Page 1 of My Secret Protector
Chapter One
If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, then guess what? The loser is probably a damn rat. -Flora
“I’m sorry, Flora. I guess…I guess I just got tired of waiting.” Tim’s brown eyes are full of regret as he gazes sorrowfully at me. I used to think his dark eyes were attractive, especially his long lashes. Now, the subtle flutter of those fucking lashes makes my blood boil.Damn pretty boy.
I fist a hand on my hip and glance behind him at the girl trying unsuccessfully to cover her breasts with a sheet. “You couldn’t have told me that instead of hooking up with Little Miss Freshman here? You couldn’t have just been honest with me?” I shift again and cross my arms. My stomach roils with anger, and I’m not too proud to admit it…sadness. I thought Tim was different. I thought he was one of the good ones. But instead, he’s just like all the rest. Incapable of thinking with anything but his dick.
He rubs a hand along his clean-shaven jaw. He has the good sense to look remorseful. “Everything with Sara,” he gestures behind him, “just happened so fast and I got caught up.” He takes a step closer, and I immediately take a step back. “I really did want to wait for you.”
“You waited a whole two months, Tim!” I widen my arms. “In the scheme of life, that’s nothing. I can’t believe I ever thought you were worth it anyway.” My eyes fill with tears, but I will not let this scumbag see me cry. I am Flora, head cheerleader at Crestwood University, and I will not be beat down by a man who now holds a pillow covering his junk. His incredibly small junk. I shudder. At least I didn’t squander my virginity on that.
I think of all the times I endured his hyena laugh and his weird, too touchy friend Wallace. I can’t believe I thought Tim was a decent guy.What a waste of two months.
“Maybe you should get some help, Flora. I can’t even touch you without you freezing up.” He lowers his voice. “That can’t be normal, babe.” He reaches for me, and I pull away, far away.
Joke’s on you, buddy boy. I’ve already had help.That ironic thought flashes through my mind quickly. Then comforting anger returns. “You don’t get to call me babe anymore, you cheating asshole.” I narrow my eyes. “And the only reason I froze up is because I didn’t want your tiny dick to ever actually touch me.”
He shakes his head and snorts. “Now, there’s no reason to get mean Flora. Or lie. I mean, Sara knows better, right babe?” He glances behind him and the brunette losing the fight with the sheet blushes. She averts her eyes quickly.
I smile triumphantly as he looks back and forth between the two of us.
“Right, Sara?” he asks again, loudly.
Sara looks everywhere but at him; the sheet, the wall lined with pictures of football greats, and then glances hopefully at the open door behind me.
“Um yeah right, honey,” she says in a small, syrupy voice and I snicker.
“And my work here is done,” I say and turn to walk out the door.
Tim doesn’t even bother to watch me as I slam the door behind me. I can hear raised voices as I walk away, head calmly held high, but inside feeling like the biggest damn loser on the planet.
Chapter Two
If I were hers, I would never dare hurt her. -Levi
She finally caught the asshole, and I didn’t even have to intervene. I’ve known he was cheating for two weeks. He wasn’t good enough for her anyway, but to have the balls to betray her…fuckin’ idiot. That feisty, beautiful girl had given him a chance and he had wasted it, thrown it away.What I wouldn’t give…I shake my head. I’m not here for that, no matter how much I wish I was.
I sigh heavily, watching as Flora walks outside with her head held highly. She passes people she knows on the sidewalk and gives them a small wave.
They don’t see how she’s hurting. They can’t see the way her eyes don’t hold their usual twinkle. I punch my fist into my hand. She deserves to have that twinkle all the time. She deserves to be happy.
Fuck that dick.Watching Flora doesn’t mean getting emotionally involved, but here I am anyway.
I duck behind the nearest tree as she stops on the sidewalk to look both ways before crossing the street.
No one notices me. My dark hoodie is pulled over my dirty blonde hair. I manage to hunch over in a nondescript way. No one spares a glance for the stranger who is probably down on his luck based on his old clothes and slumped demeanor. This is my usual MO. The dirty and poor are the ones people want to look away from. They don’t want to feel the need to help so they quickly avert their eyes. It’s a sad statement on humanity, but it works for me.
I see the moment she lets the façade go. As she turns down another street and gets further away from that jackass Tim’s apartment, her shoulders start to droop. Then she wanders over to one of the park benches in Columbia Square. She watches the serene fountain’s waterfall for a few seconds before her gaze falls to the ground. No one notices her in this quiet place set between two of Savannah’s busiest streets. No one but me.
Finally, her lush lower lips quivers and one single tear rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away as if it is highly offensive to her. She even gives it a disgusted glance.
I shove my hands in my dark jeans. I want to reach for her. I want to comfort her.
Instead, I do what I’m here to do. What I’ll keep doing. Keeping her safe by silently, secretly watching.
Chapter Three
I should learn not to have expectations. If you never have expectations, then you never get hurt. -Flora
