“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.
28
Granger
What happened tonight was the scariest moment in my life. Her scream is still echoing in my head, and the urge to hold her in my arms forever is strong. We weren’t even through the front door before she was tearing at her clothes frantically.
“Granger, help me. I need out of these clothes. Help me,” she gasps, her breathing harsh as she tugs at her shirt with desperate movements.
I help her strip in the foyer as soon as I set her down, letting her know I’m here for whatever she needs, that she’s not alone. Standing in just her underwear, I scoop her up into my arms again and carry her to the bathroom to place her under the hot water in the shower. She looks so lost as she glances up at me with wide blue eyes, water dripping down her face. She leans towards me the moment I step forward, and I close my eyes with my forehead against hers, breathing in her hot caramel scent.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be just outside the shower door. Take your time.” Placing a tender, lingering kiss on her temple as I pull away, she stands frozen under the water, just watching me with lost eyes.
Not bothering to close the glass door, I slide down to the cold tile floor with my back facing her as I lean against the glass wall. I’d give anything to hold her in my arms right now, but I’m not sure my touch would be wanted now that everything is coming back at once for her. The only thing I can hear is the water hitting the floor and her slowly starting to move under the spray as the shower steam makes my clothes stick
