Keeping Her Warm

“Let me go.” It comes out as a whisper, even though I tried to make it sound forceful.

“Did he take your cherry? I had a thousand dollars on me getting it. Now I’m out that money. But you could make it up to me. I bet he broke you in really good. Did he teach you how to suck a cock?”

A chill runs down my spine and my fear spikes. I try to push against him, but he doesn't move. His mouth goes to my neck and he starts pulling at my clothes. I try to fight him off, but he’s too strong.

I bring my knee up and nail him right in the balls. He drops to his knees. I see a girl standing behind him with a shocked look on her face.

“Are you okay?” she asks. I shake my head and rush out of the library, leaving my stuff behind. I run out of the school, with only one place in my mind. I could go to the police station to find him, but then Coach Snow’s words remind me that me doing that will let everyone know what we are. I know if I walk in to that station he won’t hide what we are. It will be clear to everyone.

I keep moving, headed to his house. I pause when I see the front door is cracked open. A black little sports car is parked in the driveaway. I debate what to do for a moment, but the cold moves me toward the door. I push it open but don’t see anyone. I hear movement toward the master bedroom.

“Cole?” I call out. Maybe the black car is his, one he drives when he isn't driving his cruiser. Though the car doesn't seem his style.

A woman steps out into the hallway. I recognize her from the bank. We only have two in town. I stand frozen as I see she’s only in panties and a bra. “Oh sorry, I thought you were Cole.” Her eyes narrow on me. “What are you doing here?” she adds, snapping at me coldly. I take a step back. I feel like I should be the one asking that question, but instead I turn and run.

11

Cole

I glance down at my phone from my computer screen and see my ma’s name light up. I’m shocked it took her this long to call me. I grab it.

“Ma,” I say easily.

“Don’t you ‘Ma’ me! She’s precious,” she gushes, making me smile. I’ve been doing it all day. I can’t stop. The only thing that has been bothering me is her not wanting to go to school this morning. I saw the dread all over her face. It took everything in me to let her out of the car.

“I know. Why do you think I snatched her up so quickly?” I tell her. “What about you? I see you finally gave in to George.” She huffs a little. Love seems to be in the air this winter. First me, now my mom, oh, and when I walked into the station this morning Pam and Asher were going at it. Clearly their snowed-in night together at the station moved things along. Finally.

I don’t get how people hold back. Both my ma and Asher had been dancing around the people they wanted. With Catherine, there was no dancing around it. I was more like a bulldozer. I’m just thankful she’s eighteen. I don’t know what would have happened if she’d still been seventeen. I push the thought away because deep down I already know.

“You think she’s a little young? She ready for what you want? Because I see the look in your eyes, the way your eyes never left her.” I know my ma isn’t telling me not to be with Catherine. She’s worried that I might get hurt.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to have her. Anything.” I add the last word so she knows how serious I am about her. Catherine might want to wait for us to push this relationship further down the path. If that’s what she wants I’ll do it. Even if it almost kills me. As long as it keeps her in my bed and in my house I’ll do whatever it takes.

“I know you will. I just don’t want you to get hurt. This is the first time you’ve ever shown interest in someone before or brought a girl around.”

“She’s my one,” I admit. “When I saw her I knew it. It was like something clicked into place in that moment. It felt as if I already knew her. Knew she was mine.”

“Good, because I want to keep her.”

I can’t help but laugh at that. “Thank you for being so good to her today. She doesn't have a family.”

“She does now,” my Ma says. My attention goes to my office door and I see Pam standing there.

“Yeah she does,” I agree. “Ma, something has come up at work. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, sweetheart. You be careful and bring that girl over for dinner Sunday.”

“Will do. Love you, Ma.”

“Love you, too.”

I hang up my phone and Pam enters my office fully. I normally leave my door open so people feel free to walk in whenever they like.

“Got a call from the high school. Seems a boy attacked a girl.”

“Jesus.” I stand up, pulling my coat off the back of my chair. “Tell Asher to meet me there.”

Pam nods. I grab my radio and clip it to my belt. Maybe I’ll get to see Catherine while I’m there.

It doesn't take long for me to get to the school. I walk in the front door and the woman at the front desk motions me toward the principal's office. I step in to see a boy sitting in a chair, his head down.

“How old is he?” I ask. I need to know if we’re obligated to call his parents.

“Eighteen,” Principal Hall says.