“Just a few more?” Seneca asked hopefully, keeping her hands up protecting her face for emphasis.
“That’s probably good for today. I know you feel great right now, but those are muscles you haven’t used like this, even if we’ve been working out for a few months.”
Seneca considered her body, feeling how leaden her arms were and how much her leg ached. For the first time, the ache felt good. It felt like progress and it felt earned. She pulled off her gloves and flopped down against the wall, grinning from ear to ear at the new experience. Unlike the last time she had seen Kate whack the heavy bag and she’d thrown up, hitting the mitts herself made her feel capable in a way she hadn’t ever before.
Chapter Twenty-two
When the spring semester started again, Dylan was happy to be back on campus with Seneca, but nervous about what the future would hold. She didn’t know how much to believe Seneca’s assurances that Shannon would make the three-thousand-mile trek to find her. It seemed so stupid to break her parole and risk her freedom, but Seneca had no doubts. The minute Dylan got back to campus, she headed straight to Seneca. They’d hardly spoken over the break since she’d been in Europe with her family. Even when they had talked, though, Seneca had seemed a little distant. That worried her.
Seneca didn’t look as happy to see her as she hoped.
“We need to talk,” Seneca said after they had kissed hello.
Dylan didn’t want to talk. Or at least, not talk about what Seneca’s tone implied they were about to talk about. Nothing good followed a “we need to talk” lead-in. She had been worried about Seneca the entire time she was on vacation, stressed about how she was handling the threat of Shannon, and now they needed to talk.
Dylan’s chest felt tight and she felt sick to her stomach. Instead of consenting to a chat she wasn’t interested in, Dylan turned to leave.
“I don’t want to talk, Seneca. Not if you want to talk about what I think you want to talk about.”
“Come on, Dylan,” Seneca said, looking pretty miserable. “You know this is how it has to be.”
“I know no such thing. I love you. You said you love me. I have no idea why you think it has to be this way,” Dylan said. Anger was easier to give in to than the terrible sadness threatening to swamp her.
“I do love you. I love you so much I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you,” Seneca said. “That’s why we have to be apart. Shannon can’t know anything about you. If she knows you exist…” Tears streamed down Seneca’s face.
Dylan was conflicted. She was still angry at Seneca for ambushing her, but her heart was still so pure it reminded her of everything she loved so much about her. And she was crying, which was more than she could handle.
“That’s not really how relationships work, Seneca,” Dylan said. “You face the good and the bad together. Haven’t you ever heard the marriage vows, for better or for worse? Through good times and bad? I’m not saying we’re getting married, but the sentiment is true. You’re either in it together or you’re not really in it at all.”
“That’s never been my life,” Seneca said. “And I have to keep you safe.” Seneca looked sad. More than sad, actually. She looked as if she had spent the entire time they had been apart holding her world together and now it had just fallen to pieces at her feet.
“Don’t do this,” Dylan said, crying. She didn’t feel much of anything at the moment, but she knew it was waiting, just below the surface. It was as if her eyes were reacting out of courtesy, but the rest of her was too shocked to respond.
Seneca moved closer to hug her, or kiss her, to comfort her in some way, but Dylan wasn’t interested. The only comfort Seneca could offer would be to take back this stupid, misguided sense of chivalry and bravery. Or maybe it was all fear and Seneca was using this as an excuse to run. Whatever it was, she wouldn’t get a chance to kiss away Dylan’s hurt.
“Shannon doesn’t scare me as much as the thought of losing you. I don’t need you to single-handedly keep me safe, Seneca. I want us to keep each other safe.” When Seneca stayed silent, her hands thrust into her pockets, her jaw clenched, Dylan didn’t want to hear any more excuses. She had heard Seneca’s reasoning and she thought it sucked. That Seneca could push her away so easily, and because of an ex, even a criminally insane one, hurt more than she thought possible.
Dylan felt a bit dazed on her walk back to her dorm room. She couldn’t believe the difference a few weeks could make. She and Seneca were so happy just before Christmas and now, apparently, they couldn’t even see each other anymore. Anger swelled in her gut. Anger at Seneca, but mostly anger at Shannon, the woman who had ravaged Seneca’s life and was still doing so.
When she got to her dorm room, she stopped before unlocking it. She felt uneasy but couldn’t pinpoint why. She looked behind her and scanned the campus. She couldn’t see anything amiss, but she also couldn’t shake the unsettled feeling. If anything, it was getting worse. She felt like the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up. She quickly held her keycard to the door and heard it click open. She pulled it open and leapt inside. She relaxed slightly when the door clicked closed behind her, but she didn’t like that she had been so freaked out.
She rushed upstairs to her dorm room and looked out the window, hoping a higher vantage point would help her identify the source of her creepy crawlies. There wasn’t any obvious scary person hiding in plain sight. She did take note of a blond woman walking quickly away, her back to Dylan, but that in and of itself wasn’t all that suspicious. She realized she had no idea what Shannon looked like. If Seneca was right, and Shannon was coming, Dylan should find out what she looked like. Quickly.
Dylan picked up the phone against her better judgment and called Seneca.
“I’m not saying I agree with anything you fear about Shannon or that she’s coming to campus, but if you’re worried, I should probably at least know what she looks like, right?”
“Dylan, what aren’t you telling me?” Seneca sounded terrified.
Dylan knew this was a bad idea. “You said she was coming and I don’t know what the woman looks like. Besides, if she’s going to be such a fucking home wrecker and ruin what we have, I want to be able to look at her picture and curse her to her face.”
“Dylan, don’t lie to me, please.”
“It’s nothing, an overreaction. I got a little bit of a creepy feeling when I was walking back to my dorm room. Everything else is true. I think I should know what she looks like.”
“Did you see anyone? Was there anyone around that you didn’t recognize or that shouldn’t be there? Shannon’s blond. I can’t come over there because I don’t want her to see me near you, but I’m calling campus police to come and check the building.”
“You’re doing no such thing,” Dylan said. “I’m fine. Send me the picture. Send it to Britt too, and any other athletes you’re friends with. They’re all over this campus. Let’s set up a spy network. She won’t be able to set foot around here without our knowing about it.”
“That’s actually a good idea,” Seneca said. “I’ll e-mail the picture now.”
“Seneca, I love you. You don’t have to do this alone.”
“I just can’t let her get to you,” Seneca said. “I love you too much. I’m sorry.”
Chapter Twenty-three
“No arguments, Seneca.” Kate’s frustration showed in the way her arms were crossed over her chest. Seneca knew she was close to crossing a line. She and Kate had been at odds more and more lately. It had started since she had begun distancing herself from those she cared about. Kate didn’t approve of her breaking up with Dylan and wasn’t pleased at being cut out of Seneca’s life except for work and occasional workouts.
“I don’t need a damned babysitter, Kate!” Seneca’s voice was barely below a shout.
“If you keep acting like a two-year-old, we can argue about that, but for now let’s leave it that Jay is not your babysitter. He is a licensed EMT and you two
are going to be out in the woods alone. Do I feel better that he’s with you? Yes, but that isn’t my motivation.”
Seneca took a moment to decide if she should argue further. It wasn’t unusual for an EMT to be around for particularly dangerous or out of the way events, and she had to admit, it was comforting to know Jay was going to be with her. Jay was built like an SUV crossed with a muscle car, heavy on the muscle. Sophia was hosting a huge track meet this weekend. There were over thirty schools represented. The campus would be full of strangers.
“Fine, but I’m driving the whole time.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “I’m sure Jay will be thrilled to hear that. He’s outside waiting for you.”
Seneca grabbed her pack and walked out, still fuming, but not really sure why.
“Seneca!” Kate called her back.
“Yeah?” Seneca leaned back into the training room. She felt a little bad for yelling at Kate a minute ago.
“Radio.” Kate flipped one of the portable handheld devices across the room. Seneca caught it neatly and secured it to the portable athletic training pack strap resting across her chest. “Try and stay on the road with the damned cart. Follow the runners. They’ll know where they’re going and you won’t get lost.”
Although she knew Kate was mostly kidding, Seneca could feel her hackles rising again. She hated how on edge she was lately and felt like she was being a bear to those who loved her. “Yeah, okay.” Today was an unusual event because the athletes would be competing through the woods behind the track. That meant they were out of sight almost the entire event. As a result, Seneca and Jay would be following the course behind the last runner in the cart. If anyone were injured, they would pick them up and transport them out of the woods. Kate’s laughter followed her down the hall.
Once outside, Seneca felt a little less on edge. Although the danger Shannon presented would most likely come outside the safe confines of the training room or her dorm, Seneca didn’t like feeling trapped. Lately, the buildings had taken on a distinctly claustrophobic feel. It didn’t make any sense, but the fresh air felt safer than the stuffiness inside.
She spotted Jay immediately. He was hard to miss.
“Morning,” Jay said cheerfully, his voice deep and warm.
“I’m driving.” Her bad mood refused to go away.
“You always this peppy in the morning?” he asked with a laugh. “I’m a morning person, I gotta warn you.”
Seneca just grunted.
Jay followed her as she unlocked the field house training room and grabbed the necessary gear. She threw the splint kit and crutches on the cart and then returned for the large kit containing tape, first aid supplies, and any number of other useful tools.
Seneca thought about her own recent adventure in the woods and how much the people who loved her had done for her on that night. The only way for her to show her appreciation to them was to stay away from them, and that sucked. To make it worse, she had just snapped at Jay, who had done absolutely nothing wrong and didn’t know about her situation. She felt like a class one asshole.
When she turned around to apologize, Jay was leaning against the cart inspecting his nails, a deep frown on his handsome face. He was attractive in a gentle way and the day-old stubble added to his appeal.
“It’s not even ten yet and already, a broken nail,” Jay said, looking incredulous.
“Christ,” Seneca said, trying to hide her smile, “you are such a stereotypical gay man.”
Jay’s face lit up. “Thanks, honey.”
Seneca laughed. Perhaps today wouldn’t be so bad after all. “Look, I’m sorry for snapping earlier, I’ve…” she thought about telling him about her personal problems but couldn’t bring herself to do it. She had gotten better at sharing what she was feeling, but she was still really only comfortable with Dylan, Kate, and, occasionally, Britt. “I’ve got no excuse.”
Jay waved her off and settled onto the passenger seat of the golf cart. “Let’s go rescue us some track stars.” He patted the seat next to him. Seneca wasn’t sure there was room on the seat for her. She squeezed in and set off.
The women’s race was uneventful and painfully slow. Sophia was a Division III school, which meant that most of their competition was as well. Division III didn’t give out athletic scholarships, and many schools promoted an “everyone can play a sport” philosophy. As a result, Seneca had to crawl through the woods after the final two runners who were jogging slower than she could walk.
Any annoyance she had at going so slowly disappeared when they came out of the woods and crested the hill to the track and the finish line. The home stretch was lined with fans and other athletes, all of them cheering and screaming for the final contestants. Seneca wanted to slap herself on the forehead for being annoyed at these women. It wasn’t every day you got to witness the true meaning and value of sports.
During the break between the women’s and men’s events, Seneca checked in with Kate and then returned to the cart to have an early lunch with Jay. He was easy to talk to and they passed the time laughing frequently. Seneca was only peripherally aware that a few short months ago she never would have let herself have this easy interaction. It was further evidence of all Shannon was threatening to take away. It was also motivation to ensure that never happened.
The men’s race was run at a much quicker pace, but it was also longer, taking them farther into the woods. It was during this race that the cart was particularly important, as any runner who got injured would have to make their way almost a mile back at the farthest point.
Jay informed her early on that he was planning on enjoying the view and not to disturb him. He frowned disapprovingly when Seneca reminded him he had a boyfriend. Even Seneca could see the change that came over him when he thought of his man. All the bravado about checking out boys in their little runners’ shorts was just talk. She was happy for him. Everyone should have that kind of love in their lives.
As much as Seneca hated to admit it, having Jay with her on the cart was a relief. She was still skittish any time they rounded a bend, and the noises of the woods freaked her out. Although probably too early for Shannon to have tracked her down and made her way across the country, Seneca was still wary. The Sherman tank sitting next to her was a comfort. She took a steadying breath and tried to relax, just a little.
The natural sounds of a spring day were broken by the footfalls and heavy breathing of the athletes and the rumble of their golf cart. Until a loud pop-crack rang out in the quiet woods.
After the loud crack, the terrified scream seemed like a foregone conclusion. Seneca didn’t feel any of the hot, searing pain she had felt the first time she was shot, so she figured she hadn’t been hit. All the same, she didn’t start the cart again for a beat or two, taking stock and trying to calm the panic threatening to overtake her. They were parked just before a curve in the course and she steeled herself for what she would find around the bend. She could remember how she felt and how much blood there had been, but she didn’t know how she would handle seeing it as an observer.
Jay’s face was set and his body tense. He too seemed to know they weren’t dealing with a sprained ankle, although Seneca doubted he knew the sound of a handgun crack.
She put her foot to the floor and the cart hurtled forward, propelling her toward the source of her fear. Jay could take care of the wounded and she would have to face Shannon. She felt nothing as she prepared to face her worst nightmare.
“Sounded like a bad break,” Jay said, his voice tense as they hurried forward. “Good thing you brought the splint kit. I think we’re going to need it.”
“What?” Seneca asked, unable to understand what he was saying. Did he think the bullet had broken a bone? It was possible, she knew, but how could he tell without seeing the patient?”
“The crack. Sounded like a broken bone. Probably leg, for us to hear it all the way back here. The ride out is going to be horrible for the poor guy.”
Understanding
flooded Seneca’s senses. “You think someone broke their leg?”
“Um, yes.” Jay looked at her with a strange expression on his face. “What do you think we’re about to find up there?”
“Me, oh, uh, nothing, probably leg. Tibia, probably. She wanted to hug him, but a part of her was still convinced she had heard a gunshot. Was it possible it was just a leg snapping that had sent her heart into overdrive?
Just around the next curve was a small group of runners, huddled protectively over another young man lying on the ground holding his lower leg and rocking back and forth in pain.
The group parted as the cart careened to a stop and Seneca and Jay leapt out. Seneca headed immediately for the fallen man and Jay went to the back of the cart for their supplies. She knelt next to him and quickly assessed for signs of bleeding. There was some, but not the kind she was expecting. The poor man’s tibia protruded through his shin about three inches.
“My leg, I think I broke my leg.” He was gasping and tears slid down his face. “I stepped on something, I think, and then I heard this really loud crack. I tried to stand up, but then it cracked again. I can’t get up and it hurts so much. I thought I saw the bone sticking out, but that’s just crazy, right? I can’t look. It hurts so bad.”
“I know it does,” Seneca said, looking at his leg without touching it. “We’re going to get you out of the woods and get that taken care of. Anything else hurt?”
He shook his head. “Just my leg. It’s been hurting the last few days at practice but nothing like this.”
Jay knelt next to Seneca with the splint kit and two pairs of gloves. Seneca covered his leg with a towel. The young man didn’t need to see his bone sticking out of his leg again. There wasn’t much they could do except immobilize the leg and get him out of the woods as quickly as possible. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant ride.
“What’s your name?” Jay asked as he too looked at the leg without touching. They would have to move him soon enough, no need to add to the pain just yet.
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