Page 47 of Falling Hard

Chapter 14

Libby

“Oh, God, Libby, you’ve got it bad—so, so bad. What are you going to do? You can’t go harass Emmie right now. If all went according to plan, she’s getting laid.”

I cursed just as a loud knock at the door had my spinning on my heels. “You startled me, Critter. Don’t do that,” I scolded.

He chuckled. “You’ll live. I have strict orders to keep you company until Lynx gets back, so what do you wanna do?” Critter asked as he kicked off his shoes and lay on the bed, grinning at me.

“I don’t know, Critter. I’m not really in the mood to do much. I’m kinda bummed out, to be honest,” I confessed as I lay next to Critter on the bed.

“Aww, Libs, cheer up. He’ll be back, so don’t worry. How ’bout I grab a tub of your favorite ice cream and we watch your favorite movie. I swear I’ll watch the whole thing just for you,” he joked. He sat up and looked at me, waiting for my response.

“Aww, really? You would sit through theBeauty and the Beastwith me again for the millionth time? This is why I love you, and you’re my best friend.” I giggled.

Critter grinned and walked out of the bedroom to get the ice cream. While he was gone, I set up the TV and pushed play as he came back with rocky road ice cream and two spoons in hand.

Halfway through the movie, we could hear the wind really picking up and thunder booming loudly.

“Fuck, I knew we were going to get a storm. Critter, this doesn’t look good,” I said, getting up and looking out the window. My body tensed as the rain started coming down hard, then jumped as a hand came down on my shoulder. Critter stood next to me, looking at his phone.

“Shit, it says we are under a severe thunderstorm warning. I’ve got to go close up the garage and make a call. Stay here, and I’ll be right back,” he said, kissing my forehead. He left the room just as a loud bang shook the windows.

I jumped, and my body trembled. As I paced back and forth, biting my nails anxiously, I stared out the window and watched the rain come down hard. Everything was almost pitch black outside, and the lights flickered on and off, which made me scream and stop in my tracks.

“Fuck, Libby, calm down. Everything will be fine. Critter’s coming right back, and Emmie and Maiden are just down the hall. Everything’s going to be fine,” I said over and over again. I sat on the bed and pulled the blanket around me as I tried to focus on the movie. Lightning flashed across the sky, and I jumped again as the lights went out. I instantly got up and on my feet, hand on my chest, and breathing hard, I opened my bedroom door and raced down the hall toward Emmie’s room, only to bump into a hard body. I screamed.

“Sh,sh, hey, it’s just me, Libby.” Maiden held onto me, preventing me from falling. “I’m gonna check the backup generator in the basement. It’s getting pretty bad out there. Go wait in Emmie’s room with her.” He made sure I was all right before heading off.

Bursting through the door, I found Emmie sitting on her bed with the flashlight on her phone lit. She screamed as the bedroom door banged against her wall.

“Shit, sorry, Em, it’s just me. I can’t stand to be alone during storms. They scare the crap out of me. Critter went outside to make a phone call and to close to up the garage,” I ranted as I paced back and forth, shaking my hands while trying to slow my breathing but failing miserably. “I literally ran into Maiden on the way here. Do you mind if I join you? I swear if I have to stay alone, I’m going to pass out. I really can’t handle this. I think I’m going to be sick. I have a terrible feeling.”

“Whoa, calm down. Just breathe. Everything will be okay. I’m here,” Emmie said coming over to me and wrapping her arms around me in a hug, forcing me to stop pacing. “I’m here, and the guys are here. It’s just a storm. Everything will be okay.”

“But how do you know? How do you know it won’t flood, or there won’t be a tornado,” I blurted out my fears, terror capturing my face. “Or that lightning won’t strike the place, or a tree won’t fall on top of us!” I rambled on while resting my head on her shoulder. “Oh, shit, Libby, you have to go to the basement or get your phone so you can call Dad. He’ll know what to do. He always knows what to do.”

“Hey, Libby, did you just talk to yourself?” Emmie asked, chuckling as she patted my back.

“Pshaw, laugh all you want. At least I’m not the one who hears voices,” I teased, stepping away from her. I jumped as lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the room.

Emmie froze, and her eyes widened as she stared at something behind me.

“Em, what is it.?” I asked and turned around. I gasped and took several steps back until I hit the bed. “Fuck, Em, that’s the man who tried to grab me,” I stammered, staring at the man, who had a gun pointed at us.

“It’s you. I’ve seen your face staring back at me and thought I was going crazy. Wh-what do you want,” Emmie stuttered, grabbing onto my arm as the man took a step toward us.

“Well, well, well, if this isn’t such a lovely surprise. Two for the price of one. I’ve had such a hard-on for you, Emmeline, but you’ve never paid any attention to me, then, much to my surprise, your lovely sis—cousin just so happened to be at the fight. I almost had her too.” He turned to me, and said, “You’re going to pay for that stunt you pulled, you bitch.” The man growled and rushing forward, he grabbed my arm hard while keeping the gun pointed at Emmie.

“Fuck, ouch, just stop. Let her go, and I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t hurt her,” I cried. I tried to yank my arm out of his grasp but failed.

“Not a fucking chance. Once I’ve finished with you, I’m going to take my sweet time with her,” the man spat. He pushed me against the wall and pointed the gun at my head. I froze, terror seizing my body as adrenaline shot through my veins. The man forced his mouth on mine, and as his tongue made its way into my mouth, the taste of weed and cigarettes made me gag. I bit down on his lip hard, and he jumped back, cursing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Emmie with a lamp in her hands, and just as the man straightened, she hit him, shattering it, and he dropped the gun, screaming.

“Libby, run,” Emmie shouted. She kicked the gun under the bed before following me out into the living area.

We’d nearly made it to the front door when the man caught up and grabbed my arm. I stumbled when he yanked, then he grabbed hold of my neck and slammed me hard into the wall, knocking the air from my lungs, and I cried out in pain.

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