Becoming Hank: A Trellis Family Novella (Building the Circle) by Maggie M Lily

Author:Maggie M Lily [Lily, Maggie M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

"IT'S A ZOO! WHO THE HELL GETS ACCOSTED AT A ZOO?" Darla screamed once she was in the car. "It's full of animals in cages and little kids and exhausted parents. How can that happen at the zoo?"

"Are you okay?" Trip asked quietly. He'd been repeating the question, over and over, as Darla dragged him out of the zoo, nearly running. "Darla, are you listening? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"Who does that? Do I have some sort of sign on my back that says, 'Give me a hard time! I react well to bullies!'"

"Darla—"

"Everywhere I go! No matter what I do! I was walking out of the damn bathroom! A giant crowd of people. No one even turned when I yelled," she continued. "It must be me. It's me. I bring this on myself. I need to re-evaluate my life choices as a waitress!"

"Darla—"

"No, it's me. I'm trouble—"

"DARLA!"

She stopped, mid-rant, to stare at him.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"Huh?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Are you okay? Is your arm hurt where he grabbed you?" Trip tried again, talking slowly and quietly.

"I-I'm okay. I'm fine." Her voice wobbled as she swallowed tears. "Are you angry?"

"Huh?" he asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

The words fell out of her mouth in a quick babble. "Please don't be mad. I didn't mean for it to happen. He was in the restaurant last week and gave me a hard time. If I had known—"

"Darla, I'm not mad at you. I'm worried for you," Trip cut her off.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry this is such a mess. That I'm such a mess."

Trip scratched his head in annoyance, even more confused as his anger flashed. "I have no idea how this could even remotely be your fault. It's not your fault he grabbed you. I don't care about the history. It doesn't matter how you know him. It. Doesn't. Matter. People don't get to do that. It's not your fault when someone puts an unwelcome hand on you, Darla!" He was yelling before he could stop himself.

Taking a deep breath, he tried again, more quietly. "If you're okay, I'll take you home. If you're not okay, we'll go to the hospital and call the police. But, if we do that, we should call Tom first because I'll probably get arrested for throwing scalding liquid in his face."

She continued to stare until he started the car. "I think I might be the only person in the world to get accosted at the zoo. It's full of little kids. Why would he even be here?"

"I'm pretty sure he works here. He had some kind of ID card clipped to his belt," Trip replied, tentatively reaching for her hand. "Are you okay?"

"Fine. I'm fine," she murmured, calmer now. Reaching across the seat, she hugged him. "Thank you. That was quick thinking."

Trip snorted out a humorless laugh. "He would have beaten the tar out of me given a chance. I'm not much help in a fight. But, I can throw hot liquid.

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