I could practically feel the blood drain from my face as her words from last night crashed into me:I think I should talk to him.She had a resigned look on her face when she said it. Like she knew it’d come down to this and she was ready for it. I never should’ve told her that Rossi requested a meeting.
The memory of her tear-streaked face the night she called me for help slammed into my brain, making my heart rate spike. I vowed to her that night that I’d never let Mark near her ever again.
I wouldn’t fail her. Icouldn’tfail her.
“Dad!” I yelled as I ran back to my room to throw some clothes on. “Dad!” I tried again.
“What? What’s wrong?” he called out in a groggy voice. He had a long night at Herb’s and most likely wouldn't be opening up the shop until noon.
“I’m taking your truck, okay?” I yelled down the hallway.
I didn’t even wait for him to respond. I stole the keys from the kitchen table and ran outside.
Throwing his truck in reverse, I gunned it down the gravel driveway. As soon as I hit the main road heading to the rink, I shrugged off my sling, grunting from the pain. I knew I shouldn’t be taking it off so early in the day, but I couldn't let anything hinder me.
43. JP – THE WRONG GUY
I didn’t bother with the parking lot. I drove straight up to the drop-off lane in front of Centre Ice and threw my dad’s truck in park. After slamming the door shut, I ran around the front and almost collided with a small body.
The auburn-haired woman stumbled back. I grabbed her wrist before she could fall, making her release a sharp hiss.
“Lexi, I’m so sorry.” I did a double take. The wrist I just released was covered in deep bruises. “Did I just—” I shook my head. I couldn’t have just done that. “Are you okay? What happened?” My brain spiraled. “Where’s Ali?”
She yanked her jacket down, covering her arm, and zipped her jacket up further to cover her neck. “Ali?”
“Ali,myAli.” My heart was practically beating out of my chest. “Is she in the rink?”
“I-I don’t know.” She looked rattled.
“Are you—” My phone rang, cutting me off. Seeing Ali’s picture flash across my phone, I lost track of anything else. “Where are you?” I answered.
“I’m at my mom’s?” Ali answered confusedly. “I told you I was grabbing breakfast with her, remember?”
Adrenaline rushed out of my body. I had to hold the hood of thetruck to stay standing.
“But listen,” Ali continued, “I think I'm going to the rink, okay? I think I need to face Mark. I need to get this over with once and for all.”
“No.” I closed my eyes. “Please don’t.”
“You can come with me if you want and just stay in the truck for backup. Where are you? I’ll pick you up,” she offered.
I swallowed hard and looked up at the large cinderblock building. “I’m at the rink.”
“What? Why?” she asked, alarmed. “You can’t go near Mark. I don’t want you to—”
“Everything’s okay. Just stay where you are,” I said calmly before hanging up.
Lexi looked over her shoulder at the rink before facing me again. “You should get out of here.”
My eyes went to her sleeve and a supercut of Ali’s bruises played through my mind. “You should report him. I can help you. I’ll go with you. We can go right now. Please, Lexi.”
Lexi scoffed. “You’ve dealt with Spencer, he’ll just make it go away, and then things will get worse for me.” Her warm breath hung in the cold air. “He’s not in a good mood. You have to go before he comes out.”
“Lexi, you and Baker could—”
“Hey!”
My eyes flew up to see Rossi charging out of the rink with a nasty snarl on his face.
