Page 79 of How We Fooled

Natalie, Dalton, and Ben are all in conversation about Maya and this new guy when Ben’s phone lights up with her name. Before I know it, Ben is racing out of the barn. We all look at each other, then jump up to follow him, knowing the only reason Ben would run out like this is if something was wrong.

I watch Ben run to his truck, so I follow him, jumping in the passenger seat to be by his side, no matter where we are going.

Ben’s phone connects to his Bluetooth as he says, “Don’t worry. I know exactly where you are. I’m already on my way. Are you okay?”

She’s crying so hard that we can barely make out what she’s saying. “I-I think … I am. I’m scared, Ben.”

I watch as Ben slams his hand on the steering wheel. “Don’t be scared. I’m on my way. Are you around any businesses or anything you can go in?”

“No.” She cries harder. “He threw me out of his truck in the middle of nowhere.”

My eyes meet with Ben’s. What the fuck is going on?

Ben looks in his rearview mirror and sees Dalton’s truck, then turns to me. “Send Dalton your location. That old beast of a truck will never keep up with mine, and I have a feeling we’ll need his help tonight.”

I grab my phone and do as he asked, then nod. “Done.”

“Maya, you’re going to be just fine. If no one is around, then no one can harm you. Think about it that way.” He tries to calm her down.

“But I’m scared. It’s so dark out, and what if there are animals out here?”

“I can tell you’re in an industrial part of town, which is pretty far away from the hills, so there shouldn’t be anything you need to worry about.”

She asks through her tears, “How do you know where I am?”

“Maya, I will always protect you. I made that promise years ago, and I plan on keeping it. Don’t be mad, but I sent myself your location the other day when I grabbed your phone at school. I had to make sure you were safe.”

She laughs. “Why am I not surprised?”

I know she’s laughing at what Ben did, but I know, to him, it wasn’t a laughing matter when he did it. He knew he needed to protect her, and at the time, that was the only way he knew how.

“Aren’t you glad I did?” he asks playfully.

“Yes, but hurry!”

“I’m hurrying. Just stay on the phone with me.”

I hear her sniffles and can tell she’s calming down slightly.

“Ben …”

“Yeah, Sunshine?”

“Thank you. Thank you for coming to get me. Thank you for always being there for me.”

“Maya, there’s nothing you could do or say that would ever change me being there for you. Especially in a time like this. I will always be wherever you need me.”

She cries again. “Thank you.”

He lets out a long breath. “You have to stop crying, sweetie. You’re breaking my heart.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

“I have Eli with me,” Ben says.

“What’s up?” I say so she can hear my voice.

“Really?” Maya’s voice picks up.

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