Page 8 of Unbroken Promises

“It’s Cathy! I’ll talk to you tomorrow?” She calls out, but I am already gone.

I blow out my breath as the door slams closed, turning up the volume as the Bluetooth syncs. Seether starts blaring from my speakers, bass bumping to the beat as “Remedy” fills the cabin of my truck. Pulling quickly away from the curb, I wind my way through the darkness of the winding back roads, my mind rambling with tumultuous thoughts as I drive aimlessly. Tonight never should have happened. What the hell is wrong with me? Cazzo! I slam my hand against the steering wheel in frustration and blow out a huff.

As I glance down, I glance at the clock on the dash, noting that it’s just after ten, and bite back a curse. With a flick of the wrist, I turn on my blinker and make a sharp turn. Decision made; I drive in the general direction of heading towards downtown. I press harder on the gas, subtly increasing in speed. If I hurry, maybe I can make it in time. A few short turns later, and I am rounding the corner, turning on to the street where Prism Tumbling is located.

Pulling up along the curb, I sit far enough back on the street that my truck is not illuminated by the bright building lights or easily recognizable from the security cameras, but still close enough. Grabbing my ball cap, I place it on my head, tugging the bill lower over my brows before throwing up the hood on my jacket. With quick movements, I hop out of the driver's side and firmly close the door, making quick work to walk down the street, keeping to the shadows, head turned down and hands tucked into the pockets of my jeans. As I round the side of the building, I make my way to where I know the large gymnasium is located in the back.

I am stopped in my tracks, breath caught in my throat at the sight before me. There she is.Il mio passerotto. Graceful as ever, doing a complicated-looking flip, she lands with both feet on the balance beam before sliding into some sort of split. My cock tightens at the sight of her toned thighs as they hug the beam, and I shift uncomfortably, adjusting my pants to make room for my now hard dick. I can just barely make out the music filtering through the closed windows. Notes ofNero’s Promises catch me off guard, and I wonder if it’s just a coincidence that the song playing used to be one of our favorites.

With effort, I push these thoughts aside. I know I should leave but she is a siren that calls to me; and like the fucking creep that I am, I keep watch in the night, her own personal voyeur that she’ll never know exists. So, rather than leaving like I know I should, I continue to keep watch. Finishing up on the beam, she lands an elegant dismount before heading over to the large mat in the center of the room. The mats are further from the windows, and I cautiously move forward so I can continue to watch as she proceeds with her floor routine.

A short time later, Danica finishes up her routine, and after her cool down, I watch as she turns out the lights. Finally able to get a good look at her face as she nears the set of windows by the gymnasium entrance, it’s plain to see that she seems tired. But not in a “just finished a complex routine”kind of way.What’s wrong, passerotto?Concern fills me, along with frustration that I can’t just ask her what is bothering her. Damn, I wish I could read her mind. Not wanting her to see my reflection, I take several quiet steps back, away from the window before turning away.

Blowing out my breath, I hustle back to my truck, and sit in the warmth while I continue to wait patiently. Normally, I know Danica takes a shower after her practice before locking up, but in the few instances where I have seen her look this tired, bone weary really, she has generally skipped out on the shower and closed to head home early. I assume that is what the plan will be for tonight. Like clockwork, Danica rounds the corner from the back entrance of the building not ten minutes later, placing earbuds in her ears, and proceeding down the empty street.

Heedless of the fact that it’s almost fucking eleven o’clock at night and she is out walking in the dark by herself with her headphones in. If she were still my girl, we would definitely be having a conversation about that. Doesn’t she know there are creepers out here that could be watching? Predators lurking in the dark, just waiting for a girl unaware of her surroundings. My knuckles turn white as I clutch the steering wheel more tightly, anxiety filling me at the thought of anything happening to my little sparrow.

I wait until she has made it further down the block, almost, but not entirely, out of my sight, before I signal and pull away from the curb. Being as subtle as possible, I keep my distance while I follow my girl along her path home. Eventually, she reaches the building that I know her apartment is situated in, andI park out front, waiting for a beat. I can’t see her apartment from this angle, and I know she has no fucking clue I am here, but I still need to make sure she gets inside safely.

Pulling out my cell phone, I first open the discreet app that I have linked to her phone and watch until the notification pops up that Danica has “arrived home.” Satisfied now that I know she is safe, I exit the screen and go to my messages.

Me: You need to have a conversation with our girl about her lack of situational awareness.

Finn: Still being a fucking creep, I see.

Me: Someone’s gotta look out for her. . .

Finn: Literallyallof us look out for her. *eye roll* I have her totally hooked up with the most state-of-the-art security system, and some of my team keep an eye on her whenever you are out of town. You know I would never let anything happen to her again.

Me: Still, dude. She fucking walks home alone in the middle of the night, on a dark street with her headphones on. Anything could fucking happen. You need to say something to her since I can’t.

Me: Besides, I may be a bit of a stalker, but I can’t follow her every damn night. What if something happens on a night when I am out of town for a game? What then?

Finn: Ok, first of all. . . “a bit ofa stalker”? really?

Finn: Also, T, you need to calm the fuck down. I’ve got Danni covered; I swear. And she literally does not need you being her personal stalker and bodyguard all rolled into one. Danni has come a long way since the last time you were with her. She can take care of herself.

Me: What do you mean, ‘she can take care of herself’?

Finn: Just that-

Finn: She is a big girl, not the teenage damsel in distress that you fell hard for all those years ago. She’s changed, man. In the offchance that some fucker tried stupid shit while she was walking home, I guarantee she can handle it.

Me: I still don’t fucking like it.

Finn: *sighs* Of course you don’t. But you realize, like, you don’t get a say in her life anymore, right? You left her dude. That was the choice you made and now this is how it is.

Me: I fucking leftforher! To keep her safe. And it kills me every fucking day.

Finn: I know. I get it man. . . it’s just. . .

Me: Just what?

Finn:

Me: Just what, Finn?

Finn: Well, just that maybe leaving wasn’t the right move. You should talk to her.

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