Page 60 of Enraged

As we stepped out onto the front porch, my mood took an immediate nosedive.

Reality really is a bitch.

We walked past our freshly built snowman in silence, our feet crunching against the thick snow.

“I’ll walk you to your car. Take the food with you and donate it to that women’s shelter next to the bank.” She nodded but she looked like she was close to tears.

I stopped her dead in her tracks. “Lena?”

“Hmmm?” she mumbled, never taking her eyes off the ground.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled.

Bullshit.

“Jolene.”

She said nothing.

“If you don’t want to go,” I began, “we can stay. I just know we are both ready to wash our ass.”

Still refusing to look away from the packed snow, she spoke up. “I’m okay with leavin’. I do want a shower. I just… are you sure Chief Hennessy said the roads are okay?” The anxiety in her voice was palpable.

She’s afraid to drive back alone because of the weather.

“He said they’re fine, but I’ll tell you what, I’ll drive us back in my truck. We can just leave your car here and I’ll bring you to get it this comin’ weekend.”

Relief flickered across her face before fleeing just as quickly. “I can’t. I have to get my stuff from Jace’s house,” she explained.

Oh, no ma’am.

“You’re not goin’ to get your stuff, anyways,” I informed her. “I’m goin’ to get it.”

She looked shocked. “You are? Why?”

Cause I’m prayin’ he grows a pair and tries me so I can fuck him the hell up.

“Because you said you didn’t want to deal with him, and I want to make sure you don’t have to.”

She smiled gratefully. “In that case, let’s go!”

Jolene

The forty-five-minute ride with Dakota back to Creek’s Edge was fun but I felt the tears threatening the second I saw the city limit sign.

Dak noticed the sudden tension in the air. “When you get to your parents’ house and take a shower, lay down and take a nap.”

I don’t want a nap.

“Why?”

“Because the adrenaline from being in survival mode the last few days is goin’ to wear off and bitch slap you. It will make you feel like crap.”

I stared out the window. “I haven’t felt any adrenaline from this. I feel anger.”

“Anger fuels adrenaline. Anger fuels a lot of things.”

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