Chapter 66

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RYAN'S POV

The four of us had taken turns playing Call of Duty until well past midnight. (And for the record, Becca did beat me ONE time but I beat her about FOUR times so I don't think that calls for Landon constantly making fun of me for it.) Becca and Bentley were the first ones to pass out so Landon and I just talked quietly until we were tired enough too.

I was secretly glad that Becca admitted she wouldn't be able to sleep without me because I felt the same way about her. The only person who seemed wary about our relationship was Mike. He texted a few times a week and always asked about us – he thinks I'm falling in too fast and the sympathy card plays too strong a part in our relationship, but that's where he's wrong. Sympathy isn't the word I would use to describe my emotions for the beautiful girl sleeping next to me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't feel bad about what happened in her past because if I had known sooner I would have done anything to stop it... I would use words like admiration, happiness, and love to describe the way I feel about her. I have no doubts that she's who I want to spend the rest of my life with and I'm almost positive (definitely positive but I haven't actually gotten her input) that she feels the same way.

Landon left about an hour ago to head home and dropped Bentley off on the way, so Becca and I were the lone souls left on the couch as the sun finally made a full appearance in the sky. I flung open the curtain a bit with my free arm to let some of the light in. It was already nine and although Becca was an adorable sleeper I don't feel like spending half my day on the couch. The flutter of light throughout the room did the trick to get my girl stirring.

"Morning beautiful," I whisper and brush some of her dark strands away from her face. She smiles lazily and tucks her head into the crook of my neck. "No no no. Time to get up baby." She whines a little but reluctantly pulls away and stretches her little body.

"What are we doing today?" she asks in a sexy, sleepy voice.

"I was thinking we could run to the grocery store and plan out some meals for the week. It's going to be really busy with homecoming and stuff." I really had nothing planned today so I figured we'd get a jump start on the week with homework and just spend time together – hopefully she wouldn't think it's a dumb idea.

"That's smart," she says with a smile. "Let me shower quick and we can head out."

I gently smack her butt as she hops over me and off the couch. Her little flinch lets me know I've surprised her. I can practically see the eye roll from the back of her head and chuckle to myself as she heads upstairs.

---

Our basket is already overflowing with food and so is my right arm.

"Becs we should have grabbed a cart," I say for the thousandth time. Finally agreeing with me, she turns away and heads down the aisle towards the front to grab one. Just as she's rounding the corner I notice her completely freeze and I know something's wrong. I'm already walking towards her at a brisk pace when she turns my way with horror all over her face. She hasn't looked at me like that since I pulled her away from her house and drove her to the hospital. "Shit," I mumble under my breath and hastily set the basket of groceries on the floor along with everything else I have in my arms. Sprinting towards her, I pull her in for a quick hug before hiding her behind my body.

"Well, well, well... I know you," said the man himself who'd just rounded the corner to follow after Becca. "You're that athlete that's always on the news. Let me think," he taps on his chin for effect and I feel Becca shaking behind me. "Bradley – Ryan Bradley. Am I right?"

I don't respond, just stare him down and wonder if he was so drunk last time that he doesn't remember me punching his lights out because I'd be glad to do it again. My hands are already clenching into fists involuntarily at the bastard before me from the thought of everything he put my girl through.

"Careful now son, we're in quite the public setting... I'd hate for your football season to go down the drain all because you can't control your fists." So, he does remember that night – just didn't have a name to put with the face.

I was downright seething with anger and it was a dangerous place for me to be. Becca could always calm me down but she was so frightened behind me that I don't think she realized how close I was to losing it. Subconsciously I knew he was right. That and the thought of ripping myself from the horrified girl hiding behind me reeled in my self-control.

Kirk tried to get around me but I swiveled and kept Becca safely behind me. He raised an eyebrow and seemed to get the message so he just spoke to her as if I wasn't there at all.

"It was nice to see you Rebecca. I hope we get a chance to catch up soon." He flashed me an evil smile before sauntering out of the aisle like he owned the place. I slowly followed behind him, leaving plenty of distance and dragging Becca with me, until I watched him leave the store and drive away. Swiveling around so Becca was no longer behind me I swept her into my arms and squeezed tight to let her know I was there; she seemed completely lost in her own mind.

"Ryan?" Her voice was soft and almost broke me.

"It's me baby it's okay. He left now, I've got you," I whispered into her ear along with other comforting things until she calmed down a little bit. When her head lifted from my shirt I saw some makeup trailing down her face giving off the fact that she was crying. I wipe under her eyes with the pads of my thumbs and look around. Thankfully, nobody noticed the small commotion and were all just keeping to themselves.

"You okay?" She nodded but made no motion to move at all so I intertwined our hands and gently led her to where all of our groceries were. I let go of her just long enough to re-situate the items so everything fit in the basket and resume my earlier position so we can check out and head home. Becca stayed silently attached to me until we got to the truck where I lifted her inside and set the two brown bags by her feet. I drove her to the park near our school where we'd had many of these talks before.

"Come here." I motion for Becca to unbuckle and move towards me. She quickly buries herself within my arms and just lets me hold her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I was just scared. I don't like feeling that scared Ryan." Her voice was shaky and quiet like it had been before when she was going through all this stuff. I hated hearing her like that and wanted to do anything to make her feel better but I wasn't sure if anything could... so I just held her.

"I'm sorry you were scared Becs. I tried to get to you as fast as I could..."

"You did! You were there before him - I saw him come in and I froze like an idiot. If I had just turned back into the aisle he wouldn't have seen me!" She pulled slightly away to rant and wave her arms about to show her exaggeration.

"Hun even if you did that he probably would have run into us at some point. The store isn't very big and I'm glad it worked out the way it didn't." She looked at me shocked. "I mean I wish it didn't happen at all Becs but it did and I'm glad I had the chance to get to you before he did." I can't believe I let her go get a cart alone especially at this small grocery store in town - it was so stupid of me. What if she hadn't run back to me? What if Kirk saw her by the cart rack and just took her away?

"He knows who you are... that means he knows where you live Ryan," she said softly and straddled me to tuck her head in the crook of my neck while my arms wrapped around her securely.

"I'll text Alex and have him keep an eye out alright? We can head to the twins for the night if you want."

"I think that's probably a good idea." Her voice is muffled since she's talking directly into my neck but I heard her agree and that's all that mattered right now. I move her to the side and quickly text Alex to let him know what's up.

___

|Ryan Bradley > Alex – 10:02am|

Sent: Hey Alex... so we ran into Kirk at the grocery store and he recognized me. Becca's a little freaked out and thinks he'll research where I live and try to go there. Please let mom and dad know what's up. Keep an eye out for him too if you can, we're headed to the twins for the night.

Received: Will do. Did he do anything?

Sent: She saw him and froze up before running towards me. I knew something was wrong right away but didn't know it was him until he turned the corner... I hid her behind me but he kept trying to get to her. Tod her "I can't wait until we get to catch up" or something – I'm not sure I was kind of out of it

Received: Bastard. I'll keep an eye out. I already told mom and she wants to upgrade the security system.

Sent: That might not be a bad idea. I'm sure the prick will show up eventually and if he has the guts to knock on the front door make sure he doesn't know Becca actually lives there. He probably assumes but I don't need mom telling him anything about Becca...

Sent: Anyways I'm going to start driving the twins. I'll talk to you more when I get there.

Received: Sounds good. I'll let you know if anything's up.

Sent: Thanks Alex. I owe you one.

Received: You don't owe me dork – this is Becca we're talking about!
___

I slightly smile at my little brothers last text before looking to the girl beside me. She's buckled up in the middle seat so she can lean on my arm during the drive.

"Do you want to stop at home and get some clothes or are you good for the night?" I ask her though I'm sure my brothers will have something she can wear: I mostly want to judge her reaction to gauge how important she thinks this situation is... I want to be on the same page as her.

"I'll be okay. Maybe we can just stop for a toothbrush?" I nod and start the truck up, calling Mike as I head towards the city.

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