Cocky Notes - Leesa Bow Page 0,64

Fast. Only my legs are longer than hers, and I can match her pace.

“I was hoping you’d be gone already.”

“Not without checking on you first.”

“I’m fine, Reef,” she says, exasperated. “I’m not sure why you care now. You didn’t care how I was a month ago, and it was then I needed you the most.”

“Macy—”

“Don’t Macy me. I got through it. I’ll get through this. Please, leave me alone.”

I slow up, allow her to walk at a brisk pace ahead of me. The sword to my gut twists to the point I want to puke. The slower I walk, the more extensive the gap between us, and it’s like I’m allowing her to slip away.

For the first time, it dawns on me, I might have already lost her, and everything I’m trying to achieve is sending her further away.

Maybe it is a timing thing.

Maybe I fucked up so bad there’s no winning her back.

No matter the circumstance, I’m not giving up, yet.

Late on Wednesday night, Marcus, Hunter, and I stroll back to my parked car after a team function in the city. I didn’t drink, so I told the guys I’d give them a ride home. We turn a corner, and it’s the same street as Lombardi’s, only it’s late and closed like other restaurants in the area. Even being on the street where she works makes my gut tighten with dread.

There’s a crowd growing ahead, and shouts alert us to a brawl. It’s a sign for us to cross the road and avoid anything causing us to gain potential negative media attention. Innocent or not, being caught up in a street fight is definitely something we should avoid. Except I have an instinct to check it out.

As we get closer, the shouts are threats from three guys, stumbling and aggressively throwing air punches, and everyone is getting out of their way, except a homeless man who is caught in the crossfire.

He’s trapped like an animal. Dirt-covered arms cross his face and head as he cowers toward the building. One look and I suspect drugs are the cause since these guys seem to have zero comprehension of what they’re doing even with a group of teenagers trying to protect the homeless guy. But they’re no match for the bigger built men and are clearly off their faces. I’m about to step in when one of the wiry teenagers is knocked to the ground, hits his head on the pavement, and remains there.

“Christ!” I sprint over to protect him from the dickheads tripping and falling on his lifeless body as they box and swing at imaginary figures. I check he’s breathing and has a pulse then pull out my phone and call 000.

“The police and ambulance are on their way,” I tell Marcus. “Stay with him.”

Marcus checks his pulse again and nods when I step between the idiots and the homeless man.

“Back off,” I shout every time they make a blow with a fist toward us. I push them back, and one stumbles. I hold my breath hoping he doesn’t fall in his intoxicated state.

Hunter comes from behind and wrestles one of the guys to the ground, pushes his knee into his back, and holds a palm on the back of his head to keep him there. Marcus takes on the other guy until he’s on his stomach with his cheek to the pavement. Two of the boys take over from Hunter so he can wrestle the third guy to the ground. I stand and twist the final offender’s arm behind his back until he surrenders to Hunter. The smallest lad squats beside his friend crying loudly.

“Make sure he’s breathing,” I yell out. “Help will be here soon.” I head back to the homeless man and place a hand on his back. “Are you okay, mate?”

He’s rocking in a seated position moaning over and over.

“It’s okay. Help will be here soon. Those guys won’t hurt you anymore.”

“Don’t try it, mate,” I hear Hunter yell and shove the bloke’s face to the pavement. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Finally, sirens.

“Can I help you somehow?” I ask the homeless guy. “Do you have a name?”

He shakes his head, still moaning.

I pat his back gently trying to reassure him. “You’re going to be okay.”

The first ambulance arrives, and they call for another so they can attend to the lad lying unconscious. The victim’s friends give an account of what happened, and one rides with him to the hospital. Two police vehicles arrive minutes later and interview