Anywhere But Here by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

Author:Stephanie Hoffman McManus [Hoffman McManus, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-09T04:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

Kellen

October 17

Senior year . . .

“Where are you going?” Natalie looked pissed as I hurriedly pulled on my boxer briefs so I could chase after Shae. What the hell was she even doing here? She was supposed to be at the dance, living out her fairytale with the golden boy. Instead, she was here. At my house. Standing in my fucking bedroom moments ago like my fantasies somehow conjured her. I sure as hell wasn’t letting her get away without finding out why.

“Get her the fuck out of here,” I told Derek and then went after Shae, tearing out of my room in nothing but my damn skivvies. Eyebrows shot up, a few drunk laughs followed me through the house and then my brother jerked his head toward the door, a smirk on his face. I wanted to knock it off, but didn’t have time.

Shae’d made it as far as the front lawn by the time my bare feet hit the cold, rough wood on the front porch, but she’d run into fucking Duncan.

“Where are you trying to go in such a hurry, baby doll?”

I was going to break his damn hands if he didn’t take them off of her. She was shaking like a leaf and everyone standing around thought it was somehow fucking funny. I hated my brother’s lowlife friends.

“Duncan!” I yelled, taking the steps. “Remove your fucking dirty hands now, before I do it for you.”

He took a step back, lifting his hands in the air. “Hey, didn’t mean no harm.”

Sure he didn’t.

“Shae,” I called her name softly, holding my hand out to her, but she wasn’t looking at me. She had her arms wrapped around her waist, holding a pair of sparkly shoes in her hand, eyes shifting all over the place, taking in the leering faces that wanted to get their little piece of her sweet ass, but that wouldn’t be happening. “Shae.” This time she reacted to the soft command in my voice and turned slowly, still holding herself tightly. Her eyes were so fucking sad and scared. Her cheeks were bright pink, either from the cold or the humiliation that was making her lips quiver and her eyes fall to her feet instead of meeting mine. I went to her, placing my hand gently on her back.

“I got you,” I whispered.

“I juss wan’ to go home,” her voice broke so softly.

“I’ll get you home. I promise, but first I need you to come inside with me.”

Her eyes lifted and met mine guardedly. “Don’ you,” sniff, “need to get back to,” sniff, “yer frien?” Between her sniffles and the alcohol slurring her words, I would have smiled at how adorably pitiful she was if it wasn’t for the devastation so obvious on her face. Whatever was making her so sad, I just wanted to make it go away. I wanted to take that broken look out of her eyes. I didn’t know how, so I just pulled her in close and tucked her into my side.

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