Page 15 of Reversal of Fate

“I think I’m done with this party,” Julie said.

“Did you come with somebody who can walk you home?” Carter asked.

Julie glanced around. “My roommates.”

Carter took her elbow and steered her out of the room. “Let’s find them.”

In the living room, the party was continuing. Nobody here had noticed the incident in the bar area. But Carter didn’t doubt that within fifteen minutes the entire university would know what had occurred. He wanted to get Julie out of there before that happened.

Julie turned to him. “Thank you. I don’t even know what to say. If you hadn’t been there, seen him… I don’t know what would have happened.”

Carter knew, but he wasn’t going to tell her. She didn’t need any more trauma. “I was glad I was there at the right time.”

“I’m Julie.”

She offered her hand, and he shook it.

“I’m Carter.”

She smiled at him now. “Thank you, Carter.” Then she glanced around the room. “You know, it looks like my roommates are all having too much fun. I’ll just go home on my own. It’s not far.”

She was already heading to the foyer, and Carter accompanied her.

“I don’t want you to walk alone,” he said. “Please let me walk you to your door to make sure that jerk and his friends don’t follow you.”

She looked at him for a moment, contemplating the offer. Did she see him as a threat now? He was a man, he was a stranger. Why should she trust him?

“Don’t you want to stay at the party?”

He shook his head. He’d only come to save her. But he couldn’t tell her that either.

“I’d love it if you could walk me home. I’d feel a lot better.”

He smiled, and they left the house.