“Jet,” he said.
I smiled at Vance who was also grinning, his eyes giving my body a sweep, then his grin broadened to a breathtaking, white smile when his gaze caught mine. Then he looked behind me and I felt a hand curl around my upper arm.
“Let’s go,” Eddie said in my ear.
I stiffened and turned. Obviously, the ignoring thing didn’t work.
I tried another evasive tactic.
“Lenny’s taking me home,” I said.
That didn’t work either. Eddie steered me toward the front door.
“No one’s takin’ you home. You’re comin’ to my place.” Eek!
I dug in my heels and pul ed my arm out of his hand.
“I can’t. I have to get home,” I told him.
“You aren’t going home,” he said.
I stared at him.
“I have to go home.”
“You aren’t safe at home. You’l be safe with me and that’s where you’re stayin’.”
At his words, panic fil ed me. “You think Slick wil go to my apartment?” I asked.
“I think Slick’l do just about anything to get his thirty K.” My stomach rol ed and I leaned forward.
“But, my Mom’s there. She can’t…” I stopped talking and then, not meaning to, I gave him the girlie “please” look that worked on Smithie, “Eddie, I have to go home.” He looked at me for several seconds then he muttered,
“Fuck.”
He grabbed my hand and pul ed me forward. “I’l take you home.”
Relief flooded through me as he pushed through the front doors.
“Thanks Eddie.”
My relief was short-lived.
“We’l stop by my place on the way. I’l pick up a change of clothes.”
Eek, eek and eek!
“What?” I shouted.
Eddie stopped by his truck. “You don’t stay at my place, then I’m stayin’ at yours.”
No.
No, no, no.
“I’m sure I’l be al right,” I assured him.
“I’m sure too, mainly because I’l be there to make sure,” Eddie said, opening the passenger side door.