The Game (That Girl, #2)(66)
With each step I take toward the parking lot, I feel her become more panicked. Her tiny hands grab at my biceps, clenching tight.
“It’s okay. I’m just going to take you to my truck, and then to wherever you need to go.” She finally makes eye contact with me, and I think she might believe I’m not the enemy, but I want to reassure her. “I won’t hurt you. I can even call the cops right now and get you help.”
Music fills the dark night air as we close in on the parking lot. When she hears the music, she begins to sob in my arms.
“Do you want me to go get one of your friends?”
“No.”
Her sobs continue as she clings harder to my arm, but the rest of her body begins to relax a bit. I desperately want to keep talking to her, or even hold her longer to show her I’m not the enemy and will never hurt her. I’m not sure how to act in this situation. We are two strangers in a very difficult situation.
“Okay, this is my truck. Are you sure you don’t want me to go get someone?”
This time she struggles from my arms and tries to stand on her own. Of course her fragile little body can’t handle it. I steady her and keep her from collapsing to the ground. Her bare chest is exposed to the world, with a dainty, baby blue bra covering her. I pull off my white button up staff shirt and cover her up with it.
“Please don’t tell anyone. Please? They’ll just think I’m an idiot.” She fiddles with the hem of my shirt as she sits in the front seat staring at her feet. “And they aren’t that far off.”
“Don’t.” I grab her hand, stopping her from fiddling and berating herself. “Don’t you dare think that way.”
“Beau.” I turn to see one of my co-workers in a frantic state. “Where is the truck with the food? We are almost out of everything. Boss man, Juan, is going nuts.”
Standing in front of a co-worker in a white wife beater is somewhat awkward, though no more than having a beaten woman behind me, but the last thing I want to do is expose her to anyone. Before I have the chance to speak, a very red faced and pissed off Juan joins the small crowd.
“Beau, where in the f*ck is the food?” He pauses, with an odd expression covering his face. “Where’s the company truck?”
I nod in the direction where I parked the company truck, loaded and ready to go with food for the reception. His beady black eyes follow my nod and then turn back to me.
“And what do you think you’re doing?” Juan throws his hands behind his head in a fit. “Get back to work now, Beau, and get your f*cking shirt on.”
The woman behind me lets out a light groan as she tries to get out of the truck. Her shoes are missing, dress ripped, and she’s obviously in an insane amount of pain.
“Fuck you, I quit.”
The words come out effortlessly. The way I see it, there was no other choice. I round the front of the truck, moving as fast as I can to get next to her. She needs help.
“I’m going to take you to the hospital.”
She faces me with a desperate plea before any words leave her mouth. I know what her next words will be, but the thing is, I’ve already let one woman in need of medical attention escape me. I’m not repeating the same mistake. She will go to the hospital.
The Game Playlists
Enjoy the music that inspired me while writing Levi and Jazzy’s love story.
Rude- Magic!
Please Don’t Leave Me- P!NK
People Ain’t No Good- Nick Cave Who Are You- Carrie Underwood The Last Time-Taylor Swift Family Portrait- P!NK
Holy Ground- Taylor Swift I’m On My Way- Richard Price Natural Disaster- Zac Brown Band Nobody But Me- Blake Shelton (Levi dedicated this to Jazzy) Not Afraid- Eminem (Levi recovering) Not Myself Tonight- Christina Aguilera Not the Doctor- Alanis Morissette A Note in Your Pocket- Carter Hulsey Now More Than Ever-John Mellencamp Stereo Hearts- Gym Classic Heroes (Levi and Jazzy’s song while working out) Open Arms- Journey It’s Good To Be King- Tom Petty That Girl- Jennifer Nettles I Hold On- Dierks Bentley When the Stars Go Blue- Tim McGraw (Wedding Reception song) Ain’t In It For the Money- Micky and the Motorcars Bleed Red- Ronnie Dunn Flyin’ Down a Back Road- Justin Moore Counting Stars- OneRepublic (Wedding Reception song) Cupid Shuffle- Cupid (Wedding Reception song) No Doubt About It- Neal McCoy (Levi and Jazzy’s song)
Acknowledgements
First of all, I want to thank my AMAZING readers and support system. Without all of you, my books would be just words. You take my words and turn them into stories, which my heart will eternally be grateful for.
Christine Stanley needs a big old hug and an extra large coffee from me. She’s been my everything. There are no words to describe what she’s done for me. Thank you!
My Way Girls as always, you’re my gang, my people, and rock my f*cking world. I love you from your long socks to our massive messaging. The fact that if one of us is having a bad day the rest of us are only a message away, now, that’s something special. I love each one of you ladies, and have put you on my bucket list thingy. My mission is to meet each of you face to face.
Finally to my Beta readers, thank you for taking the time to be a part of Jazzy and Levi’s story. Your words of encouragement and careful reading morphed this book into nothing less than amazing. In no certain order…Abby Porter Cook, JC Iokua-Harwood, Vicky Langley Kimble, Jodie Ellis, Michelle Cable, Tiffany Clark, Tiffany Williams, Mayas Sanders, Isha Williams, Jessica Griffith, and Aleesha Fricks. Love you, Assholes!