Page 25 of After the Storm

As if my prayers are answered, it’s more than I could have wished for. It’s Roman’s face I see emerging from the slightly foggy path. As Roman makes his way down the long stretch of grass it becomes clearer and clearer that it’s him. I find it in myself to peel my eyes away so Tyler won’t turn around and it works.

Before Tyler is even aware that someone is coming, Roman grabs him by the shoulder, spins him around and punches him once in the face, then twice. All I can do is stand there, mouth hanging open. I don’t know what I expected him to do, but it wasn’t this. He lands a third and final punch when Tyler hits the ground.

Holy. Shit.I’m equal parts terrified, turned on, and shocked. The kind of mix of emotions where the only thing left to do is cry. So I do. Not a cute, teary-eyed cry. No. I let out a gut wrenching sob, and fall to my knees. It’s everything. It’s that leaving the relationship didn’t free me from this. It’s that I was so scared minutes ago that I couldn’t even let my tears fall. It’s that Roman brings me so much comfort that I know without a doubt I’m safe to fall apart.

“What can I do?” Roman asks, his voice dripping with sympathy.

“Please just take me home. Don’t bother with him. I want to go.” He hesitates for a moment, looking over to Tyler. Temporarily I consider if I would find satisfaction in seeing him a little more bruised and bloodied. I decide it isn’t worth the risk of being here when he wakes up. Roman wraps an arm around my shoulders, helping me up and walking me to his car.

* * *

The humid airand sweat mixed together has my baby hairs plastered to my forehead, the damp grass sticking to my feet through my sandals, and the burning feeling in my chest is just about sending me over the edge. My thoughts are a whirlwind of sensations in my body and analyzing what just happened. I come to a dead halt and let out a sob—more of a wail really. The look on Roman’s face will be burned into my brain forever because I had never seen someone look so pained over someone else’s pain.

“My feet are wet,” I choke out between sobs. I’m not sure why that’s the first thing out of my mouth, then again I guess it is the only problem that can be fixed at the moment.

“What?” he asks simply but his voice cracks.Oh, he’s really never seen someone lose their shit.His face studies mine intently waiting on an answer or a sign that I’m going to be okay but right now it does not feel like I am.

“The grass is wet. It’s sticking to my feet. I can’t take it anymore,” I say through forced breaths.Okay, pull it together before you give this poor man a heart attack.I take a few deep breaths but there is nothing refreshing about sucking in the humid, South Carolina air.

“Please take my sandals off,” I say quieter, letting tears pour down my already soaked cheeks. He just nods and immediately starts unbuckling the sandals, slipping them off my damp feet. He wraps an arm around me before picking me up bridal style.

“I’m going to carry you, okay Auds? What can I do to help?” The question comes out frantic, like he’s begging me for a solution, not just asking me for one. All I can do is shake my head because nothing can be done.

Everyone tells you if you just leave you’ll be safe. All you have to do is leave. Tonight was proof that that isn’t the case. I’m not quite sure what to do with that other than throw myself a pity party for the night.

“I’m going to have to carry you through the fair. It’s the only way to the car from here,” he says softly. I nod hesitantly because it’s the last fucking thing I want but if it’s the way home, I’d do just about anything.

I tuck my head into his chest to avoid anyone seeing me or making eye contact with me. Hardly any time passes before I hear a voice I know all too well…Ares.

“What the hell. Is that Audra? I’ve been looking for her ever since you asked where she was.” I wonder briefly what the conversation they had consisted of but I’m too wrapped up in what had happened and the conversation happening here, now.

“The camp grounds,” Roman says coldly.Oh no.

“With Tyler? What happened? Is she okay? Put her down,” Ares demands and I feel him tug at Roman’s arm. In the same breath Roman yanks me away from Ares.

“She’s sleeping. Probably tired herself out crying in my arms out there. Just her and Tyler. Who the fuck let that happen?” Roman says in a tone low enough that only Ares and I could have heard which I appreciated but I know the words stung Ares. It isn’t his fault really at all. I made the decision to keep the whole thing from him so he didn’t know to protect me from him.

“Oh my God. He didn’t hur—” his voice breaks and he chooses not to finish the sentence. Or maybe he can’t finish it. “Let me take her home,” Ares offers.

“I’ve got it,” Roman says dryly and walks past him. I want to ask a million questions, maybe even give a pointer or two on how I wish he had handled that but for the first time tonight I feel safe. I decide not to say anything because in his arms, everything feels a little more bearable. I let him carry me to the car.

“C’mon, we’re here,” he says, opening the Jeep door and lowering me carefully to my feet. I plop down on the seat and he hands me my sandals. I think about everything between Roman and I since that first night I went looking for Ares. I think about all the ways he’s shown up for me and all the ways he has grabbed my hand and walked through the darkest parts of my life with me. I think about how sexy he looked walking into my work a couple of weeks ago.

“Can we just sit for a minute?” I ask, turning to face him in the driver’s seat. It’s the last thing in the world that should be on my mind. I should be thinking about what just happened. Or what will come next. But instead, all I can find within myself to do is look at his lips and think about how they might feel on mine and how much I should not be thinking that. I wonder briefly when that happened, when he stopped being just Ares’ brother. When he stopped being just my friend.

“All I can think about is kissing you,” I admit, turning back to face straight, looking anywhere but at him. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline, the conversation I had with Maryanne a couple weeks ago, or watching him lay someone out for me but it takes just about everything in me to keep my hands to myself. Maybe it’s the fact that for the first time in a long time, I don’t have an inherent fear of Tyler breathing down my neck because for once instead of dreaming about being protected, I am.

“The first time I kiss you can’t be like this,” he says, with a deep sigh, like it physically pains him to say. I nod. I nod because I know, I know right now would be an insane time for us to kiss.

“I know,” I confirm.

“I should get you home.” The words come out strained. All I can do is nod in agreement and he does, he drives me home.

When we arrive at my house he walks around the side of the Jeep and picks me up bridal style again. As he carries me up the front porch steps and unlocks the door I realize how much someone has to care, to let you ugly cry into their chest in an open field, sitting in wet grass. To carry you a half mile to their car. To have already thought about you not wanting to put your sandals back on and made the decision to carry you again. To wipe your tears on their hoodie sleeve.

“Stay with me, please,” I plead as he walks us in the front door. A smile creeps to the edges of his mouth.

“Like I was going to leave you here alone.” He gives a dry laugh more like a scoff, setting me to my feet. “Let’s go get you cleaned up,” He suggests, placing a hand at the base of my spine, guiding me up to my room.

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