One to Chase - Tia Louise Page 0,56
long moments. His name is on the screen and my thumb hovers over the green button. Did I push it?
Eyes closed, the slim device is at my ear. It only rings once before the warm vibration of his voice fills my brain, flooding my core with humming emotion.
“Amy?”
“So it’s like that?” My voice breaks. I can barely breathe, but I take a sniff and push on. “You quit on a dime. No looking back?”
The sound of his exhale meets my ear before he speaks. “What am I supposed to do? Do you even remember what you said to me? How you acted?”
“I said I needed time.” Good god, I’m crying. “I asked you to give me time.”
Did I say the same thing twice? I’m so pathetic. A truck races by driving way too fast for the downtown area, the roaring engine filling my phone.
“Wait. Where are you?” Concern tightens his voice.
“I have no idea where I am.” I continue walking east, and somewhere in my peripheral, I sense someone following me. “I’m on Illinois. I think Wabash is the next block.”
“You’re walking on the street? Alone?!” Marcus’s voice sounds like he’s moving fast. A brush over the receiver, and I hear a voice muffled in the background. More fast movements, and he’s back. “Do you see a restaurant or somewhere you can step inside?”
“I passed Mink’s just a second ago.” Looking back over my shoulder, I catch the eye of a man lurking in the shadows, following me. I think it’s the beggar. My shoulders tense. “Maybe I should go back?”
A thump sounds through the phone. “I’m in my car headed your direction. Just keep moving. Try to stay near people.” He makes a little growl. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I can’t believe you did this!”
“Amy, fucking Christ!”
“That’s not my name.” I’m drunk and pouty, and I almost wish something bad would happen to me. That would show him.
Just then, the guy I dropped a fifty on steps out right in front of me. “I take it back!” I scream, and my phone hits the pavement.
The greasy, mop-headed man’s brow lines and he seems confused. “I figured you made a mistake.” He holds the large bill out to me. “Did you mean to give me something smaller?”
I’m not sure if this is a test or if I’m going crazy. “N-No. I mean... I don’t know. Just keep it.”
Tears flood my eyes again, and I can’t tell if I’m terrified or heartbroken or some mixture of both. He reaches for my arm, and I almost fall in my effort to get away.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “You seem like you’re not okay.”
A screech of tires, and my foggy brain registers Marcus’s voice yelling my name. Next thing I know, he’s throwing the beggar back against the wall. Their voices are raised and the man keeps holding up the money insisting he wanted to give it back.
I lean down to pick up my phone. Miraculously it’s not broken, then I collapse against the wall of a shop, waiting for what’s to come. Finally, Marcus seems to relent. He releases the man and the exchange words before the guy shuffles away.
His hands are on his hips, and he’s breathing hard when he turns to face me, fire blazing in his eyes. I can’t help it. I love the way he looks at me. I love how protective he is. My chest aches for him.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” His eyes flash.
My chin drops. “I was going to call a car...” I can’t talk anymore. I’m too weak and spent.
As if he can sense it, he steps forward, pulling me to his chest and wrapping me in his arms. It takes every ounce of strength I possess not to break down completely. Still, I know he feels me trembling.
“Stop now,” he soothes. “You’re okay.”
His hand is at the back of my head, fingers threading in my hair, and I want to bury my face in his neck and never stop breathing his crisp linen scent.
“Come on.” He leads me to his waiting Audi, opening the door, and helping me inside.
It’s been weeks since I sat in this seat, that night we went to Paul and Kitty’s. It seems so long ago, but it wasn’t. He’s in the driver’s seat, steering us toward Sylvia’s condo.
“What were you doing walking home alone? I thought you were at the bar with your friend.” His eyes never leave the road, and his jaw is tight. I