Free Stroke Of Fear by Alla Kar Page B

growl, he and steadies me. “Go sit down. This won’t take long.”
       “No,” I beg , then turn to Jake. “Please, just go!”
       Tanner drops his grip on me, and I grab for his arms. Jake doesn’t waste any time, pushing Tanner’s chest. Tanner’s jaw clenches, and he throws the first punch. It’s loud. A crack echoes from Jake’s jaw. Then Jake throws himself at Tanner. They roll on the ground and throw a few punches each other’s way.
       I hadn’t even realized that I’m screaming until Cassie’s hand wraps around my mouth. “Shh, it’s fine.”  Eric comes out of nowhere and pulls Tanner off Jake.
       “Get the fuck up. The campers are watching. Fucking calm down, Tanner,” Eric says, grabbing his arms and pinning them behind his back.
       His face is sweaty, dirt smeared against his cheek. If it were any other situation I’d be completely turned on. His chest ris es in powerful gasp as he tries to pull away from Eric. His eyes are dark; he’s ready to fight—ready to protect me.
       Heath has Jake in a deadlock, pulling him the opposite direction. Eric doesn’t let go of Tanner until Jake is clear out of sight. He snatches away, his finger running through his messy hair.
       “What the fuck was that about?” Eric asks.
       “He pushed me,” Tanner says.
       Eric raises an eyebrow and purses his lips. I just now notice that they’re still in their swimming suits. “Really? That’s it? He just pushed you? ” He glances back and forth between the two of us. “Where were you two today?”
       Tanner swallows and glances over at me. A small drop of blood falls from his lip, and he spits a mouthful onto the ground. “That fuckin’ bastard got my lip.”
       Eric snorts. “Well, you got his entire face. So, I think you’re good. Can we please go to our cabins now? Before some camper s go to get Mrs. Jones.”
   I nod frantically. Cassie pats my back and drags Eric the opposite direction. Tanner sighs and shoots his gaze to me. “Sorry. I don’t take too kindly to being pushed.”
       I lift an eyebrow and hold back a laugh. “Really? You can’t tell at all.”
    ***
       Tanner helps me inside and excuses himself after apologizing a thousand times. I lock the door behind him and press my back against the wall. He fought without an inch of hesitation. He seemed so powerful and strong.
       God, I’m head over heels for a guy that won’t even fucking kiss me. Just my luck.
       I crawl to my bed. It’s never looked so comfortable before. Just as I grab my covers, a movement from the window across from me catches my eye.
       I’m suddenly paralyzed—struck with a feeling of the purest terror. I can’t move. Breathe. Act. I’m just stuck in the moment—stuck staring . He was there; I saw him. The brim of his white polo almost covered his blue eyes, but I’d know those eyes anywhere. They haunt my dreams every night.
       Dreaming . That’s exactly what I’m doing. No, I’m hallucinating like I did before the doctor prescribed me the crazy pills. I blink several times. When I look back he’s gone, leaving no indication he was ever there. My eyes shoot toward the door, and it’s both deadbolts are locked. I slide onto my bed, clenching my covers.
    He can’t come back. He’s in prison—a facility meant to keep him in. I’m dreaming. Dreaming my bad past into reality.
       Slowly, I get up and close the blinds. I won’t see him again. It was only my imagination.
    ***
       I was running. Fast. Thick branches slapped against my face, but I didn’t stop. I could feel the blood dripping down my forehead, but something was behind me. I don’t remember, but I know I was running from it. It was getting closer. I was pushing through the burn in my throat, pushing through the ache in my body.
       Water crash ed against the rocks below and stopped me in my tracks. I was at the cliff, just like last time. But I wasn’t being thrown over…not yet