Page 19 of The Catcher

“Emrys, I’ve been thinking a lot about you,” he said.

My hands felt sweaty, my body frozen with fear. How did things just get worse and worse with Tanner? I didn’t think evenhewould be so horrible. Sometimes, the way he acted, it was like he wanted me for himself. But that obviously wasn’t true if he was bringing Noah around.

Then my ex had his hand on my arm.

“This is silly,” he said. “Once I get this job, you don’t need to work at all. Come back with me.”

I shook my head.

It didn’t take Noah much time at all to transform from a smiling personal trainer to the same emotionally abusive guy I’d always known.

“Are you hanging out around here to try to get a celebrity husband?” he snarled. “I never picked you for a starfucker, Emrys. You always pretended to be so good and sweet. But reallyyou’re a little slut, aren’t you? Hanging around here hoping to snag some baller?”

I closed my eyes, his words making the tears start to my eyes, his breath hot on my ear.

My stomach sunk when he grabbed my arm, but he had barely touched me when I heard a hard, angry sound and he was ripped away.

I twisted around in surprise and saw Tanner with his hand around Noah’s throat.

“I didn’t say to touch her,” he growled. “I brought you here formeto fuck with her. Not foryouto try to fuck her.”

Noah was a tall man, but Tanner still towered over him.

Noah reached for his throat. “What are you doing, man?” he gasped, but Tanner tightened his fingers, slamming Noah up against the wall.

“Tanner!” I croaked. “Stop!”

He didn’t look at me. “Emrys, he wasn’t fucking brought here to be my assistant,” he snarled, and Noah let out a strangled gargle. “He’s here to show youthere’s no fucking escape from me.”

“Let him go!” I cried, watching as Noah’s face turned a hideous shade of purple.

Tanner gave an irritated grunt, but he let Noah go. I could tell by Noah’s red face that he was pissed, and he charged at Tanner.

I didn’t even get a chance to call out that this was a stupid mistake, and obviously the fight Tanner wanted. Tanner let him charge, then grabbed his shirt and twisted, running Noah into the opposite wall. When he staggered back, Tanner hit him in the face.

“I told you to come here, not touch her,” he said.

Noah had his arms around Tanner. I knew Noah worked out a lot and was very strong, but he was no match for Tanner. The big player twisted and kicked out viciously at Noah, knockingthe other man off balance. When Noah staggered, Tanner was on him, his fist connecting with a sickening crunch. I saw a bright splash of blood on the wall behind Noah, but Tanner didn’t stop.

I began to feel panicky. Tanner was still my goddamn responsibility.

“Stop, stop, Tanner! Please!” I implored, grabbing him around the waist, and trying to drag him off.

He felt so hard, uncompromising corded lines of muscle. His skin felt hot under my touch, or maybe it was my skin that was hot.

He reached back to pluck me off, but I hung on.

“You’re going to get in trouble,” I gasped. “They’ll kick you off the team.”

I was relieved when he stopped. I still had my arms around Tanner’s waist and I could feel his chest heaving under my hands.

But he turned to Noah and grabbed him by the collar. Then he began to drag him down the hallway.

I wanted to turn and run away, but then Tanner said, “Follow me, Em,” and I knew I had to.

9

When we got outside, Tanner said, “Get his keys.”

---