Page 28 of Beyond Repair: Part Two

Chapter 17

Nina

The ache between my legs has faded, but the sexual tension has not. Or maybe that's just my anxiety that has me feeling a little...how do I put this?Zingy. My nerves feel like they’re buzzing, my vagina throbs whenever I'm near the guys, and I'm hyper focused on everything.

Like right now...Why has the trunk of that car been open for the past twenty minutes?

"Hey, little one."

I jump, my lemonade sloshing over the side of my glass. My eyes shoot up to see Adam standing a few feet away from me looking worried.

"Shit, sorry, kid. I didn't mean to scare you."

Wiping my hand on my leggings, I tell him it's okay. I glance behind him and ask, "How can I help—" My gut twists for no legit reason, but I swear I can feel illness overtake me when I see that the trunk is now closed. Dizziness swoops through my skull as I trip over my paranoia.

Who closed it? Why was it open? How did I not see anyone do it? Or was it not even open in the first place?

"Nina? You okay?"

Am I going crazy?

Heat pokes my shoulder, but instead of startling me, I blink back into my body. "Sorry, what?" I give Adam a fake smile and notice he's now sitting beside me on my front step. "Got a little lost in my head."

He nods slowly and glances around the neighborhood probably wondering why I'm being so darn weird. The police cruiser down the block weighs heavily in the silence. "I just wanted to stop by and make sure the security system wasn't bothering you."

"You could have called my dad," I retort and immediately feel bad. "I mean?—"

Adam chuckles, the sound deep and welcoming. "It's okay. I know what you meant. Theotherreason I came over was because I wanted to see how you're doing. You scared me that day, y'know?" Putting a hand up between us when I open my mouth, he stops me, "Don't apologize. I would be worried about you either way, but now that I know you're Meg and Will's daughter, well...now I'm personally invested in your safety."

"Thank you for looking out for me," I say, uncertain what he wants to hear. From what I know, Adam was close with my parents years ago, and it just so happened that he watched me crack my head open that day almost two weeks ago now.

My heart pounds heavily in my chest. "Can you tell me what happened? From your point of view."

I don't look at him, but the sound of his swallow and drooping posture out of the corner of my eye tells me it weighs heavily on him. Adam clears his throat and begins. "I was coming out of the gas station with a chocolate cake donut and an iced tea when I could have sworn I saw Meg walking through the parking lot. It was you."

That doesn't surprise me. I've seen pictures of my mom in college and we are almost identical.

"I rushed out after you and found that you parked right next to me. Shit, I was shocked that Meg hadn't aged a day." Adam chuckles. "Then you jerked and stepped back. I didn’t get a good look at the guy who spooked you. You kept moving...then when you sped up, your feet tangled together and y-you fell. I was too far away to stop it..."

"It's okay, Adam," I try to soothe, not wanting this stranger to hold the blame.

He shakes his head in denial. "No, little one. It's not okay. My guilt isn't for you to deal with, but I should have been a part of your life from the beginning. I let jealousy drive me away from your parents. I'm here to stay now though. Will you tell me if you need anything?"

Why do I get the sense that there is so much more to the story between him and my parents than anyone's telling me?I'm eager to find out but Adam seems pretty withdrawn and sad now so I'll wait until I can supply my mom with wine at our next girl’s night.

"It'll take some time to trust you..." I whisper, feeling a little strange being with him alone. It's not that Adam gives me weird vibes, but I'm incredibly aware of the fact thateverythingfeels like a threat right now.The trunk, the ghost-dog...

"I get it, kid." Adam nods and shoots me a soft smile. "Just know I'll be around, okay?"

"Thank you." What else am I supposed to say? He says something about going to talk to Trevor, but I pay him no mind. I have zero capacity to attempt to form a relationship of any kind with a new person. If Adam does stick around, then we'll find our way with time.

It would have been nice to have an uncle growing up. Maybe if I had another person looking out for me, then I wouldn'thave been kidnapped. If it weren't for Adam that day at the gas station, would Mr. M have taken me again? Someone was watching out for me this time and hopefully someday I'll be able to thank Adam properly for caring.

I can't believe he's here.

Mr. M's hair may have been bleached blond ringlets this time, but I would know that square jaw anywhere. He can wear colored contacts, cover the permanent red blemish on his cheek with makeup, and change his hair, but nothing will ever erase the feeling in the pit of my stomach when the monster from hell sets his attention on me.

I may have physically bashed my head on the ground but I've been metaphorically slamming my head against the wall in hopes some kind of information about Mr. M will get knocked loose so I can help the FBI better.

---