Learning To Trust Again

When they reached her apartment she pulled out her key and unlocked the door before she turned back to face him ‘thanks for everything. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.’

‘Probably a good idea’ he said.

Rebecca gave him a questioning look. Maybe she had been more affected than she thought, because she didn’t understand what he was talking about.

‘Not thinking about it I mean,’ he said ‘don’t go into the ‘what if’s’, they’ll drive you mad and don’t walk home this late at night from now on.’

‘Well I have two nights of this shift left but I’m sure that sort of thing won’t happen again. I’ve walked home after a late shift many times before and been perfectly safe.’

 Jake frowned and pushed his hands into his pockets. With an edge to his voice he said, ‘well it wasn’t safe tonight and there’s no guarantee those guys won’t be hanging around tomorrow night. They’ll be out on bail by morning, most likely.’

Rebecca was dismayed by that piece of news, but she didn’t want to show it, she knew it was illogical to be worried. It was doubtful she’d be bothered by them again. But she couldn’t help the trepidation that made her heart beat faster as she thought of those men back on the streets. Trying to reassure herself as much as convince him, she said ‘I don’t think they’ll come back. Surely after being arrested they wouldn’t be stupid enough to come back and try it again, at least not in the same place.’

‘You’d be surprised at just how stupid some people can be’ Jake said, his tone scathing.

Rebecca flicked her gaze up at him, wondering if he was referring to her now. She resented that he might be. She was normally very sensible and a frown coming down on her face, she was prodded into disagreeing. ‘It was just because it was Saturday night,’ she argued ‘I’m sure it will be peaceful tomorrow and it seems a shame to get the car out for that distance.’

‘I would’ he said, his face stern, his jaw set. ‘It’s not worth the risk.’

Studying his angry expression for a minute and feeling a little uneasy again, Rebecca decided maybe it was better to try and mollify him rather than argue with him. Her tone more even she said ‘okay I’ll think about it.’

‘Good’ he replied, his voice as hard as steel.

His harsh attitude surprised Rebecca. It was nice he was concerned about her, but his moods seemed to change like the wind. After the ordeal she’d already been through that night it was too much for her to deal with. As much as she was grateful to him for helping her, she wanted him to leave now. She opened her door wider and stepped inside her apartment. Hanging onto the door she said, ‘thanks again Jake’ to round out the conversation and give him the hint to leave.

But either Jake had the lightening reaction time of a mongoose, which could bait a snake and still get out of its way before it struck. Or her gesture proved unnecessary, as the words were barely out of her mouth before he was turning and walking back down the stairs with nothing more than a curt nod.