I exhale, hating to relive the last twenty or so minutes, or thefact that I know how upset he’s going to be at Luke. But right now, I’m upset too, and it would be nice to have someone on my side for once.
“Davis and Luke got into an argument. Luke left, but Davis wouldn't let me leave too, so I snuck out of my window and chased Luke down, only for him to leave me on the street and take off with Jake Himswell.”
I can hear his teeth gritting together. “He did what?”
“It’s fine,” I lie. “I don’t want to go back there. Could you?—”
“Where are you?” his voice rings with urgency, and I can hear the jingling of his car keys.
I look around in the dark and can barely make out which street I’m on. I know at the end of this road there is a Dollar General store. I tell Ryland to meet me there before we hang up. Fifteen minutes later, I see Ryland’s dark-green Honda Civic pull into the parking lot. I rush toward it, wincing as the pain in my shoulder grows, and hop inside.
Ryland spent his summer working for his Pops and was able to save up enough money to purchase this slightly beat-up used car. It needed to be fixed in several areas, and last month, they were able to get her running. Today, I am incredibly thankful for it.
His familiar scent floats in the warm air and finally I feel safe. I relax against the seat, welcoming the sense of security before I turn to face him. I open my mouth to thank him, but before I can get the words out, he reaches for my face and pulls me toward him.
For a split second, I think he’s going to kiss me, and all sense of calm is replaced with the pounding of my heart. It’s not a rush of panic, more like a surge of adrenaline.Of want.
But instead of kissing me, he runs his thumbs over my cheeks, wiping away the evidence that I cried earlier. His hazel eyes look almost black in the shadows of his car. They dancearound my face, studying me for a moment before he finally speaks.
“I’m going to punch Luke in the face for leaving you.”
“Not before I can,” I add, a grin pulling against my lips. I don’t miss the way his eyes flicker to them, just for a moment, before returning to my face.
“It’s freezing out, and he just left you? What has gotten into him?” He releases his hold on me and pulls out his phone.
I reach my hand out to stop him but hiss as pain shoots through my shoulder. Ryland’s eyes snap to mine, a sudden urgency within them. He drops his phone and reaches over to tug my jacket off.
“I’m fine,” I say, but he ignores me, determination written on his face as he removes my arm from the fabric.
I try not to wince, but my face fails me when my arm moves toward him. His eyes search my face, silently apologizing before he’s back to examining me. I peer down at the skin on my forearm as Ryland traces his fingers around a very purple bruise I didn’t know was there.
“I’m going to hurt him,” he says through his teeth, releasing my arm before gripping the steering wheel.
“I’m fine, Ry.”
“No, you're not, Raine!” he shouts. It’s the first time Ryland has ever raised his voice at me, and I blink back the shock.
“I’m sorry,” he’s quick to say, releasing the steering wheel and taking my hands into his. “I know what it’s like. To have someone who abuses you like he does. It’s not okay. You don’t deserve this. And I can’t believe Luke...”
My heart sinks, knowing Ryland’s history with his father and how he’s still healing from it. I squeeze his hand, bringing his attention back to me, and I do my best to give him an encouraging smile.
“We’ll deal with Luke later, but for right now, I’d like to go to my grandparents’.”
“You’ll leave your mom?” he asks, knowing that I never wanted to leave her behind. But I have no choice. She should want me to be safe, and this is the only way how—at least until I’m eighteen and can finally move away from this town, far away fromhim.
“I have to.” I shrug, wincing for a third time.
“Okay, then.” He nods and shifts back into his seat before putting the car into drive.
We pull into the driveway of the farmhouse, and nervousness settles into my stomach. I haven’t told my grandparents the truth of what has been going on at home—how bad Mom’s drinking has become or how Davis treats me. But I know they can sense it. I’ve shrugged off their questions, wanting to somewhat protect them from the truth, but also not wanting to cause any issues with my mom. Tonight, the truth will set me free.
Or so I hope.
I catch the glimpse of light coming from behind us, and when I turn around, I see a vehicle at the bottom of the hill. The color drains from my face, and when I look over at Ryland, his expression matches my own.
“Davis,” I croak.
Ryland acts fast, shifting his car into reverse and turning us around within seconds. He drives fast down the driveway, causing gravel to dust around us, and I pray my grandparents don't wake up from the noise.
