Page 53 of Rematch
“Get in the car, Audrey,” I told her.
A sniffle escaped her as she turned on her heel and started walking towards me.
“Babe?” Carter asked, his face falling. “Babe, where are you going?”
Ignoring him, she strutted past me towards the open passenger door.
Carter scoffed as he watched her climb inside and shut the door. “Oh, it’s like that, huh?”
“Yeah,” I spoke for her. “Go near her again and I’ll blow your brains out.”
Shaking his head, he took a few steps backward. “This ain’t over, Guerra.”
“Tonight it is,” I replied. “Now, get the fuck on before I change my mind.”
Finally accepting defeat, he turned his back on us, walked past Tysir and Wesley and headed back towards the other end of the parking lot.
“You want us to handle him for you?” Tysir asked.
“Nah,” I told them. “Thank you, though. For backing me up.”
“We’re your right hands,” Wesley assured me. “That’s what we’re here for.”
Tysir nodded towards my car. “Is your girl alright?”
“Yeah,” I said, though I wasn’t sure of my words. “She’s good.”
I turned away from them to climb into the driver’s seat. I looked over at Audrey and noticed tears glimmering on her face. “Audrey,” I started, reaching out to wipe them away.
She flinched away from my touch. “Don’t touch me,” she said, her voice low and tight. Her eyes stayed locked ahead of her. “Just…just take me home. Please.”
Frowning, I changed the direction of my hand and pressed the ignition button.
Tense silence accompanied us the entire ride home. While I stole occasional glances at Audrey, she only stared outside the window. Slow tears ran down her face, and she did her best to wipe them away before I could see. Still, I caught every single one.
I unlocked the doors when we arrived at her house. I thought she’d bolt out the second I did and not look back. Instead, she lingered in her seat.
“I’m sorry,” I told her, seizing the opportunity I wasn’t sure I’d have again. “I didn’t mean to scare-”
“Why do you have a gun?” She asked as she finally looked at me.
“Protection,” I replied. “You know, after the situation with Jordan-”
“Spare me the lies. I need the truth.”
Sighing, I looked away. I didn’t know how to tell her the truth without breaking her heart.
She filled in the blanks with my silence. “Carter was right,” she murmured. “You’re under your dad’s wing now…aren’t you?”
“You should get in the house,” I told her. “It’s late.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I?” I asked. “So you can look at me the same way you’re looking at me now?”
“I’m not judging-”
“Yes, you are,” I snapped. “And that’s alright. I’ve come to terms with my decisions, but I just…I thought I had a little more time before I disappointed you again.”
