Dammit to hell.
I pulled over, threw the car in park but left the engine running. With the blanket in my arms, I raced out of the car and was instantly drenched. When I reached Emery, I threw the blanket over her, wrapping her in a cocoon. Her hair was plastered around her face, her eye makeup streaking her cheeks in black tears.
“How long have you been out here?” I shouted over the rain.
“I-I don’t know,” she cried. “Not long, but…”
“Long enough. God, Em.” I wrapped her in my arms in a fierce embrace. She clung to me tightly, and for a long moment, I just held her.
I’m not letting go. Never again…
“Come on,” I said gruffly, my voice thick. “I’ll take you home.”
I reached for the passenger door, but she tugged my hand. “I’m not going to my house tonight. I can’t stand the fucking thought of it.”
“But, Em…”
“Take me to your house, Xander. Please.”
Embarrassment at the idea of showing her my shabby little house flashed through me, but I was only going to do what she wanted.
I hustled her into the front seat of the car and came to take the wheel. Inside, water dripped from my hair and spotted my glasses so I could hardly see. I shut the door and cranked the heat all the way up while the rain pelted the roof and hood like stones.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice dangerously low. I took off my glasses and tried to dry the lenses on my sodden sweatshirt. “What did he do? It was Tucker, right?”
She nodded.
My jaw clenched as I turned the car around and headed back to my house. “Tell me.”
Emery started to speak, then peered closer. “Wait, what happened to your face? Your cheek is puffy…”
“Doesn’t matter. I deserve worse if…” I bit off my words. “Tell me everything.”
She faced forward, warming her hands on the heater, and told me what happened as I navigated the darkened streets through the rain-splattered windshield. She told me about the party, Senator Hill’s loss, and how Tucker was upset and wanted to take her home. To talk.
I listened with mounting anger, my sore muscles tensing with every word.
“Tucker was drunk, but I didn’t see how badly until it was too late. Instead of taking me home, he drove me here. He said he was tired of being used. Then he pulled the truck over and said that it was time I paid up.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, my heart thudding in my chest like a jackhammer.
“God, it’s so humiliating,” she said, shaking her head miserably. “He wanted me to have sex with him, and I said no. And he didn’t want to hear no. Nothing happened,” she added quickly as a strangled sound escaped me. “I slapped him, and it sobered him a little. He told me to get out of the truck. So I did.”
My house appeared in front of us. I pulled into the garage and shut off the engine, then gripped the steering wheel.
“Nothing happened?” I asked, my voice stony. “He didn’t…? Because I swear to God, Emery, if he hurt you…”
“He didn’t hurt me, I promise. And it’s all my fault anyway—”
“It’s not your fault,” I said, practically shouting. “It’s not your fault. Not one fucking thing that happened tonight was your fault.”
Emery nodded, though I don’t know that she believed me. I tried to feel relieved that Tucker hadn’t forced himself on her, but she wouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place if I’d been there for her.
I pushed out of the car and went around to her side. Wrapping an arm around her, I guided her through the dark house and up the stairs to my loft, lit by the yellow glow of my desk lamp.
“We have to get you warm,” I said. “Wait here.”
In my bathroom, I flipped on the light. The fluorescent glare revealed its plainness, but at least it was clean. I started the shower and hurried back to my bedroom, where Emery stood shivering.
