Page 55 of Kiss Me Forever

Tyler took a wide berth around the group as he ran toward the car.

"Let go of her," Alex demanded.

"Give me your wallet," the other man said to Alex. "Toss it over here."

Alex hesitated and then took out his wallet and tossed it to the guy.

"Not bad," the kid said, whistling under his breath as he opened the billfold. "Jackpot." As he held up the wad of cash to show his friend, the grip on her neck loosened.

She knew she had one second to use it to her advantage. Remembering what Mick had just taught her, she kicked hard at the guy's shin and managed to throw him off balance. She gave him a shove backward, and he tumbled to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement and knocking himself out.

At her move, Alex had jumped the other guy, and they were now fighting. Alex dodged one punch, but the second one connected with face.

Alex threw a hard fist, and the kid staggered, but came back swinging. She looked around for some kind of weapon, some way to help. But there was nothing and no one in sight.

Finally, Alex shoved the kid against the wall as sirens lit up the air.

Within minutes, two police cars had pulled up, four officers jumping out to take charge of the situation. Alex released the kid and walked over to her.

He gave her a quick hug and a worried, searching look. "Are you okay?"

"I'm good," she said, her voice more shaky than she would have liked.

"You're more than good, you're amazing. You would have made Mick proud at that move you made."

"I guess I'm lucky I just came from class. It was fresh in my mind."

They broke apart as the police came to take their statements. An ambulance arrived to deliver one of the assailants to the hospital while the other one was handcuffed and put into the back of a police car. Then they were told they were free to leave.

"I'm sorry," Tyler said as they approached the car. He was standing by the door, a guilty look on his face. "This is my fault."

"Not at all," Alex said with a firm shake of his head. "We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Because I called you," Tyler said. "I mess everything up."

"This isn't on you. The rest of it—maybe—but not this. You take responsibility for what you do, not what others do. Now get in the car." As Alex reached for the door handle, he winced. He raised his left hand and gave it a bemused look. "Andrea, I think you're going to have to drive."

She stared at his swollen wrist in amazement. "Oh my God, Alex. It looks like your hand is broken. Why didn't you tell the police you needed medical help?"

"Because I don't need an ambulance. Maybe just a ride to the E.R."

"You are definitely going to the hospital," she said taking the keys out of his good hand. "Let's go."

She slid behind the wheel as Alex got in the front seat and Tyler slid into the back. "I hope your hand isn't broken."

"If it is, it will heal," he said pragmatically.

"You beat the shit out of that guy," Tyler interjected, awe in his young voice. "I thought you were dead. That's why I called the cops."

"That was the smartest thing you've done today." Alex shifted in his seat, flinging Tyler another look. "Now tell me what happened at your house?"

Tyler hesitated. "I was sitting in the car waiting for Joan to come out. The keys were in the ignition, and I was just thinking it would be cool to be able to drive wherever I wanted to go. So I moved behind the wheel, and I started the car. I wasn't going to do anything or go anywhere. Then the stupid cat jumped on the hood and distracted me. I hit the gas, and I accidentally drove through the garage door."

"Was anyone hurt?"

"No, but Joan was pissed. She came running out of the house screaming at me. I got out of the car and I ran down the block, and I didn't stop."

"Tyler," Alex said with a sigh. "You can't run away. You have to make this right."

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