Page 60 of In the Light of Sin

“Excuse me?” I jumped, turning around, my hand covering my heart in a pathetic attempt to stop the rapid beating. The store employee put both his hands in the air, signaling he didn’t mean any harm. He was tall, sort of lanky, with dirty-blonde hair that ended just below his ears. The black shirt he wore had the store’s logo and his nametag that told me his name was Evan. “Do you need some help?”

I recovered from the scare he gave me. “Have you seen anyone who looks exactly like me walk out of the store? She had two people with her.”

“Yeah. They left about fifteen minutes ago.” My heart dropped to my stomach. Was I really that inside my own head that I hadn’t even noticed I was alone for that long?

“Oh, okay.” I debated my options for getting out of here. I did walk here, but the sun was probably setting, and by the time I got to the clubhouse, it would be dusk. My chances of being abducted and no one seeing me was much higher when there was no light.

“When she fucks you over, don’t call me cryin’.”

I looked down at my feet, guilt pooling in my stomach. He was right. Everyone was right about Jordyn and me. I couldn’t call Sarge, and everyone else was busy. I guess I could call for a ride. My mind flew back to Clarissa and her horror story with a ride-share. I refused to do that. I sighed, not knowing what to do now. “Thank you.”

“Is everything okay?”

I didn’t want to tell him, but I needed to talk with someone other than my own thoughts. That was the most dangerous place for me right now. “She was my ride.”

“You know, I could take ya home if you want. Or if you’re interested, I could take you back to my place?” I had a feeling that I knew he was going to say that, especially with the way his eyes raked down my body, making me shiver before taking a step back and crossing my arms over my chest. He still didn’t get a clue as he moved closer to me.

His insinuation made my stomach churn, and I couldn’t help but compare. This man—no, he actually looked like a boy, especially compared to Sarge—with his scrawny frame and longish hair. It wasn’t the chestnut color I accidentally spotted the morning after staying in his cabin for the first time. It just felt so wrong to be flirted with by a man who wasn’t Sarge. I could tell his intention wasn’t malicious—he was just a horny man trying to get laid.

But I wasn’t even tempted—not whenever I already had a man like Sarge.

“No, thank you.” I tried to give him my most polite smile while my heart hurt remembering Sarge’s words. I hated rejecting anyone, even if I was uncomfortable with their advances. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to call my friend.”

He nodded, thankfully accepting the rejection. “Just a warning, the store does close in fifteen minutes.”

I blew out a shaky breath before nodding. “Thank you.”

I racked my head for people I could call. Nyla was on her honeymoon. Oakley was in the middle of taking her midterm. I didn’t have any of the brothers’ numbers… I sucked in a breath. I swallowed my pride and dialed the only number. When the ringing stopped, I hoped he was on the other line and didn’t hang up as I rushed out, “I know you told me not to call you, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

“She fuck ya over?”I didn’t say anything. He knew she did, or I wouldn’t be calling. He huffed an annoyed breath.

“I’m sorry for bothering you.” I knew I fucked up, but I didn’t want this treatment from him. Not after the emotional bashing I got from him and Jordyn.

“What did she do this time?”

What didn’t she do? Abandoning me at the mall was the least painful thing she’s done to me today. “She left me at the mall.”

“Good thing I’m almost there.”Even when he was pissed at me, he still was always watching out for me.“What store?”

“I’m outside Thrifty Threads.”

“Stay there.”With that, the line went dead, just like how I felt on the inside. Jordyn abandoning me in a place like this, combined with Sarge’s truth earlier…

I had some hard decisions to make.

I stood on the curb outside of the store, biding my time for Sarge to get here, when the employee from earlier came to stand beside me. “Are you sure I can’t give you a lift home?”

I shook my head, stepping away from him, still feeling on edge from Jordyn’s words. “No, thank you. My boyfriend is coming to pick me up.”

“You didn’t mention anything about having one inside. I’m not gonna hurt you. I just want you to get home safe.”

I wanted to believe him, but everything I’ve seen recently told me to go with the opposite of everything I thought. I had to be more self-aware, something I’d been lacking lately. “Thank you, I will.”

“I’ll just stay here until your… boyfriend shows up.” He said ‘boyfriend’ like he didn’t believe I had one. And while Sarge and I didn’t put a label on what we were, we were definitely something.

It felt like forever being in this awkward silence before I heard Sarge’s bike pulling up. I could hear his distinct engine. Despite our fight, I found myself smiling. I knew he changed the engine sound for me, even if he never admitted it. He parked right on the edge of the sidewalk, swinging his leg over his bike, his posture anything but friendly as he walked up to the store associate by my side. He had a good six inches on him as he spat, “Who the fuck are you?”

The guy from the store tried to puff out his chest, but it wasn’t intimidating in the slightest. Sarge could snap this guy like a twig. “I was just helping—“

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