Page 27 of Run
He might call out for me as I descend the stairs. He might not. I can’t hear past the pulse thundering in my ears as my world comes crashing down.
ETHAN
My mind is on Ari the rest of the day, and after a buddy drops me off at home, I walk by the window of her house but don’t see her inside. I even knock but no one answers.
When she doesn’t respond to my texts, I send a message to Fonz.
Did Ari take the bus home with you?
His response comes a moment later.
Here now. Said the bitches at school gave her crap for her hair. She’s having dinner with us. Helping mom in the kitchen now. They’re talking about the cute gym teacher and laughing
I put my phone back in my pocket and walk aimlessly toward my house, deep in thought, but am distracted by the sound of tires crunching on gravel as Axel pulls into his driveway. Anger crawls up my spine like King Kong climbing the Empire State Building, and my insides tighten and twist with pure hatred for that wicked man.
Before I know it, I’m marching in his direction.“Hey! Axel!”
He unfolds his huge frame from the driver’s seat and shuts the door behind him. “Ethan?” I’m pretty sure it’s the first time he’s said my name instead of calling me “boy.” I stop in front of him but don’t say anything. After a moment he raises a brow at me. “Do you need something?”
Recalling the look on Ari’s face today as she told me how he treated her, what he clearly wanted out of her, and knowing what he’s capable of, I tell myself that no matter how big he is, my anger is bigger. Stronger. More powerful.
“Keep your hands off Ari.” Axel’s eyes shoot up and he draws his head back. “I don’t want to see another bruise on her. I don’t want to look in that window”—I point my finger at his house—“and see you touching her. And I don’t want to hear you screaming at her from next door.”
Axel’s mouth slowly curls into a grin and the bastard chuckles. Rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb, he looks at me. “You’ve got balls, boy. I’ll give you that.” He steps around me.
“I’m serious!” I step into his path and, without realizing what I’m doing, push his chest. Since he’s not expecting that, it causes him to take a step back.
Axel looks down at where my hands landed on him, then back up at me. “Kid, I’m gonna let you go with a warning for that one.” He brushes past, bumping me with his shoulder.
“I’ll report you!” I yell to his back. “I’ll tell the city or the state or whoever that you’re collecting disability money when you’re still working.” Axel stops, but doesn’t turn around. “And I’ll alsoreport how you collect money as Ari’s caretaker but she doesn’t even have a bedroom.” He turns and glares at me. “And I’ll tell Lena about that disgusting blonde woman you bring around when she’s working late.”
A growl escapes Axel’s lips before he quickly recovers his composure, looks back at the house, and then at me, clicking his teeth. “You’re playing with fire, boy,” he says before marching into his house.
“Bring it, fuckwad!” I yell at his back.
CHAPTER 8
ARI
“Wanna come over and play video games with us?” Ethan asks as the bus turns onto our street.
Fonz leans over the aisle. “Your boy here figured out how to crypto hack some shit so we can kick everyone’s asses inCall of Duty.”
Ethan rolls his eyes while I suppress a giggle. “I didn’t ‘crypto hack’ anything.” He makes air quotes. “I just figured out the coding to my advantage.”
“Whatever.” Fonz zips his backpack. “Point is, you’re a freaking computer genius.”
Ethan smiles. “I mean, you’re not wrong.”
The bus pulls up in front of our houses and the three of us stand quickly. It’s the end of the school year and we’re all justaching for the freedom of summer. Fonz starts down the aisle, and Ethan scoots out of the seat but steps back to let me go in front of him. I can see Axel’s car in the driveway. “You guys start without me,” I say. “I have to stop at my house first.”
Ethan puts a hand on my shoulder, his way of letting me know he knows I have to test the waters with Axel before coming over.
We step off the bus and the boys head toward Ethan’s house, and I march toward mine. Fonz spins and blows me a kiss while he walks backward toward Ethan’s front stoop, but Ethan jumps out and pretends to catch it, then smushes his palm in Fonz’s face. “Bahaha, you kissed yourself!”
Fonz pulls Ethan into a headlock and the two grapple for a minute before finally heading inside.
I’m laughing when I enter the house, slide my backpack off and hang it up, toeing out of my shoes—then jump with a shriek when I see Axel sitting quietly at the table. “Holy moly!” I bring a hand to my chest. “I didn’t see you sitting there.” When he doesn’t say anything, and doesn’t look up, I clear my throat. “Are you hungry? I can start making dinner. I took chicken out this morning to defrost.”
