Page 64 of Desert Thorns
The urge to holler her name was overwhelming, but I managed to keep my mouth shut and keep running instead. The headlights flicked on, then the engine came to life.No!
Gravel poked my feet when I reached the parking lot. I dove right in front of the moving vehicle.
Harley slammed onto the brakes, and the VW jerked to a halt, the bumper inches from me. Hands on the hood, I stood in the blinding headlights, breathing hard. I couldn’t make out Harley and didn’t dare to move out of the way. I refused to let her go. Not before I’d talked to her.
The engine cut off.
I huffed out a breath of relief.Praise to You, Lord.If nothing else, at least I got to talk to her.
Blood rushed in my ears when I stalked to the driver’s side just as Harley let down the window. The interior light had come on, revealing her duffle lying on the passenger seat. My gut twisted so violently I was about to throw up.
Hands on the wheel, Harley had her chin tucked and eyes closed. “Please don’t.”
“He’s still out there, Harley. One of those guys shot Rome. Who says they won’t do the same to you?” I gripped the door. “I can’t protect you if you leave!”
She lifted a shoulder. “Then so be it. We both know I can’t stay here.”
“Yes. Yes, you can.” Desperation choked me. “Please, Harley. Don’t do this to me.”
For the first time, she lifted her head and looked at me. Her cheeks were wet with tears, her eyes red. She stabbed a finger at her chest. “Imade you break your vow of celibacy.Idefiled you.Idrove you away from God.”
“I already told you that I make my own decisions.”
“Decisions that would’ve never been yours to make if it weren’t for me!” she shouted. Her face crumpled, and I wanted nothing more than to open this cursed door and pull her into my arms.
“Sweetheart . . .” My voice cracked.
“No!” The coldness in her tone took me aback. She turned the key in the ignition, the engine clattering to life. “I’m leaving. Tell Father Cruz thank you for letting me stay.”
I hung my head. Lifted it again. “There’s nothing I can do, is there?”
Chin trembling, she shook her head.
“Okay.” I pressed my lips together. Nodded. “Okay.” Acid burned my throat, and I cleared it. “I need you to promise me one thing.”
“Promise what?” she whispered.
“Go to Rome. He can keep you safe.”
He could, right?
Adrenaline dumped into my system. What if he couldn’t? What if the same thing happened to her that’d happened to Kimball? Or something worse?
“Okay.” Harley nodded. “You have my word.”
I don’t want your word. I want you to stay. Need you to stay.“You know you’re always welcome here and can come back any time.”
“Thank you.” Another tear rolled down her cheek. “Goodbye, Kingsley.”
Unable to get a word out, I took a step back, my arms falling to my sides. Then I watched her pull out of the parking lot onto the road leading down the mountain. The taillights of her VW quickly disappeared in the jungle.
“Goodbye, Harley.”
Seminary dragged today, and I counted down the seconds to get out of the classroom. Over and over I went through the conversation I’d had with Harley. She’d left me because she thought she was a bad influence on me. Yet it had been me who’d let her distract me. Who’d kissed her. Who’d made the first move to sleep with her. Why couldn’t she see this?
Sure, she had a point in saying if she hadn’t been around in the first place, I would’ve never messed up. But I was still convinced that the Lord had led Harley to Saint James for a reason. But God didn’t tempt us. It was our own evil desires that did. The fact that my mind was still hung up on last night was proof enough that everything was my fault.
Relief chugged through me when class was finally over. I almost growled when I spotted Rome waiting in the parking lot for me. He sat on his bike next to the monastery’s F-150, smartly dressed as always. The sun was about to go down, all shades of red streaking the sky. Other students streamed out of Astor Hall, the main building of Darkwater Refuge University.
