Strong fingers wrapped around my arm from behind. “Let me walk you.”
“No!” I snapped, jerking free of Cole’s grip and shoving past. “Just no.”
I hurried my pace, refraining from looking over my shoulder or scanning my surroundings when I reached my car. Un-fucking-believable. Bullshit, Holden hadn’t been calling me. My phone buzzed. I didn’t bother to look. And Cole? Seriously? How dare he know my favorite song?
I was officially done with men. With dating. With going to the gym. Or the flower shop. Or my favorite restaurant. Or anywhere in public.
Maybe a transfer out of state was in order. Yeah, that was a good idea.
My phone buzzed again. And again. All the way to my parent’s house in Ballard. I only dared to look after I parked in their driveway.
Lacey. Thirty-two texts. Ten Happy Birthday wishes. One picture. Her hand. A giant, shiny, glittering diamond ring.
I squealed. I cried. I didn’t call her back until after dinner.
“Not another word from him?” Lacey asked, hand shoved behind the left side of her black halter, adjusting her boob.
I swirled my straw in a slow circle before taking a sip of my vodka cranberry. “Radio silence.”
“That’s great!” Seemingly satisfied with the way her babies were hanging, she slapped her hands on the table.
In the opposite corner of The Rusty Ram, a rowdy group of twenty-somethings engaged in a shouting match. Security swarmed the corner, dragging one man outside.
“No bueno.” Eyes narrowed and aimed at the commotion, she pursed her bright red lips and asked, “You ever feel like we’re getting too old for this place?”
Hand to my heart, I shouted, “Never!” then added, “but I think I’d be just as happy sharing mozzarella sticks at Applebee’s.”
“God, I know.”
Lacey and I finished our drinks and maneuvered to the center of the crowd. Sweaty bodies bounced in unison, the heavy base a mind-numbing escape from the burden of the daily nine to five.
I watched my best friend, my heart full to the brim with love and joy. Every few minutes, she checked her hand as if afraid to lose her ring, or perhaps to remind herself that Ellis was real. She was on the brink of an epic adventure.
I swallowed the thick lump of bittersweet sentiment balled in my throat, realization crashing my buzz. Our girls’ nights were over. Our movie marathon, binge-eating sleepovers would soon be a thing of the past. My Lacey Lulu was no longer a she but a we. A we that did not include me, but instead, a man who was worthy of my best friend.
I fought to keep the emotion at bay, but a tear escaped and then another. Lacy stopped bouncing. There had never been such a wide divide between us.
Another fight broke out near the exit. Lacey ignored the disturbance. “We’re gonna be okay, Nat Brat. I promise.” Brushing a tear off my cheek, she smiled.
“I know. I’m just so damn happy for you.”
A pop, pop, pop rose above the music, loud enough to cause pain. Bodies blurred. Pop. Pop. Something wet hit my face. Something hard knocked me sideways. Lacey fell. I was shoved and pushed and carried away in a frenzied stampede of panic and mayhem.
I scrambled through a sea of skin and sweat, fighting a violent current to get back to my friend. Despite my efforts, I landed outside, Lacey nowhere to be seen. I scanned every face, every head of dark hair.
Soon the street was flooded in blue and red lights. Muffled voices surrounded me, none of them recognizable. The entrance was blocked.
Someone in a blue uniform made me sit against the wall.
I tried Lacey’s number. No answer. I sent a text. Waited. No response.
In a panic, I texted Ellis. I begged the woman in blue for help. She ordered me not to move.
My ear rang, pain clouding my senses. I closed my eyes and prayed.
“Natalie.”
That voice. Gritty and anguished. Muted.
“Natalie. Jesus. Fuck. Somebody help her.”
I blinked my eyes open. My angel. My soulmate. My sinful temptation crouched in front of me. I’d managed two weeks without seeing Cole Adams.
“What are you doing here?” My words came out muffled.
“We were close when you texted.”
“We?”
“Ellis and I.” He reached up to touch my face, then dropped his hand. “Why isn’t somebody helping you?”
“Me? I’m fine. My ear just hurts.”
Again, he lifted his hand as if to soothe me, then changed his mind, gaze bouncing from my head to my chest, my cheek, my ear. His brows pinched tight. “What happened?”
“I think there were gunshots. I don’t know. We were dancing, then everyone started to run out. I lost Lacey.” My chest constricted. “Oh, my God! Where’s Lacey? She fell. Then I couldn’t get back to her.”
“Shh. Calm down. Try not to move.”
“We have to find her.” I tried to stand.
“Ellis is looking for her right now.” Cole clamped his hands on my thighs, holding me in place. “Natalie, don’t move.” He looked over his shoulder, yelled, “What the fuck’s taking so long. Get someone over here now!”
“Why does everyone keep telling me not to move? I’m fine. My ear just hurts.”
Cole’s eyes were liquid and angry. “You’re not fine.”
I dropped my head in frustration. A dark, wet, sticky blob landed on my hand. Violent trembles rocked my body. Another drip from my head.
Cole finally touched me, his finger tapping under my chin. “Natalie, look at me, not your hand.”
His face blurred. “No. No, no, no.”
“Look at me, Natalie.”
“No no no no no no.”
“Hey. I’m here. I got you. Just stay still until they get someone over here to clean you up.”
“That’s blood. That’s someone’s blood.” It wasn’t mine. I’d know if I’d been shot. I lifted my hand for inspection. “Oh shit, is that bone?”
Cole caught my chin again, holding my head steady, his hand trembling. “Natalie, just look at me, okay?”
“It’s in my hair.” On instinct, I reached up to inspect the damage.
“Natalie.” He grabbed my wrists and held them in place. “Please. Trust me. Don’t move.” He yelled
