Page 10 of Broken
Chapter Five
Izzy
Nikki, Lucy, and Tracie have been really nice. We walk into the fourth store of the day, and Max just had to make a trip to the car to drop off our bags. At the first store they figured out that I was uncomfortable asking for things from them, I don’t want to be more of a burden than I already am. I know I need clothes, but I hate that they are buying them for me. By store number two I swear almost anything that I looked at for more than a few seconds one of them would pick it up in my size, adding it to the growing pile on their arms. Thank God they are shopping for themselves too or I would feel even worse.
We walk into a Target because I need shampoo, a toothbrush, and other small things. As we walk through the aisles I turn toward the group of girls and Max, who is never more than a few steps behind us. “I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Okay, we’ll meet you in the beauty aisles. Don’t get lost.” Tracie smiles at me.
I walk toward the front of the store where I had seen the sign for the bathrooms and realize Max is walking with me.
He shrugs at me. “Can’t leave you alone.”
I walk into the bathroom without saying anything else. He hasn’t said much since we left the motel room and Nikki assigned him what she called a road name. I’m not really sure what that means, but he looked pissed. Once he explained his meaning behind the nickname I actually didn’t mind it. I feel bad that it made her pick on him, though.
I hated that he had to wake me up from my nightmare this morning. It felt so real, and I was so scared. In my dream, I had been lying in a field.
There were three men surrounding me and I was being attacked. Fists, boots, elbows struck me at every point on my body. When I woke up in the room with Max and realized it was a dream I wanted to seek comfort from him. He had been looking at me like if I asked he would give it to me.
In fact, the way Max had been looking at me all day today should set alarm bells off in my head. I was in a constant state of uncertainty. I had no idea about my past or what my future held.
The last thing I should want is to get involved with someone. I’m not even sure that’s what I want. Who knows? I could have a husband somewhere and not even know it. I just know that when he looks at me I feel like he can see my soul. Where the other men looked at me with mistrust and irritation, he seems to want to help me. The little things he did last night put me at ease, even if it was only a few times.
When I walk out I see him sitting on the bench with a bag of popcorn he must have gotten from the snack bar right next to us. It’s weird how I remember normal things like food types and general facts. I still don’t remember anything about me.
I sit down next to him. “I’m sorry if you got in trouble earlier.” My legs swing back and forth on the bench.
“Not your fault. I shouldn’t have said anything. It was an asshole nickname and I guess I got the karma right back.” He shrugs, but I can see he’s mad.
“Well, I don’t mind it, not that I remember the movie but it seems to fit. It didn’t upset me.”
He looks over at me. “Really?”
I nod, grabbing a few pieces of popcorn out of the bag. I plop one in my mouth then toss a couple at him, hitting him in the face, hoping to make him smile.
“You’re different than any girl I’ve ever met, Tramp.” He laughs and shakes his head.
“Well, I can’t remember any previous experiences, but you’re pretty cool yourself, Lady.” I wink at him.
His eyes narrow at me. He takes a handful of popcorn and smashes it on my head. I move to grab more from him, but he moves the bag just out of my reach. Max grabs another handful and is about to throw it at me when someone clears their throat loudly. We look up to see a manager standing in front of us.
“Sorry, sir, this one is a real troublemaker.” He stands up and walks away while I jog to catch up to him.
I punch him in the arm. “Real nice, jerk.”
He laughs and then shrugs, eating a few more pieces of popcorn.
“I’ll get you back for that later.” I grab another handful from him.
He turns to me with a smile on his face. “I look forward to it.”
We catch up to the girls before I can form a reply. He looks forward to it? What does that mean? Does he feel the connection that I do? I gnaw at my bottom lip nervously.
“Hello, earth to Izzy!” Nikki is waving her hand in front of my face.
I smile at her. “Sorry, guess I’m kinda tired.”
She shakes her head. “Whatevs, you have a preference on shampoo and conditioner?”
