Page 13

10:04 PM.

Paige walks out the front entrance. She stops when she sees Cole standing there. Just for a second. Like she was hoping he might have changed his mind about picking her up.

"About time," Cole calls out. Loud enough that I can hear him from across the parking lot. "You move any slower and I'd think you were avoiding me."

Paige walks toward him. Slower than necessary. "My shift just ended…"

"Yeah, I know when your shift ends." He pushes off the hood. Moves to meet her halfway. "I've been sitting out here for twenty minutes waiting for you."

"I was closing out my register. That takes time."

"Everything takes time with you lately." He's standing too close to her now. In her space. "Maybe if you actually cared about my time—"

"Cole, I'm tired. Can we not do this here?"

"Do what here?" His voice rises. "Have a conversation? That's too much to ask?"

"I didn't say that…"

"You didn't have to. You've been avoiding me! Ever since your little boyfriend at the register decided to play hero."

"He's not my boyfriend. He's just a customer!"

"A customer who knows your name. Who thinks he can tell me where I can and can't stand." Cole steps even closer. Paige takes a step back. "You think I'm stupid, Paige? You think I don't see what's happening?"

"Nothing is happening." Her voice is shaking now. Trying to stay calm. Trying to de-escalate. "Cole, please. Let's just go home…"

"Home?" He laughs. "You mean your home? Where you've been ignoring my calls? Where you've been too 'busy' to see me?"

"I've been working!"

"You're always fucking working!" He grabs her arm. "Or maybe you're just working on finding someone else."

"That's not… Cole, you're hurting me—"

"I'm hurting you?" His grip tightens. "You embarrassed me. In front of everyone. You let some asshole disrespect me and you said nothing."

"I'm sorry…"

"Sorry doesn't fix it, Paige."

I'm already opening the car door. Already moving. But I'm too far away. Fifty feet at least.

Too far to stop what happens next.

Cole pulls back his hand.

And slaps her.

The sound cracks across the parking lot like a gunshot. Paige stumbles backward. Loses her balance. Falls hard onto the pavement.

I'm running before she hits the ground.

Cole is standing over her, breathing hard, his hand still raised like he might do it again. Like he's done it before and knows exactly how far he can push before someone stops him.

Not this time.

I cover the distance in seconds. Don't announce myself. Don't give him time to turn around or brace or do anything except exist in the space he's about to regret occupying.