“I am.”
“Why?”
We’ve crossed paths multiple times today and he barely smiled at me. Now he’s being weird. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. Is it?”
“Yes. Why?”
He puts his finger out and gestures frantically. “You have a new mark on your head. That makes twice I’ve seen you with bruises on your face.”
“What’s your point?” I ask sharply as I pull away. “
“If you need help, I have resources and—”
“Yo, hands off,” Ben is storming toward us, his voice and his face filled with fury.
Noah doesn’t listen.
In a blink, my personal shield is in place. He shoves Noah, his neck snaps like whiplash, and he has no choice but to let me go. Ben advances on him until Noah is pinned against the wall. “You got a problem, asshole?”
“Ben…” I touch his back, looking around, relieved nobody is watching. “Relax.”
Noah grits his teeth, and when his fists clench, Ben pushes me away. Surprisingly, my co-worker doesn’t back down. “Is he the guy who did that to you?”
“What? No!” I shuffle closer, but Ben blocks my path.
“You don’t have to protect him.” Noah moves a few steps to the over. “I can get you somewhere safe.”
Ben’s shoulders relax, and he asks incredulously, “You think I did that to her?”
“Did you?” Noah presses as he skirts around a table filled with pamphlets.
“I’m not gonna tell you again to back the fuck up.”
“You still didn’t answer me.”
Ben is losing patience. “I don’t owe you shit, but for Annie, I’ll tell you I didn’t do that.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, Noah. Ben is my boyfriend, he would never hurt me.”
“And because I’m in a good mood today, I’ll tell you this as well—your personal interest in her endsnow.This is the only warning you’re gonna get from me, and I suggest you take it very, very seriously.” He reaches behind him for my hand. As soon as our fingers brush, I feel warm all over. “Let’s go.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear and look at my feet as Ben guides me outside and toward his Explorer.
He helps me up, starts the engine, then leans over and kisses me. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Are you okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, but, was that totally necessary?”
“Yes.” He says over the rumble of the engine starting.
“He’s a social worker. Him being concerned is just an occupational hazard.”
