Free Save Me (Elk Creek) by Crystal Lee Page A

boyfriend.”
    I d idn’t really know why I chose that moment to tell him, but it just bubbled out.  Although, I regretted that decision when he went from just angry to downright scary.
                  “Taryn, NO… the answer is NO,” he burst out. “You can’t live by yourself. You know what? We will discuss this later, not right now.”
    He was really mad. I didn’t think he would be so angry. Worried—yes. Pissed off—no.
                  “Yeah… okay, Ethan,” I said, feeling dejected. He was right, this was going to be a fight, because I was not backing down. I would be reasonable, but I was not resigning my life to being perpetually babysat. He ruffled my hair, and walked back toward the party.
                  I decided to walk down to the lake. The lakeshore had always provided me solace and peace. I made my way down the sloping yard to the bank and slipped off my flip flops. I was thankful for my shorts and tank top. It had to be at least ninety degrees, and for Oregonians that was hot, like scorching hot. 
                  I waded in until the water was at my ankles, and brushed my feet against the sandy bottom. When I was here, it was really the only time that I could let thoughts of my Dad creep in.  I missed him; missed his dry sense of humor, his nerdy polo shirts and glasses, the notes he always left on the fridge for me. I missed his hugs and the way he would always make me feel courageous, capable, and like I was the most cherished girl in the world.
                  A burst of anger suddenly hit me, and I thought of how one person, one moment in time, one circumstance, or one choice could change the lives of others forever. God, I despised Malcolm McCarty, I wished…
                  “Hey, what are you doing out here?”
    I spun around with a start, and ca me chest to face with none other than Carter Belmont.
                  “Jesus, do you have to scare me every time you talk?” I snapped, jutting my chin up at him. And, dear lord, was it a ways up. My nose only came to the middle of his chest. His size alone should have intimidated me. For some reason, I wasn’t intimidated, but irritated.
                  He laughed lightly, looking down at me. I took a step back, and the smell of him could seriously have driven me crazy. It was a clean, outdoorsy smell, almost like he had been out chopping wood or something. I liked it, I liked it more than I should have, and that bothered me.  I was completely unfamiliar and untried when it came to men. These feelings that I found myself having were a little concerning.
                  “Do you have to get scared every time I talk?” he asked with a smirk.
                  I scowled at him. “What can I say? I’m afraid of stupidity,” I smirked back. What a jerk!  What a handsome jerk!
                  He was laughing, actually full on belly laughing. I stood there watching with disbelief. I loved his laugh, it was rich and hearty. The light in his eyes was intoxicating, I thought this might have been the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. Jesus, really? Did I really just think that? Holy crap, if I weren’t already crazy, I sure was now. I needed to get away from him and regain what sanity I had left.
                  “You are quite the smartass, aren’t you?” he asked between chortles. I hadn’t even responded to that when he continued, “You and I are going to get along great, little one.”               “Little one? Did you just call me little one?” I said with indignation. Really, who did he think he was? Mega jerk, that was who.
                  “Well, you are little,” he said simply. He was still grinning. I wanted to smack it off his face. I lied earlier—I hated his smile. Well, that was a lie, but it sounded good.
                  “Who the