police? On it!”
I wrap my arms around my waist. “Are you c-c-close?” I ask Simon.
“Less than two minutes away.”
On shaky legs and with even shakier breaths, I all but collapse onto the small couch in the reception area of the yoga studio, the sounds of Simon driving and the receptionist talking to the 911 operator fighting for my attention.
Overwhelmed, I pinch my eyes closed and do my best to block out everything but the sound of Simon’s voice. He’s my port in this storm, and I know I won’t feel safe until I’m with him.
“I’m here, Goldilocks,” Simon says, breathing heavily into the phone before disconnecting the call. He rushes into the studio, drops to his knees in front of me, and wraps me in his strong arms. Finally, I feel safe.
I don’t realize how hard I’m sobbing and shaking until Simons starts murmuring to me in hushed tones, telling me I’m okay now, and that he won’t ever let anything hurt me.
I lean farther into him, clinging to the comfort only he can give me. My fists wrap tightly around the material of his navy-blue hoodie, holding him close. When the sounds of several car doors slamming shut filter through the air, Simon attempts to pull back, but stops when I whimper and refuse to let go.
“I’m not leavin’ you, Magnolia,” he whispers, still rubbing my back. “But we gotta go outside and talk to the police, okay? I’ll be right beside you.”
Reluctantly, I nod and pull back, giving him room to stand. Simon immediately takes my hand in his and leads me outside to where the officers are waiting.
Chapter Fourteen
SIMON
I guide Magnolia outside and over to the cops on the scene. “Evenin’, officers,” I call out.
“Did you make the 911 call?”
“No, sir, that would’ve been the employee at Elements.” I nod my head back toward the yoga studio. “My girlfriend—”Whoa, I just called Magnolia my girlfriend, but now isnotthe time or place to get into that revelation.“My girlfriend here had her car vandalized. She was out shopping, and when she came back, she saw the damage and called me.”
The officer turns to address Magnolia. “Ma’am, in the event of an emergency, you should always call the authorities, not your boyfriend.” His tone is scolding, and it pisses me right off.
“With all due respect”—I pause and glance down to where his name is embroidered on his shirt—“Officer Byrnes, she was terrified and did her best. Why don’t we go take a look at her vehicle?”
Looking slightly chagrined, the officer motions for his partner to follow him, and together we make the trek to where Magnolia’s car is parked. We walk around the vehicle, and my mouth drops open at the sight of it.
All four tires are slashed, her back window is shattered, and in red paint across her front windshield is one single, solitary word: MINE.
When Magnolia reads the word on her car, she starts shaking like a damn leaf, muttering to herself like a broken record. “N-no. Oh, no. No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no.”
I palm her cheeks and tilt her face up to my own. “Magnolia, baby, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“I…I think I know who d-did this.” Her voice is brittle and hoarse from crying.
Officer Byrnes walks over to us, leaving his partner to inspect the vehicle and to take photographs of the damage. “Did I hear you say you believe you know who the responsible party is?”
Magnolia opens her mouth to answer, but all that comes out is a choked sob. Instead, she nods.
