Page 15 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

Once again chasing him down.

Determined to help.

Despite him not wanting that.

He had no good reason to crack himself open because he already knew what was inside.

Nothing.

Emptiness.

Darkness.

“Nox…”

Without a word, he spun again, shoved open the door and headed outside.

Where he could breathe a little easier.

Where he didn’t feel so boxed in.

“Nox,” she called out.

He cursed under his breath but kept walking, making a break for his bike.

“Bradley Lennox! You stop right there!”

He slammed on the brakes and spun, surprised to find himself face to face with her. The woman could move. “Stop talking to me like I’m a goddamn child!”

“Then stop acting like one!” she yelled back.

His head jerked back.

She glared at him with her chest heaving.

His was doing the same.

He could see her mentally shake herself and her next words were much quieter. “You’re going to destroy my self-esteem if you keep trying to avoid me. Is it my breath? Do I have an extreme case of halitosis?” She cupped her hand over her mouth and huffed into it. “No, just a little bit of garlic from my lunch.”

Was this woman for real?

“Listen… I know change can be difficult, but you shouldn’t have such a meltdown over something as simple as going from sitting in rows to a circle.”

“I didn’t have a fucking meltdown.”

She tipped her head to the side. “No? Then, I guess I should clean my glasses.”

“You’re not wearing glasses.”

“That’s right. Because I have perfect 20/20 vision and I know what I saw.”

Holy shit, this woman.She might be able to out-will him. If he let her. Which he wouldn’t. “Your group is waiting for you.”

“You’re a part of the group.” She flung a hand toward the community center. “Let’s go back inside.”

If he insisted that he didn’t want to sit in a circle, hewouldsound like a damn child. But then, storming out hadn’t been very mature, either.

Christ, this whole thing was a lose-lose situation. “I gotta go.”

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