against my exposed, sweaty skin and I sat up, wrapping the blanket around me. Tristan got to his feet and started to dress as I searched for my discarded panties and clothes.
“What’s that?” Tristan gave me a look. “What do you mean?”
“You said you didn’t want to hide anymore,” I replied as I pulled my panties on. “So we don’t. We’re adults. We can be together. And I want to start by spending tonight in your arms.”
Tristan looked hesitant. “Baby, I’d love that, but what happens if your parents call the cops?”
I blinked and my mouth went dry. I hadn’t thought of that. “They can’t,” I said firmly. “I’m eighteen. I’m a legal adult.” I was bluffing, I had no idea whether or not the cops would respond. After all, Daddy and Mum had thrown a gala for the police force a few years ago. My dad still had a lot of sway in Centreville, and I knew that the cops were in his pocket. They probably wouldn’t listen to the law when faced with my angry daddy.
“Fine,” Tristan said. “We’ll go to a motel.”
We dressed in silence and climbed back in his T-bird. But the atmosphere between us had changed, something was different. When I asked Tristan what was wrong, he said nothing and stared moodily out the window. When he pulled into the parking lot of a seedy motel outside of town, I felt my stomach turn over. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be at all. We were supposed to be someplace nice, someplace clean.
“Do we have to stay here ?” I asked.
Tristan turned to me and let out a deep sigh. “Where did you have in mind?”
As he stared at me, I felt all of the resolve that I’d built up in the woods leave.
“Nothing,” I said softly. “It’s fine. Can you just take me home?”
When Tristan dropped me off, we parted on awkward terms. He told me that he’d come by the house tomorrow. He wanted to visit with Mum and Daddy and try to make amends with them. I didn’t have it in my heart to tell him that no matter what he did, they’d always think he was trash.
Chapter Two
When the library had emptied out, I let out a deep sigh as I went behind the counter and clocked out for the day. It was later than I’d expected. Phin was probably waiting with a babysitter after school and I wanted to get to him as soon as possible. I’d been working late the whole week and I knew he’d been cross with me over it. I missed spending time with my son, but during the week I was so busy. At least he was finally in school and making friends of his own.
When Phin had been a little boy, he’d been attached to me at the hip. He’d followed me everywhere, never letting me out of his sight. I’d always worried that he wasn’t developing the way a boy should, but the teachers assured me it was normal, especially for an only child. I had to hold my chin up high as I knew not everyone approved of a single mom, especially not a single working mom. But that’s what I was, and so be it.
As I locked up the library and walked out into the parking lot, I heard the roaring of motorcycles. There were two big guys in leather jackets perched on bikes. They kept their eyes trained closely on me as I walked out to my car. Even though I was tall, I was slender. It wouldn’t be difficult to overpower me at all, and I was sure they knew that. I felt a shiver of fear run through me as I fumbled in my bag for the keys. I should have stayed inside until they disappeared , I thought with irritation. Pay more attention to your surroundings, Jenny .
“Hey, sweetie, you need a ride?” one of them called out in a rough voice, and the other jeered.
“I’m fine,” I said in a shaky voice. Damn it, stay calm . The bikers both laughed at my shaky tone. “Can I help you?”
“We were just waiting to see when you were gonna leave,” the