Page 55 of Shamed
Out of everyone, Neil’s the only one I’ve kept in contact with.
The last time I saw Campbell was at Jason’s funeral, and it was a fucking disaster. Regardless of barely seeing Jason since high school, I was gutted about what happened to him, and then Campbell had to go and be a dick while there.
I sigh. I can’t blame him since I’m the one who started building that tension-filled wall between us from the moment I met him and the others. I was the one who always acted like an obnoxious idiot and butted heads with him at any chance I got.
But this was different.
He’s never been able to accept that I had a different opinion from him about Jacob. He can’t understand why I would believe he was guilty and acted the way I did back then.
But I have my reasons . . . reasons he’ll never know about.
Neil was always level-headed and stayed neutral, even after becoming a dad at such a young age, which is probably why he still responds to my texts after I separated myself from them.
Seeing Jennifer—fuck,I mean Jayne—has all sorts of memories from the past resurfacing.
I drive another block before I realize I was so distracted that I missed my turn several blocks back.
“Shit.”
I turn down the next street and pull over, trying to orient myself. I’m unfamiliar with this area and not quite sure where I’ve ended up.
The street looks uninviting with the dim streetlight on the corner casting a circle that showcases glass and garbage scattered about.
I see a couple of shady guys loitering outside what looks like a cannabis store farther down the street, the neon glow from the sign lighting up their scruffy faces. One bald, and the other wearing a cap.
Not much else is going on in the area, though.
I put my truck into gear but then see movement on the other side of the street a little farther from the guys.
The person looks like they’re trying to stay hidden, rushing from shadow to shadow.
“What are you up to?” I wonder aloud.
Curious about the figure, I watch them for another moment as they hold their hood in place, creeping from one place to the next. And that’s when I realize the jacket looks awfully familiar.
Because I saw it less than an hour ago.
Shit.
Does she live close by?
Jayne must have taken the bus and is now walking the rest of the way home.
What are the fucking chances of that?
Wait, does she do this walk every night aroundhere?
I look back at the shady guys, and a bad feeling settles over me when I notice they’ve turned in her direction.
Gripping the wheel, I flick my gaze back to Jayne, watching as she freezes when she sees them.
A second later, they’re running toward her as if she’s the prey they’ve been waiting for.
Fuck.Nope,that’s not happening.
I quickly rev my engine and drive to where the two men are running, coming to a screeching halt and getting out right in front of them. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
The bald one’s face scrunches up, his stupid mouth gaping after I stop them in their tracks. “Who the fuck are you?”
