I rush across the street and skirt around to the front of the building before swinging open the door.The sound of the little bell chiming warms my heart even as the scent of disinfectant and old rubber hits my nostrils.
The cracked linoleum anddown for maintenancesign on the elevator only add to the appeal.It matches the broken little girl inside of me who worries she’ll never be accepted ever again, but if Mr.Carter, Brook, and all the other gym goers can love it as much as they do, then maybe I’m not a lost cause.
Before I even take two steps into the building, Mr.Carter’s gruff voice calls out from his office.
I unzip the first few inches of my coat and start down the hall.
“Mr.Carter, I need your help.Someone is following me.”
He emerges from his office the second I say the word help wearing his typical scowl and military green sweats.
“You’re late.The girls already started,” he says with a chin jerk toward the back of the building.
When I don’t move aside, he stops a few paces in front of me.
With my heart in my throat, I meet his weathered eyes.The promise of death lurking in them—at whoever dares make me feel unsafe—soothes my soul.
“It’s probably my…” I struggle for a moment, not sure how to describe Brennan so Mr.Carter won’t kill him, and settle on, “boss.Some things have happened at work, and he’s just trying to keep me safe, but I’m not sure if it’s him or not.”
Mr.Carter grunts and nods for me to join the class before heading to the front.He turns into the side hall instead of going out the front door.
I can’t force my legs to carry me deeper into the building even though I long to see my friends.
Less than five minutes later, Brennan walks through the front door with Mr.Carter a few steps behind him.He stops in his tracks when he sees me.I cross my arms over my chest and glare.
“You broke your promise,” I accuse.
Even though I knew he would, since I goaded him before I walked out of his office on Friday, irrational hurt pierces through my chest.
“I’m sorry, Audrey.I was worried for your safety.”
I shake my head.
“Stop worrying about me and start worrying about yourself,” I snarl with a glance at Mr.Carter.
Brennan has the decency to look contrite.He steps to the side and turns, forming a triangle of the three of us.
“I think the only reason I’m not dead right now is because I didn’t fight back when I admitted I was following you,” he says.
“He wasn’t the only one on your tail,” Mr.Carter grunts.
He opens the door to his office and gestures toward the monitors lining the back wall.Not a single one is on.
“From Brook’s new man,” Mr.Carter says by way of explanation.
“You’re not using them?”I ask.
He shrugs and grunts, “They’re recording.Screens give me a headache.”He gives Brennan a cold once-over before addressing me.“Take the tapes and go.”
My brain finally catches up.Mr.Carter believes someone else was following me.I turn to Brennan.
“Did you have other people tailing us?”I ask.
He shakes his head.I turn back to Mr.Carter.
“Was it a female?”
He nods.
