After a moment, I whimpered, “I’m going to be sick.” Without hesitation, Marcus brought us to the bushes in front of the school. As soon as I was somewhere I could let go, bile rose in my throat and spilled from my mouth. Marcus held my hair, apologizing the entire time. Once I could straighten, he whistled at Riff, who tossed him a bottle of water which he handed to me. Gratefully, I took it to rinse the nastiness out of my mouth.
Marcus bustled me into the backseat of his car, where Riff waited with open arms. From a distance, someone shouted my name, and I ducked, hiding my face in Riff’s chest while I fought tears. I’ve only known the worst of people, and I doubt they’ll refrain from taunting me now. Why would they when they had the best ammunition?
The ride to my apartment was silent, and Marcus followed Riff and me inside. He walked to the television, turned it on and brought up Netflix. “I have something for you to watch, it’s called The Good Place. It’s funny, and kind of light, I suppose. I think you’ll enjoy it and it might take your mind off things for a bit. As for school, that’s up to you. Riff will stay with you, but Char will attend his classes and bring your homework each day. Unless you need him. He and Riff will get Riff’s car later, okay? After dinner, whether or not you eat, sweetheart. Now, again, no going anywhere without Riff. Tonight, you are not working, but you can sit behind the counter while Riff and Char do, all right? I’m sorry, Angel. I would tell you everything, but I fear a certain part of it would break you at the moment. When it’s not so fresh, perhaps. And, if you want to run, I will warn you that a lot of us will go with you. We’ll make a village in the woods, with Matty and Tammy, and your monster will never find us. Otherwise, when he comes back, we will deal with him for you. I want you and Matty together, it’s only fair, and that’s the only way you won’t look over your shoulder for the rest of your life,” Marcus murmured. “For now, I’ll watch the first episode with you. Unless you want me to go?”
Shaking my head, I pulled his shirt, so he sat to my left while Riff was on my right. I curled with Riff on the couch, sighing silently with relief when Marcus kissed the top of my head and stayed close enough that his body heat warmed my side. Curiously, I watched the episode unfold, chuckling a few times, and by the end, I was hooked. Marcus watched a few shows with us before announcing he would get me something light to eat. When he came back, he gave me a ham sandwich to split with Riff, my side having considerably less meat. I smiled when Riff hummed while wolfing his food, albeit my eyes widened when Marcus put a bowl of mixed fruit in my lap. I glanced at him, and he smiled. “Something healthy for you to munch on if the urge strikes,” Marcus chuckled, kissing my forehead, and I managed a shaky smile.
To be honest, I didn’t feel like eating. Still, while I only ate a few bites of my sandwich, I found half the bowl missing when I caught myself reaching for a grape. I blinked at the bowl, then at Marcus, who chuckled with a fond smile. “I had a feeling that would be more up your alley, sweetheart. Whatever you eat is a win. I’m sorry. I wish things hadn’t turned out this way, but this is the best I can make of this situation. But, if it’s all right with you, I think you should take it one day at a time and see how it goes,” Marcus murmured. “Don’t decide while you are shocked, betrayed, and hurt, sweetheart. You’ll only regret choosing rashly when you recall this time in your life.” I nodded, seeing the wisdom in his words. It wasn’t like a few days would make that much of a difference.
“Marcus, did you mean what you said when I first came here?” I asked in a voice barely above a whisper while we waited for another episode to start.
“Yes. If you leave, I will help you get set up. You will have a sizeable group going, sweetheart. Perhaps not all at once, but it will happen. We love you, Angel, and we refuse to let you face the dangers of the world alone,” Marcus replied with an earnest expression.
“I promise you are not leaving at all without me,” Riff added nonchalantly after pausing the show. “Where you go, I go, Angel. That you’ve been alone for six years makes my skin crawl and fear race along my spine. Add in you’ve been separated from Matty for so long, and my heart aches for you, sweetheart.” Riff kissed my forehead when tears spilled down my cheeks. Sniffling, I cuddled closer to Riff, and he resumed the episode with a soft, contented sigh. I wasn’t separated from Matty the entire time. He had to pass a test before he could attend his boarding school. But that is a time best pretermitted.
After a few hours, Char walked in and chuckled upon finding the pair of us cuddled on the couch. “Hey now,” he
