Page 73 of Sunny Skies Ahead
“I need you to know that we’re here for you, and we’re not going to let anything bad happen to you.”
Alarms blared in my mind as I turned to Connor.
“What is she talking about?”
“Jacob is here, Imogen.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. I laughed for what felt like several minutes before it finally passed. Abbie and Connor were still looking at me with twin grim expressions, and I threw my hands up in the air.
“That’s a sick joke, but a good one,” I said.
Abbie ran a hand down her face.
Deflection is good. If I continued to deflect with humor, then maybe, just maybe, I could ignore the growing dread forming in my stomach.
“He’s really here, Imogen,” Abbie said. “Connor and I just saw him go inside. At first I thought I was mistaken, but. . .”
“It’s him,” Connor confirmed, and my gaze switched to him.
“But he’s in California,” I said, and Abbie took my hands in hers.
“You don’t need to go in there,” she said. “I called you because I was freaking out, but Connor pointed out that the last place you need to be is here.”
I looked to the entrance to the Roadhouse, focusing on the bubbling vinyl dictating the hours and the faded rug that covered the steps.
“Who else is in there?”
“Lucas. And. . . Kameron.”
The alarm bells rang louder.
I pushed through the two of them.
“Wait,” Abbie said, pulling me back behind Connor. “Let him go first, okay?”
I nodded my head as the buzzing in my ears grew louder. Connor and Abbie descended the steps first.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Connor yelled, throwing a hand out in front of Abbie defensively.
I came around Abbie’s side just in time to see Kameron lunged for Jacob.
The shock of seeing Kameron’s face contorted into anger quickly overran the shock of seeing Jacob.
Jacob let out a laugh.
“You think this is a fucking game?” Kameron shouted, shaking Jacob harder. Jacob let out a low laugh that had every cell in my body screaming that we needed to get away.
Kameron leaned in closer, sneering as he tightened his fists in Jacob’s shirt. “You think hitting women is funny, huh?”
“Oh God,” I whispered, my breaths coming short and fast. I was going to be sick.
“Nah,” Jacob said, looking Kameron in the eyes. “It just makes what comes after more fun.”
Abbie inhaled sharply, but the words barely cut me. Jacob had said so much worse over the course of our relationship.
The next five seconds happened in slow motion, like my brain was trying to force my eyes to look away and failing miserably.
Kameron raised his fist.
