Page 53 of Race to Me

“Who did?” she asks. My sleepy eyes roam around, looking for him. He stands outside the door, speaking with a nurse. His hands are wild, flying up as the older nurse attempts to calm him down. No wonder they think he has anger issues, but he’s angry because someone’s been hurting me, not because he has.

I inhale a sharp intake of breath. “No one,”Please don’t take him away. A hot tear stings as it trickles down my cheek.

She nods once, seemingly used to conversations like this. “Okay, you’re an adult, so until you want to speak, I can’t speak for you. But here’s my personal number. Call me if you need anything.” She hands me a small business card and still wearing my cheer uniform, I tuck it into my bra.

When the doctor steps out, she gives me one last solemn look while she lets him back in. Foster rushes to my side and touches my face gently. “Why haven’t you been eating, Freckles?”

“It’s a long story.” I croak, placing my palm against my forehead, trying to decide how to explain everything to him.

He peels my fingers from my face. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

“Yeah,” A twinge of guilt hits me when flashes of tonight’s memories replay. Particularly one where my best friend had a busted lip and black eye for no reason. “About Brett—”

He cuts me off, his features sharp. “You never have to worry about him hurting you again.” Foster seethes, his brows furrowing. “I’ll protect you from him. Is he why you haven’t been eating? Did he say something to you?”

“Foster ... You don’t un—”

“Skyler!” My mother rushes in, and Foster steps away from me to let her by my side. A powerful urge to scream washes over me as I watch her forehead wrinkle in feigned worry.

“Who called you?” I ask quietly.

She gestures behind her where a mess of red curly hair leans against the doorframe.

Kate’s worry is real, and a frown envelops her face when she says, “You okay, Sky?” I barely nod.

Dad walks in behind her, tapping on his cellphone. I wonder if anyone notices his lack of concern, but everyone else’s eyes are just on me.

Never close enough, though, but Foster is catching on.

I can feel it.

I barely get a word in with Foster before my parents steal me away from the hospital, rushing the typical discharge process to get me home.

∞∞∞

As I’m lying in bed, soaked in tears and completely drained from the events of the day, I begin to doze off. Dreaming of Foster, his leather scent still lingers around me. The thrumming rumble of his motorcycle winding down rings in my ears.

Then, the doorbell chimes throughout the house.

I tip-toe down the stairs, curious.

My father is standing at the door, his back to me. A familiar voice is on the other side., “I wanted to check on Sky.” Foster tells him.

“It’s two in the morning. Go home,” Dad retorts, irritated.

Foster sighs. “She isn’t answering her phone. I just need to make sure she’s okay.” I don’t even know where my phone is.

Dad repositions the way he’s standing, taking a step back and gripping the edge of the door. “Just go.”

“What’s your problem with me?” Foster demands.

“To be quite honest, I don’t want my daughter galivanting around town with someone like you.” he tells him, no hint of anything in his tone. Just like a normal conversation. My heart sinks at how that must make Foster feel.

Dad begins to close the door, but Foster doesn’t let him. His palm slams against the wood, and my father jolts back. “With all due respect, who she hangs out with is none of your business.” Foster spits, his calm resolve faltering.

I just want to curl up into a small ball and hide from everything around me while simultaneously breaking free and shattering my shell.

Dad scoffs, raising his tone. “I’m going to give you some advice because from the looks of it, no one ever did. Stop getting tattoos, get a job, and go after someone in your class range.” He sneers, sounding like an arrogant prick. “Skyler might be running around with you to piss us off. I don’t know. But the truth is that you’re a passing phase; someone she’ll have some fun stories about in college. She will marry wealth, and she will leave you behind.”

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