“Noah. Dude,” Chase yells. “What are you doing? You’re choking him.” His hand taps my veiny forearm rapidly. “Let him go, buddy.”
I’m heaving breaths, shaking my head, blinking so fast that everything around me feels like a movie slowed down to the frames.
He had a knife. He was following her. Kill him.
“Please, Noah.”Goldie?
With my free hand, I frantically reach up, feeling around the inside of his jacket until a sharp crack echoes off the concrete, forcing my eyes to drop.
A silver cell phone lies shattered at my feet.
“Fuck. He’s gonna kill him.” Chase’s voice is closer now and louder. “Let him go, Noah. You made your point.”
I nod a few times, trying to process.It wasn’t a knife ... It was a cell phone?
She’s okay. It’s okay.
In an instant, I drop my hand and step away, scared of myself. The guy folds over, hands on his knees, sucking in long heaves of breath.
“I’m calling the cops,” he rasps over his scratched throat. “You’re a fucking psycho.”
Goldie slides her hand into mine, yelling back, “Call them, and I’ll tell them how you were harassing me.”
I feel murderous all over again and start to lunge at him again, but Chase pushes his hand on my chest to stop me.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.”
The asshole stands up and scowls at us. “Telling you your tits were nice isn’t harassment. It’s a compliment.”
“Fuck you. And I bet forcing me against the wall is normal too. You’re a pervert,” she shouts back.
“Why the fuck were you following her?” I bellow, pointing a finger at him, still restrained by Chase.
He scoffs, rubbing his neck. “What the hell are you talking about? I never followed her. I work here.”
“Not anymore,” Evie snaps.
Chase is eyeing the guy down just like me as he volleys between us.
“Get the fuck out of here before I choke you again,” I grit out.
He mumbles “Fuck this” under his breath as he stumbles away, but all I can focus on is Goldie.
She wraps her arms around my body, but I don’t even realize I’m hugging her back until I look down.
“Thank you. You’re my hero,” she whispers, and I notice her eyes are shining.
“Are you okay?” My fingers brush her jaw.
She nods. “I am. Thanks to you.”
I say nothing, our eyes fixed as the thought in my head settles into my bones. I would’ve killed him if he’d hurt her.
“I’ll never let anyone hurt you. You’re precious to me ... Goldie, I—” I pause because the way she’s looking up at me is knocking the wind out of me.
Holy shit. I am incapable of not falling deeply in love with this girl. I couldn’t stop this if I wanted to. I wouldn’t even walk away for self-preservation.
Her hands curl around my jacket as her voice stays intimately quiet. “Hey, you never finished what you were saying before ... One is you’re my boyfriend, ten is ...”
