Please don't be here for her, please don't be here for?—
I choke on air when I see two police cars parked outside her house. I'm out of the car with no further thought and I'm running towards them with only one goal.
“Shari? Shari! Where is she?! SHARI!” I shout manically as I try to push my way past an officer. I can hear him talking as he tries to corral me backwards, but it's all just white noise as my eyes frantically search the windows of the house. I can't see anything until her ashen face appears in the living room window.
Her porch door flies open a second later and her face crumples as she stands there. “Brad.” It's a croaked plea that I'm unable to withstand and I shove the officer off me with a strength I didn't know I possessed to sprint up her driveway. No sooner than I reach the door does she fling herself at me and wrap her arms around my neck in a vice. One I never want to loosen.
Her whole body shakes as she breaks down in my arms, and I feel both lost and anchored at the same time. All I can do is holdher tight, one hand cupping the back of her head and the other rubbing slow circles on her back.
“What happened?” I ask quietly. I don't even know who I'm directing the question at, I just need someone to fill me in so my mind can stop filling in the blanks with worst-case scenarios.
Shari squeezes me even tighter at the question and I only just make out the broken, “Jake”.
I. Am. Murderous.“Where is he? What did he do?” I demand, glaring at the officer who tried to hold me back. He shakes his head, hands on his hips as his eyes flick to the back of the police car that's now pulling away.
“We were called out to a report of an intruder by a neighbour,” I finally notice Mrs Finnegan talking to a copper on her driveway opposite us. “When we got here, the suspect was attempting to kick the door in and had already tried to smash a window. He's being charged with attempted burglary and criminal damage.”
Shari dissolves into another fit of sobs, but I need to see her face. I move my hands to her upper arms and gently push her torso away, just far enough to look into her eyes. I can't see any injuries, but the thing that guts me is the pain in her glassy eyes.I shouldn't have left her alone.
Another officer appears in the porch behind Shari, and I realise she must have been giving her statement when I arrived. I usher Shari back inside and Pickles immediately rushes over to greet me, tail wagging. I crouch down to scratch the spot above his tail that he loves so much.
Shari sniffles, watching us with a watery smile. “Pickles was such a good, brave boy and tried to claw his way through the front door to protect me, didn't you, my little Pickled Gherkin?”
I lavish extra love on Pickles for being such an awesome protector, “You are such a good boy, buddy. So brave. I'm going to buy you the biggest block of cheese you've ever seen!” I swearthis dog understands English because his tail wags in double time and his tongue lolls out the side of his mouth.
Shari finishes giving her statement to the police, all the while holding my hand in a death grip, and it's all I can do not to explode with every word out of her mouth. I could kill that worthless fucker.
I turn and cup Shari's face, “Are you ok, Blaze? I know that's a stupid question but...are you? Do we need to go to the hospital?” My thumb rubs her cheek gently as I thread the fingers of my right hand in to her hair.
The bobby who's been taking her statement stands up. “I think I've got everything I need. We'll be in touch when we have any news for you, Ms. Jones.” Turning to me, he quietly states, “I’d recommend getting some cameras installed for peace of mind, and just double check the door and window are secure when you lock up for the night.”
Like fuck will I be letting her stay in this hellscape. I'm taking her back to mine right now. I'll come back tomorrow with Trey and grab all her and Lizzie's things. They'll be moving in with me, but this is a discussion we can tackle once she's had some sleep.
By the timewe get back to my little house, it's nearly two a.m. and Shari is so exhausted she drifted off in the car.
I carry her into the house with Pickles on my heels and tuck her into my bed, planning to give her some space tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to make her mine and we'll never sleep apart again. But as I go to move away, she grabs my hand.
“Stay with me? Please, I don't want to be alone with my thoughts, and you make everything...suck less.”
“High praise indeed,” I chuckle. I take off my jeans and slide into bed next to her, and she immediately curls herself around me.
Her tears soak my t-shirt as she whispers, “I don't want him to be the last person who touched my skin.”
My stomach drops even as my rage burns my veins. “Shari, love, I have to know. Did he touch you tonight? Earlier, at the club?”
She knows exactly what I mean, even if I can't bring myself to say the actual words, and she's shaking her head against my shoulder before I've even finished speaking.
“No, I promise. I wouldn't have kept that from you. I just hate that I didn't see who he really was and I…”
“What, love? You what?” I rub circles on her back and ground myself in her jasmine essence.
“Igavemyself to him! I'm not that person, Brad. I don't just sleep with anyone, I have to build up that trust first.” She huffs a weird little laugh, “Present company excluded, of course.”
“Gee. Thanks. I'm so glad you didn't trust me when we slept together,” I deadpan, trying desperately to ignore the part about her giving herself to that giant ballbag.
“No,” she titters, “I trust you more than anyone! Obviously, I just didn't know that would be the case when I slept with you on the first night.” She's silent for a moment, “I’m just pissed that I started to trusthim. I allowed myself to believe that we might have a future. So I slept with him and it was shit!!” her voice getting louder with every word. “Sorry. This is so awkward, I shouldn't be talking about this with you.”
She suddenly sits up like she was stung, “Oh my god, what about Larissa?! Brad, this isn't good. I know if I were her I wouldn't be ok with you sharing a bed half naked with your…me. I'll, I'll go sleep on the couch. Or in Lizzie's room, on the sofabed. Oh shit, your parents are here!” she whisper shouts the last realisation and I can’t help but laugh.
