Page 35 of Evil King

“I’m so sorry. Baby.” He tried to pull out of the guy’s grip, but the guy held him tight. “I’m so sorry.” Tears welled up in his eyes and then started to stream down his face. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Baby, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Cherri.”

The man holding him looked at his girlfriend and then back at Nathan. “What the fuck is up with this guy?” He looked up at me. “Hey, don’t mess with this guy again, okay? Anyone who puts his hands on a woman is bad news.”

“He’s never done that before,” I responded. “What’s wrong with you?” I asked Nathan.

“I don’t know!” Tears were falling down his face in a continuous stream. “I’m so sorry. I love you, Cherri. I realized this summer that I don’t want to be apart from you. I don’t want to lose you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

The guy clicked his teeth. “Bad way to show it, buddy.”

“You can let him go,” I said. The guy looked at me, shocked, but I nodded. “It’s okay. He won’t do that again.”

The guy’s girlfriend touched his shoulder, and the looks they exchanged were judgmental, but he let Nathan go, and Nathan crumpled to the ground. “Take care of yourself,” the guy said to me before he and his girlfriend wandered off.

Nathan crawled across the floor and clawed his way up my legs to wrap his arms around me. He buried his face into my stomach and pulled me into him. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry.”

“Look at me,” I said, and Nathan looked up. I brought my hand high above my head and pulled it down to slap him across the face. “If youeverput your hands on me again, you’ll regret it.”

Nathan nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Let me go.”

Nathan pulled his arms from around me. I set the jeans I had on a nearby rack and started for the door with Avery right behind me. We rushed out of the store with everyone watching us, and I was glad when we were finally back out in the fresh air.

“Cherri,” Avery called out, but my chest was tightening, and my head was pounding. My legs were moving against my will. I didn’t even know where they were taking me. I was running but had no idea where I was running to. “Cherri!”

Avery bolted after me and finally gained on me, running into my path. I collided with her and started to sob in her arms. My throat was tight, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“I’m here, babe. I’m right here.” Avery hugged me close and petted my hair. She just stayed in place while I cried. “It’s okay. I’m here.” Avery’s hand slunk into my pocket, and while I didn’t look up to see what she was doing, a few seconds later, I heard. “Yeah, hey. It’s Avery. If I send you an address, can you come get Cherri?”

14

Deon

Cherri dropped her keys in my hands before pulling her seatbelt on. She still had puffy red eyes and was sniffling. I shut the door and then walked over to where Avery was standing. I handed Cherri’s keys to her and took a deep breath to keep from losing my cool.

“What did he do to her?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“Deon, look. I amnotone to defend Nathan, but he has never—”

“What,” I cut her off, “did he do?”

“He grabbed her face and arm. Pretty forcefully,” Avery said. “It was terrifying.”

I turned around and started toward the outlet mall to find Nathan, but a hand grabbed my arm. I was expecting it to be Avery, but when I whipped my head around, Cherri was holding onto me.

“Can we just get out of here?” she asked with a shake to her voice, and my heart broke. I never wanted to see that look on her face. “Please?”

“Okay,” I replied, tapping her hand on my arm. “We can leave.”

Cherri turned to face Avery, but Avery held up a hand. “Go. Ali’s meeting me at your house. I’ll drop your car and give your mom your bags. It’s fine.”

“Thanks,” Cherri replied, then she looked at me briefly before turning around and heading back to my car to climb back in.

I gave Avery a quick nod of thanks, made my way around to the driver’s side of the car, and climbed in. For the fact that Cherri normally had a fighter’s energy wafting all around her, she seemed completely deflated. Before I even started the car, I reached over and grabbed her hand. She looked up at me, and I stared directly into her eyes.

“If thiseverhappens again, just call me. I won’t let him hurt you,” I said.

She nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be okay.”

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