My pulse racedthe moment Tabitha told me what had happened in the parking lot. I ran out of the club and scanned the parking lot for Josh’s SUV. I took off toward it and saw Josh crouched with Ali in his arms. Seeing the two of them relaxed me, but only a tiny bit. These weren’t just any bottoms of Club Oxygen—they were mine.
Josh’s eyes met mine, and it didn’t surprise me that he looked shaken by this. Right now, I needed to take care of them.
“Josh, did you see who did this?” I calmly asked him while I glanced over the part of Ali’s body that I could see.
One of Ali’s tank top straps was pulled out of shape and had slipped down, hanging loosely on her upper arm. The waistband of her jeans was close to her bent knees, unbuttoned and unzipped.
“Josh,” I prompted him quietly. Ali shifted a little in Josh’s arms, and her movement allowed me to see blood that was smeared on his shirt. “Ali, let me see your head, sweetheart.” She lifted her head slightly but kept her eyes glued to Josh’s shoulder.
Embarrassment. Shame. All common and expected for this.
“Josh, did you see anyone running away?” I asked him again and touched his shoulder the same time I put my hand on the back of Ali’s head. My hand guided her head to gently tilt back, so I could find out where the blood was coming from. Blood was smeared on her forehead and nose, and her jaw had blotchy red spots that had most likely come from being grabbed or having a hand clamped against it.
“I didn’t see anyone,” Josh finally answered.
“Okay—”
“I barely saw her until I looked in the side view camera and saw her curled up against the side of the car.” Josh was growing talkative … also a sign of some shock.
I turned to look at Tabitha and reached in my pocket for the fob to my SUV. I pressed the button to unlock the doors, and when the taillights lit up, I pointed to them across the aisle.
“It’s the black 4Runner. Can you bring it over, please?” I asked her.
“Of course.” Tabitha moved as fast as she could in her heels.
“Ali, we need to get you to the hospital—”
“No!” Ali barked. “No police!”
She pushed her way out of Josh’s arms and quickly stood. Without remembering, or realizing that her jeans were around her knees, she tried to make a sudden move to her car door and stumbled forward. I moved fast, wrapping my arms around her midsection and chest. I gently pulled her against my chest to keep her steady and from falling. Ali struggled in my arms as I heard my SUV start up a short distance away.
“Ali, sweetheart, I’m not going to hurt you.” I spoke clearly and loud enough so she could hear me over her sobs and grunts while trying to break free. I repeated it over and over until she stopped struggling. Her body finally slumped against me, relenting. “I know you don’t want to go to the hospital, but we need to check your head. I won’t leave your side, sweetheart. Okay?”
“No police.”
“If you don’t want to report this, that is your choice. But I need to check you over.”
“You promise, no police?”
“I promise, Ali. Will you come with me?”
She nodded against me as I swayed side to side with her.
“Good girl.”
“Can … Josh come with us?” she asked.
“Of course he will,” I promised and turned to look at Josh. He was standing with his hands clasped on top of his head. Disbelief, anger, and concern were all evident on his face. Josh was in shock too, and he also needed some care.
My SUV stopped behind Josh and Ali’s cars. Tabitha got out and hurried around to open the door on our side to the backseat.
“Monica, in the back trunk area there’s a blanket. Can you please bring it to me?” I asked her and then looked at Tabitha. “Can you lock and secure Ali and Josh’s cars?”
“Wait, my purse,” Ali mumbled and squirmed to look around on the ground.
“I’ll get it, sweetie,” Tabitha said.
“Josh, open the blanket. You’re going to wrap her up in it and hold her in the backseat,” I instructed. While he messed with the blanket with Monica, I leaned close to Ali’s ear. “Sweetheart, I’m going to pull your jeans up so you don’t fall when we walk,” I explained so when she felt my hands moving up her thighs she wouldn’t be alarmed.
