Page 93 of Saving the Halfback

Faintly, I heard the rev of an engine and the beeping of a door being left opened. I thought it was my imagination until I heard his voice. “Bailey!”

Chase. I said nothing. I didn’t have it in me. My throat was raw, and my eyes burned.

His hands were scorching as they grabbed me by the shoulders, sitting me up. The bag was removed from my head, and I looked into Chase’s grey eyes and…was so broken. “Bailey. What happened?” he demanded, but I didn’t reply. I couldn’t even move.

He grabbed me, pulling me close and cradling me to his chest. I should soak in the warmth. I could fall into him. But I was a doll. “No one was here,” I whispered, my throat scratchy.

No one had come for me now, and no one had come for me then. No one would come for me ever.

He was warm, the kind of warmth that went beyond the surface, but I couldn’t bring myself to truly feel it. I heard another car screech to a stop.

“Over here!” Chase yelled.

“Holy shit,” Nolan said. I looked over as Ethan took a pocketknife from his pocket and cut the ropes around my wrists. My shoulders ached once I was able to finally relax my arms. Nolan pulled his shirt off and dropped it over my head. “Are you okay?” he asked, but then he froze when his eyes met mine.

“Jesus Christ, Nolan! Of course she’s not okay, look at her!” Lachlan yelled. He was pacing, his hands on top of his head.

Ethan held out his hands. “Can you stand up?”

I closed my eyes and leaned my head into Chase’s chest. I wasn’t sure if my body wanted to move, ever again. My stomach still ached from that punch. “I can carry her,” Chase said.

“Give her to me,” Ethan growled.

“I’m fine.” He moved with me in his arms, and I just allowed myself to be moved. What was the point anymore?

“You’ve been drinking. Do you have any idea how fast you were going?” Ethan’s voice rose.

“And thank fuck for that! I got here before you guys.”

“Not even two minutes, Chase. You’re reckless. Let me take her. It was likely your girlfriend that did this, anyway.” I flinched at Ethan’s tone.

“Enough!” Nolan hissed. “Bailey, I got you, girl,” he said, keeping his voice soft. My feet touched the ground for half a second before I was scooped back up into someone’s arms. I keptmy eyes closed, so beyond exhausted, and leaned my head into Nolan’s bare chest.

“Let me get in first,” Lachlan said. I opened my eyes briefly as Nolan helped me up into the back seat of the truck, where Lachlan was waiting. “Baby, I got you,” he whispered, settling me against him.

“Turn the heat up,” Nolan said. “No, Chase, you’re coming with us. We’ll pick your car up tomorrow. Sit next to Bailey. You and Ethan will get us into a wreck with your fighting.”

There was another body beside me, and I opened my eyes to see Chase, his face in his hands. “We should take her to the hospital,” Lachlan said.

I shook my head slowly.

“Baby, your clothes were in shreds around you.” His voice was near breathless. “Please, say something.”

“I don’t want to go,” I whispered to him.

“We can take you home,” he said.

“No. Not there, either.” I leaned my head back against Lachlan. He didn’t give me a choice, his arms staying firm around me. “My mom can’t see me like this.” As the cab warmed up, my shaking ebbed.

“We can go back to my place,” Chase offered.

“Yeah, let her walk through the party for everyone to see what you did.”

“I would’ve never allowed this!” Chase snapped back at Ethan. “Bailey, I can take you up the side entrance. No one will see you.” His hand rested on my bare thigh, but he was quick to pull it away when I flinched. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to touch you.”

For the longest time, I didn’t say or do anything. I didn’t respond. “I want to go to Chase’s,” I finally murmured. It wasn’t for me; it was for my mother. I didn’t want her to be hurt if shesaw me in this state. If I could just get cleaned up, put on a brave face, then I could go home and pretend this never happened.

Lachlan was threading his hands through my hair rhythmically, whispering something over and over. Counting. Lachlan was counting.

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