I thought I was in for another red ass when his face started to look like thunder until I held up the white thigh-length leather jacket I’d brought to wear with it. I figured it wouldn’t do me any favors to remind him that he was the one who’d bought them in the first place, but I’m guessing they were for his eyes only.
“Drats!” I forgot I’d eaten the last of the ice cream. I looked at my watch. It was still early. I could just run to the store really quick. Most things this far out close relatively early, but there’s a place about fifteen minutes away that’s open twenty-four seven, and I’m sure I could find it there.
I started to go back upstairs and tell him that I was going to run out right quick, but his phone rang, and by the time I reached the middle of the stairs, he’d closed the door, which told me he needed privacy. Forget it, knowing him; he’d still be on there when I get back and won’t even have noticed I was gone.
I grabbed my keys and my jacket because I didn’t want to set off another situation and was pleased with myself when I reached the store without mishap in no time because there was no traffic this time of the evening.
Of course, no one in history has ever been to the store and came out with exactly what they went for and nothing more, so I browsed the aisles and picked up stuff like milk and eggs, thinking about making my man a spectacular breakfast. The staff will be back in another day and a half, thank heaven, so tomorrow might be one of the last times I get to cook for him for a very long while.
I at least was able to keep it to just two bags and was once again pleased with myself as I made my way to the truck in the sparsely lit parking lot. I can’t believe it had gotten even darker while I was in the store; that’s winter for you. The sun could be there one minute and gone the next just like that.
I went immediately to the back to store my packages even searched out the place to return my cart, so some poor soul didn’t have to run it down in the lot before returning to the driver’s side. It was then I saw the carnage. I didn’t know what exactly I was looking at, but I knew that there was blood involved.
Maybe I overreacted, but I don’t think so. Just the sight of all that blood put fear in me, and I’ve never been one to react well to fear. Of course, I thought I’d hit something or someone without realizing it; why else would there be so much blood and damage to the side of the truck?
I didn’t know that I started screaming until I saw a few people running towards me as I stood huddled in on myself, starting at the carnage. I just wanted Garrick, but my fingers were too numb to even unlock my phone with the code. Someone called the cops, and somehow he was there.
He didn’t say a word when he approached. I just heard a car coming to a screeching halt somewhere behind me, then a door slamming, and then he was in front of me. He didn’t ask any questions and didn’t answer any from the crowd that had started to gather as he pulled me into his chest.
“You’re okay; I’m here.” My mind was so twisted the first thing I noticed was his scent, like winter winds and Garrick. He wasn’t wearing a jacket. I lifted my nose from his chest to scold him for that. “You’re not wearing a jacket, and it’s cold out here. You’ll get sick. If I’m not allowed to leave the house half-dressed, then you’re not either.”
He looked shocked for a second before he just dragged me into his arms and tried to eat my mouth off my face with his kiss. It was then I realized he was shaking, whether from cold or anger I wasn’t sure, then he finally spoke, and I got my answer. “You scared the fuck outta me.” He held me so close and so tight I was sure he’d crack a rib, but I didn’t care; being held in his arms was keeping the shakes at bay.
The cops showed up, and some other guys and Garrick put me in his car and locked the doors with a stern warning not to move an inch. He went back to the cops and the two mystery men but positioned his body so he could see the car with me in it.
The cops made the crowd stand back as they set up lights to better see. There were murmurs, a lot of grumbling, and the men spoke in hushed tones, or at least that’s what it sounded like to me filtered through the car window, but no one was dragging a body from beneath my vehicle, so I was at least able to relax with the thought that maybe I hadn’t killed whoever it was and dragged them here.