Page 65 of Finding a Melody

Cadence: I’m okay.

I bit my lip. I didn’t want to tell him. I knew I should, but Micah cared and I didn’t want him worrying. Granted, he was probably already a little freaked out. I sighed.

Cadence: I had to get more work done.

It took a moment for him to reply and I practically held my breath, waiting for his response.

Micah: Okay. Don’t overwork yourself. Want me to bring you something? Homework? Food? I still haven’t seen your place.

Cadence: Don’t worry, my fridge is well stocked.

Micah: Fine. I will see your new place someday! I have to help my parents with something, I’ll check in with you later.

Once I knew I got away with my excuses, I clamped down on guilt and forced myself to relax. Then my gaze landed back on Roman Davies’s card.

“Fuck it,” I grumbled and called the number. He didn’t answer, so I left a simple message. “The Ryders hurt Seth and me. Can you call me back? I think I need to take you up on your offer to help me.” After leaving my phone number, I hung up and stared down at the card until Paxon came in.

“Ready to run away with me?” he asked, flashing me a playful smile.

“Yes, please, please, spirit me away from this place.”

Paxon snickered as he rolled over the wheelchair. It wasn’t long until we were in his car and he slowly and carefully drove me back home.

“You know you can drive faster,” I said.

“After you were in a car accident, my driving is perfect.”

I pointed out a cyclist. “He’s going faster than you.” And he was. The man was tucked low, biking hard, and yes, he did slowly pass us.

“The speed limit is thirty-five.”

“You’re going twenty-five.”

He sighed, but at least he finally sped a little bit more.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked in almost a whisper.

“About?”

“Seriously? How about how you were run off the road by a bunch of bikers? How it almost killed you?”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m still trying to process it. The idea of someone out to hurt me like that...” I shuddered at the thought. This was different than when I had to deal with my mother’s abuse. So much different. I didn’t even know them and they were out to hunt me. Lindie never hunted me. For her it was always just a mood thing and me being nearby at the wrong time. She never sought me out like they were.

“They won’t hurt you. We won’t let them.”

I bit back a bitter laugh, or tried to at least.

“Cadence?”

“How? How exactly can you keep me safe? What makes you qualified?” I snorted and leaned against the door, wanting comfort, but there was no one around to give it to me. I actually wanted a hug, someone to squeeze me tight. Yet, there was no one. I glanced toward Paxon, but pushed the thought away.

I didn’t even know how to ask for a hug.

“Fuck this shit.” The car swerved and for a moment, my stomach dropped at the movement. I waited for impact, prepared my body for pain, but nothing happened. The car hummed. That was it. I didn’t realize I had closed my eyes until I opened them to find that Paxon had pulled us over. He opened his door and slammed it shut. He practically stomped his way over to my side.

Then my door was open and I was pulled into his chest.

I blinked in shock, trying to process what was happening. The click of my seat belt eased some of the pain in my chest, then it all snapped into place.