“I heard from Darcy, who heard from, I don’t remember who.But are you okay?She told me he hurt you.”She examines me again.
I’m very confused.“Who?Jonathan?”
She shrugs.“You can tell me if you want.I just wanted to be here for you.”
“Where’s this coming from?”My heart’s pounding.Out of guilt.Out of shame.Out of anger that anyone would suspect him, even me for that shuddering moment.
“Jonathan showed up at a party last night,”’ Jaz explains.“Drank more than usual.Someone asked about who he laid out because his knuckles were split.Then someone else asked where you were and he lost it.Threw his beer bottle and screamed not to say your name again.People took that and… well, thought maybe he hurt you.I’m sorry.I was scared.I had to check on you.”
My heart aches.“Thank you for worrying about me.I love you for that.But—”
A police car swerves in front of Clara’s with its lights on.I stand, as does half the restaurant.
My dad shuts the door of our car, double parked across the street.My heart about leaps out of my chest.I rush to the door, followed by numerous others.Jaz is right behind me.
“Dad?”
He shakes his head at me, as if begging me not to do anything.He’s almost to me when I hear, “Jonathan Reeves.Put your hands where I can see them.”
I spin toward the officer’s voice.Jonathan is pinned to the side of the building, his wrists being cuffed by an officer.He’s looking at me, his eyes pleading.
“Sadie, come with me,” my dad directs, an arm around me.He attempts to usher me to the car, where my mother sits in the driver’s seat.I resist, unable to look away from Jonathan.
I ask my dad, “What’s going on?Aren’t you going to stop them?”
“I can’t.”He urges me forward; my feet are like cement.My neck is twisted, unable to look away from Jonathan.
“About time,” the police officer says, steering Jonathan by his arm.I recognize him.Officer Pratt.The same one who harassed Jonathan at our table.
I let my father control me, blindly led across the street—my eyes lock with Jonathan’s just before he’s tucked into the back seat of a patrol car.
When I finally turn away, I notice someone watching the spectacle from the sidewalk.He looks awful, his face bruised and discolored.A split lip and swollen eye… fixed on me.
Hal.
“I’m sorry, Sadie.I was worried he came here to hurt you too.”Hal’s words don’t sound apologetic at all.
“Me?”This isn’t making sense.
“I won’t press charges.I only wanted to protect you.”Hal motions to his face.“I never want him doing this toyou.”
“Get in the car, Sadie,” my mother calls out, her voice an order.Dad holds the back door open.
“Eli, I didn’t mean for—”
“Go get your son,” my dad tells him.“Don’t let him get processed.”
Hal nods.
My mother pulls away as soon as the door’s closed.The police car is gone.The crowd is beginning to disperse.
Standing alone by the entrance to Clara’s is Collin, watching us drive away.I turn in my seat.Danika stops in front of Collin.Oren, Livvy and the others keep walking, not noticing or caring that she’s not with them.
I scramble for my purse to find my phone.Then remember I left it in my car.
“I need to get my car,” I say.
“We’ll get it later,” my mother responds.
