Page 18 of Losing the Rhythm

The teacher glanced back at me before finally nodding. “Fine. But don’t hesitate to go if you need to.”

“I won’t,” I said. “I promise.”

His frown told me exactly what he thought about a promise from me. That it was worth nothing. “Lunch is about over. Feel free to head to your next class,” he finally said and turned, telling the students to go back to their lunches and mind their own business as he walked by them.

“Cadence?” Micah asked.

“Not here,” I said, unable to look any of them in the eye as embarrassment engulfed me.

We all collected our things and got ready for the next class. I had study hall with Justin and Toby, so they were already sticking to my side.

“Cadence,” Paxon asked hesitantly.

I finally met his gaze. “Yeah?”

“Cal has been asking for another guitar lesson. Can you do one this week? I understand if you don’t feel up to it. I’ll just—”

“It’s fine.” I smiled at him. “Tell him to come by after your practice.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I want to give him another song to practice anyway.”

“Okay.”

The bell finally rang, and I was more than happy to hide away from all the prying eyes of the students as we headed to study hall.

Chapter Five

The rest of the day was just as tense and the guys kept asking me what happened during lunch. I quickly shut them down before they had a chance to even finish their questions. It was embarrassing. How was I supposed to tell them that I reacted so severely because for a moment, I truly believed I was about to be shot. That the loud bang that Micah had made while dropping a textbook on the table was enough to set me off like that.

It was embarrassing and stupid. I was at school. All those men had been arrested and were rotting in jail. They weren’t even given bail because the cops feared they’d retaliate against me, plus the crimes against them were numerous, and the evidence they currently held was enough to keep them locked up.

Apparently, the case they’d been building was extensive and severe enough to do so. At least that was what Amy Rivera, my lawyer, explained to me. I didn’t get it, didn’t really want to understand. I just wanted to know that Rick McCormack was stuck in a cell and wasn’t going to come for me again. And she said yes. I was safe from him and his people.

“We lost you again,” Bryan said as we walked out to the parking lot.

“I’m here.”

“But you aren’t,” Toby interjected. “You aren’t really here.”

I grimaced as I dug out my keys. “I promise I’m here.”

“Right.” Toby sighed. “But remember, this is the only place you need to be. Here, in the present, with the people who want you safe and healthy.”

I stopped and turned to him. “I’m here, Toby. I promise. And right now, me being here means I need to get home so I can get work done before Calvin comes over for some lessons.” I dangled my keys and then went over to my nearby car.

“We’ll be over later this evening for Halloween things.”

“Uh huh.” I waved at them as I tossed my bag into the passenger seat and crawled in. They didn’t leave until I started my car and drove away. In the rearview window, I could see them as they climbed into Bryan’s car.

The only place I needed to be, huh. The present.

Wish it was that easy, not when my nightmares were still so raw.

Back at Seth’s place, he wasn’t home from work, so I took care of Bebe, letting him stretch his legs. Then I went up to the attic with the cutie and used my little area to get work done. With it getting closer and closer to the holidays, I was beginning to get requests for personalized holiday songs for loved ones. It was okay, and it always gave me an uptick in work around this time. But it also got old fast.

Calvin found me first, running into the attic with the guitar case I had ‘lent’ him strapped to his back.

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