Page 80 of The Off-Limits Play

“Yeah, well, you can kick me in the balls later. For now, let me get you someplace warm and dry.”

Veering right, he heads across the street, and I reluctantly put my arm over his shoulder, tensing when another boom of thunder echoes in the distance. The storm is moving away, but the rain is still pelting down on us.

I like that he’s moving faster than I was.

I need to get out of this rain. I need a roof over my head. I need the safety of a house.

Flashes of memories torture me, and I fight them off, trying not to cry as I relive that moment in Nick’s crumpled car.

Don’t do this to me now!

Closing my eyes, I battle my trembling chin and hold my breath.

Carson squeezes my waist, walking a little faster until he’s practically running down the next street. I have no idea where he’s taking me until he slows down outside Football Frat.

I spot Carson’s motorcycle in the driveway as he climbs the steps and tries the handle. It’s locked, so he pounds on the door with his elbow. “Open up!”

“You can put me down.”

“Not a chance,” he murmurs, hitting the door again.

It opens after only a second, and Zander’s standing there, looking mystified. But then he takes a look at Carson’s beat-up face, then me in his arms, and that confusion turns to deep worry. “What happened?”

Carson pushes past him, walking into the living room just as Sienna’s rising from the couch.

“Oh no. What happened?”

“She hurt her leg,” Carson explains, laying me down like I’m a delicate rose petal.

I can sense him trying to catch my eye, but I’m not quite ready to look. I don’t want him to see my tears and quickly slash them off my face, hoping the others will think they’re just raindrops.

“How?” Sienna kneels on the floor beside me, lightly resting her hand on my ankle.

“I got caught up in a stupid fight,” I grumble.

“It was an accident!” Carson runs a hand through his wet hair, looking kind of destroyed. “I didn’t realize you were standing so close.” He points at me, then winces at Zander, his voice a shaking mess. “Where the hell are the fucking ice packs? Shit!”

I can’t help flinching, and he notices, his expression crumpling as he shakes his head and shuffles out of the room, following Zander I don’t know where.

Another shudder rips through me, and Sienna jumps to her feet. “You poor thing. You’re freezing. Let me get you some dry clothes.”

Dashing out of the room, she runs up the stairs, and I rest my head back against the cushions, straining for the sound of Carson’s voice.

I don’t know why.

I wanted him to leave me alone, right?

But then he chased me down the street, picked me up, and carried me through the rain.

And now I wish he was still standing beside me, because this living room feels too big and hollow without him.

CHAPTER30

CARSON

I storm into the kitchen, Zander hot on my heels. I’m so riled I can barely think straight. There’s this hazy blur impairing my vision, and when I wrench the freezer open, I can’t even see a fucking ice pack!

“Dude, just take a breath.” Zander reaches around me, stilling my frantic movements before gently moving me out of the way.

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