Chapter 16: Perfume
Matthew
I shift uncomfortably at her request. "I'm sorry, Sarah, but I can't. I have dinner plans with Amanda tonight. She's waiting for me at home."
Sarah's eyes widen, a flash of desperation crossing her delicate features. "Please, Matthew," she pleads. "I'm too scared to go home alone. What if those men know where I live? What if they try to find me?"
I observe her face. She does look genuinely scared. The rational part of my brain tells me to walk away, to keep the boundaries I've so carefully constructed. But the protective instinct that drove me to intervene in the first place won't let me leave her like this.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Alright. I'll ride with you to make sure you get home safe. But I can't stay long. I need to get back to Amanda."
Relief washes over Sarah's face, and she nods quickly. "Thank you, Matthew. Really. I promise I won't keep you long."
We climb into the cab, and Sarah gives the driver her address.
As we pull away from the curb, she leans back against the seat, closing her eyes for a moment.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," she says softly, not opening her eyes. "I know you have your own life, your own plans. I just...those men really scared me."
There's a vulnerability in her voice that catches me off guard, a rawness that I haven't heard from her before. For all her bubbly charm and relentless pursuit of my attention, in this moment, she seems utterly human. Fragile, even.
"It's okay," I reassure her, my voice gentler than I intended. "I'm glad I was there. No one should have to face something like that alone."