“You’re not coming in?”
“The threat has passed. It’s after closing, and I don’t want to cause you any problems. I’ll be out front when you’re ready, but don’t rush on my account.”
Dani was stuck in the frozen zone between fear and reality. She needed a push.
“Hey, can you have Neil grab my book and run it out to me?”
A subdued Dani went inside. I was all keyed up, and I wanted to fight or fuck to burn of the excess energy. Instead, I’d have to settle for revising my house reno plans or pretending to read while I kept an eye on the parking lot.
I circled the building to use up some adrenaline. Then, I settled in to wait. A few minutes later, Neil made a beeline for my truck.
His somber expression didn’t fit the devil-may-care attitude he projected earlier, but I was glad Dani had someone else to keep an eye out.
“Dani told me what happened,” he said. “That you protected her from Beau.”
“All I did was announce my presence at an opportune time. I don’t know if he would have escalated, or if he only wanted to scare her.”
“Here’s your book.”
He thrust it at me, and I traded it for the paper where I’d written my number.
“Thanks. Here’s my number in case you guys have any more trouble from Beau when I’m not here.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, but he took the paper.
“Do you think there will be trouble?”
“No, Beau’s a cowardly piece of shit, but I like having backup plans.”
“What are your plans for our girl?”
“She was my best friend during some of the worst times of my life. Dani’s family kept me sane and gave me a reason to keep going. I’d do anything for them.”
“Hmm.”
I was grateful for the darkness of the parking lot as he stared into my soul. He probably guessed I was crazy about her. Who wouldn’t be? But I wouldn’t make things harder for her, and I’d never jeopardize my relationship with her parents. They were the closest thing I had to family.
After he left, I tossed my book on the dashboard. I wouldn’t get distracted right now. Maybe Beau was a hot-head who got carried away but wouldn’t go further, and maybe he wasn’t. Today wasn’t the day to find out.
Half an hour later, Neil and Dani walked out together. She got in the truck, and we drove a few blocks in silence.
“Thank you,” she said in a somber voice. “He’s never… He hasn’t… I’m not some battered girlfriend if that’s what you think.”
“I don’t think that. I’m glad I was there to keep him from escalating, though. Just in case.”
We needed a new topic.
“Any news from your lawyer?”
Her posture straightened.
“Yes.” Her voice brimmed with excitement. “Shayla left a message earlier. Before this, I thought identity theft was when strangers open credit cards in your name or steal your information, but it also includes roommates, partners, and relatives. I had no idea.”
Her arms wrapped around her waist. She was so damn defeated. Dani wasn’t some helpless waif, but the defender in me roared up anyway.
“What’s that mean for you?”
“She thinks it’ll be resolved in a week or two. I might have to pay a few small bills I found on my credit report, but I won’t be on the hook for everything he put in my name without my knowledge. I had to put a freeze on my credit. Today Shayla started the process to press charges for identity theft.”
