Page 73 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part 2

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugs. “It just kind of happened.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

“I kind of am, aren’t I?” I hold her tighter, loving her confidence more and more each minute I’m with her. I doubt I’ll ever feel about myself the way she does, but she gives me hope.

“Yes, yes, you are. How are you?”

“I don’t want to go to class today, that’s for sure. I want to stay here with you and do absolutely nothing.”

“Are you scared?” This makes her pause, and a tremor works its way through her body. My anger simmers, hatred for what Jonas has done, fury for her parents leaving her hanging like this—selling off their daughter—making her doubt her safety. Unease ripples in. As much as she doesn’t want to go to class, I don’t either.

A kid was murdered and while we can’t connect Jonas to the attack or anything other than stalking her, it’s obvious Jonas is the one who killed him. I can only speculate, but I have an inkling it has something to do with the fact that Aaron hurt Charley. That absolutely terrifies me, strikes a fear that burns so deeply, I’m frozen in place. I wonder if Layla is safe. I’m pissed at what she’s done, taunting Charley and hurting her physically, but death at the hands of whatever Jonas is capable of…Shiver.

“Yeah, I am.” I stop the harsh inhale and take it slower. This situation is making my girl scared to leave the apartment, scared to go to class and to hockey, which she loves. The world is severely pissing me off. Taking hockey from her. The one thing that she absolutely loves most in this cruel world… Losing her captaincy was bad enough. What if she can’t get herself to play because she’s too afraid?

“Chandler will be there and Jensen, Kai, or I will be there every step of the way when we can be.”

“But what about you guys? What about Fox? He could hurt any of you. I don’t want y’all near him at all. This isn’t something we should be doing.”

“You heard Mr. Tucker, we change nothing, so we don’t spook Jonas and let him know we are on to him. Right now, it looks like you have security following you, so Layla can’t have any of her bitches attack you again. Jensen and Kai can protect themselves. So can I.” Lie, but I’m getting there. “Mr. Tucker has some of his own guys blending in. They are following Foxy and monitoring things. It’s going to be okay.”

“I don’t know.”

“You need your education and you need hockey. Don’t let him take that from you, okay?” Her nod is barely there, but I feel it. I clamp down on my anger again. I hate she fears going out in life when she is one who enjoys her friends and exploring. Everything in me is calling to make it better for her and I’m pissed that I can’t, not right now.

She’s my world, and her world is crumbling. I want to make it better, need to make it better, need to protect her.

“Fine. Let’s get ready,” she says mechanically and slips from my arms. My fists clench, my jaw aching from the pressure I’m putting it under. She’s going to be fine.Weare going to be fine. Chandler knows what he’s doing. He will protect her.

I’ve been teeteringon the edge of my sanity all day, going crazy with the need to be with Charley, to protect her, that by the time lunch hour comes around, I’m a ticking time bomb. I need to get to her to see that she is okay. We’ve been texting all day, stuck together like glue during creative writing, but if I don’t hold her in my arms soon, I’m going to explode.

I drop my tray down on the table before me, my salad bouncing precariously. This is the first day in a long time that I don’t have an appetite. My body is coiled so tightly. This impending doom, that has nothing to do with a panic attack, is cradled so deeply inside me I can’t even think about eating.

“I’m down for trying that,” Foxy says to Kai, who glances over at Jensen, who clears his throat when he sees me. Kai stiffens, but Foxy isn’t bothered at all. She’s an open book when it comes to sex. I haven’t ventured further into their relationship beyond what Jensen has told me, but I no doubt know that they were talking about sex.

Jensen and his sixth sense take notice of something he sees in me and immediately straightens with awareness. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I say, letting out a breath I’ve been holding in for some time. “Fuck, it’s everything. I just need to see my girl, man.”

“Awe,” Foxy chimes.

“Is everything okay? Has something happened?” Kai and Jensen both ask, looking at one another.

“Yeah, everything is fine, I… I don’t know. I’m sure I’m being paranoid, but this feeling is hanging over me and I can’t get it to go away. I’m hoping when I see her, put eyes on the fact that she is okay, I’ll be better.”

Kai leans forward, placing his forearms on the table before him, his expression one of concern. “Is she okay?”

“Honestly, I’ve taken her strength for granted. She—” I stop myself, not usually one to share my business and while I feel like I can, I’m not sure how much Charley wants me to share. It was, after all, her breakdown, not mine for once. Everyone has had a front-row seat to my bullshit, but not her breakdown, not yet.

“She what?” Kai barks, his impatience getting the better of him. “What happened?”

“Kai,” Foxy says, her eyes widening in a warning.

“It’s my sister, Fox. She never asks for help and we all assume she’s fine. So if she needs it, I want to know.”

My stare flicks to all of them as I try to decide if I want to tell them or not. Charley needs everyone’s help. As she always reminds me, she isn’t alone.

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