Page 49 of For the Love of Skating
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I thought you were someone else! Sorry!” I squeak out as the male shape rises from his crouched position and slowly turns towards me, stepping into the light.
“Kitty Kat, you can’t seem to stay away from me, huh? Don’t worry, babe. You don’t need to chase me because I’m right here for the taking.” Jeff stands impossibly close, making me wish I didn’t chase after a male into the dark locker rooms at midnight.
I’m so stupid. What the hell was I thinking? Granger was on my mind, and I relied on fate or destiny that he would be here. My gut churns, a bad feeling coming over me as Jeff stares down at me without blinking.
“I-should-um, go, yes go! I thought you were someone else… I’m sure Victoria is waiting for you, and Granger is expecting me, so see ya!” My voice comes out shaky, and I curse silently at the smirk he’s throwing my way, knowing I’m bullshitting.
He quickly grabs my wrist and walks forward in front of me until my back hits a locker cubby, digging into my spine as he crowds my space.
“We both know it wasn’t Granger you wanted. It’s me. Come on, Kitty Kat, I’ve seen the way you stare at me. As for Victoria…that never meant anything. Granger wanted her so I took her, and it did its job of making him look pathetic until you came along,” he sneers, gripping my wrist tighter and trailing his other hand up my waist.
My heart pounds, the blood rushing through my veins in fear, and I wonder how loud I have to scream so Bob can hear me. I have to keep him talking and find a way to distract him so I can get away from him.
“You cheated with another team player's girl just because he had what you wanted?” He’s crazy and delusional if he thinks I want him.
“Granger gets everything he wants without having to work hard. The captain position, the money, the girls, but I did take his girlfriend and got her pregnant. You should have seen his face when he found out. I destroyed him in seconds, and I can’t wait to see his face again when he finds out I’ve had you to myself.” He smiles with a far away look, then glances down at me with a leer as he moves his hand up, covering my breast with a grip that makes me whimper in pain, before letting go to move his hand to my shoulder where my loose sweater hangs off.
I can’t believe this is happening. My body is frozen in place, fear making my scream lodge in my throat as he bends down to get into my face.
“Say you want me instead,” he demands angrily, releasing my wrist to grip my jaw so I can’t look away as he tries wedging my shirt down over my shoulder to get access to my bare skin.
“You are sick in the head, Jeff! Get your hands off of me!” I scream out finally with my lips trembling, then dip my chin to latch my teeth into the skin between his thumb and index finger, and instantly, it starts to bleed.
“You bitch! You’ll pay—” He removes his hand that was trying to rip my shirt and swings his arm back with rage contorting his face, as if to smack my face with the back of his hand, but he never makes it that far. Masculine, strong fingers wrap around his wrist to stop the movement, and my watery gaze follows the arm up to bulging biceps I know so well. My eyes connect with green ones that hold pent up rage but are flicking over my body with worry, then he turns his attention back to Jeff with murderous intent flashing through his eyes.
My knee connects with Jeff’s balls as he starts to turn to Granger with his other bleeding fist raised and I have the slight satisfaction of watching his face morph, screwing up as the pain registers. He drops to his knees, cupping the front of his pants, and doesn’t see the large fist coming towards his face. Granger grips the front of Jeff’s shirt in his other fist, making sure he sees him as he clocks him over and over in the face until blood pours from his nose.
I feel along the wall behind me, blindly wobbling on shaking legs, until I’m far enough away from the sounds of fists connecting with flesh. With tears blotting my vision, I slide down the wall in a collapsed heap. I can’t hold myself up as the reality of what just happened sets in. Someone touches me on the shoulder, and the scream I let out has Granger whipping around, dropping a dazed Jeff from his hold. Looking up, Bob is gazing down at me with worry, before turning his attention to Granger with a nod.
“I already called the police, so just sit tight, Kat. I heard you scream at the same time as your young man, and knew in my gut something was wrong.” Bob shakes his head in disgust when he looks over at a groaning Jeff on the floor. “You did good, my boy. I’m going to wait right over here until the cops come so this slimeball doesn’t go anywhere. Maybe get her out of here and wait in the arena for now,” Bob gently whispers to Granger, and goes to stand over Jeff with his arms crossed as he stares down at him with a hard glare.
Two strong arms wrap around me and carefully lift me off the floor like I’m made of glass. With my nose pressed into a soft t-shirt that smells of fabric softener and Granger, my body melts against him as I realize I’m safe.
“I got you, Kat, and I’m not letting go ever fucking again,” he whispers into my temple, and tightens his arms around me as each of my tears splash against his neck.
He cradles me as sobs rack my body and holds my hand with a reassuring grip that says he’s not going anywhere when the cops show up.
He doesn’t once let go or glance away from me, even when the cops ask him questions about what happened tonight. Bob tells the same story about what transpired, and I feel relieved that we had someone else to witness what happened. I don’t want to be that girl who walks around campus being told I’m a liar for being sexually assaulted without anyone seeing, or Granger being kicked off the team for getting into a fight. The moment we’re cleared to leave, after Jeff is hauled out in handcuffs and our statements taken, Granger simply picks me up and takes us home without another word.
The reality of what happened soaks in, and I’m just glad Granger is here to hold me as I’m torn apart inside because I know this man… He’ll put me back together, just like he did before.
