Tackling Her Obsession with the Tight End

Chapter 12: To Protect Her

Liam

"Hey Joey." I answer the phone, wondering what's going on for him to call. It's still weird that the guy I threatened to dismember for harassing Caylee is now in my friends column.

"Liam, were you dating a woman named Piper Harrell?"

I sit back in surprise. "We went on two dates and I told her last week it wasn't working out. Why?"

"You should come down to The Old Fashioned. Some things here might interest you." He adds cryptically. "I know that's vague, but trust me, you should come."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes.”

When I walk in, Joey waves me over. He points to a table and I see Piper sitting with a gossip reporter. Just what I need. "After you deal with that, I have something else for you." He says ominously before heading toward the back section of the restaurant.

"So like I said, I should have plenty of stories for you soon enough. He and I are very serious." She says with a bright smile. Until I clear my throat. "I wouldn't pay her before you make sure she's telling the truth. I'm not dating her."

Her eyes widen comically and I shake my head before turning on my heel and marching for Joey. I stop short seeing Sarah sitting next to him in the booth. She's swaying back and forth. He and his teammates are eating and he's trying to convince her to have some fries. "Eat a few Sarah. You'll feel better." Joey says patiently. She puts one in her mouth but she's so uncoordinated. Is she drunk?

I step closer and Joey catches the movement. "Stay right here Sarah." He exits the booth and I hear one of the other guys offering her more food.

He makes his way to me quickly. "She's safe with them. They're good people. I was about to call Noah and Caylee but then I saw Piper and figured you could handle two birds with one stone."

"Is she drunk? What the hell happened to her?" She knows how we all feel about drinking too much after Noah's accident reshaped our lives and she's always been on guard making me wonder how this happened. Sarah doesn't drink a drop of alcohol. Or at least she used to not. After living through Paul's abuse, maybe she changed her mind. I wouldn't blame her for a drink or two. But what I'm seeing; no way I believe she went that far willingly.

"She showed up with a large group right after we arrived. I waved to her and she stopped by for a second. Said it was a work celebration for some big job. We were sitting around waiting for our food when I heard her group getting really loud. Some of them were cheering. And then I saw her stumbling out of their group. I went to grab her and she slurred managing to explain she was trying to go to the bathroom. Derek's girlfriend helped her and brought her back to the table. I called you and have been keeping her with us." He turns to glance at her. "Liam, it was thirty minutes from when we said hello and her falling down."

"She doesn't drink so if she had more than one, it's possible. Are her coworkers still here?" I scowl, glancing around. Did they just leave her like this? Didn't call them friends for a reason.

"No they left. Not like I was letting her go anywhere with them." He says darkly.

"Bastards. Thanks Joey. I'll take her home." I step towards the table calling her name.

She looks up, blinking rapidly. Her pupils are blown wide and now I really frown. "Li...Liammmm" she slurs out and starts climbing from the booth. I move quick and lift her up bridal style. "Come on Sarahbelle. Let's get you home."

"Hiiiii." She grins happily. "Your mammmmaaaa calls me dattt. Means...ummmmm" She frowns hard staring up at me.

"It means beautiful Sarah. One of Mama’s best nicknames, sweetheart. Come on." I carry her to my truck and buckle her in. She looks sleepy and I encourage that. "Why don't you lay your head down here and go to sleep?"

She nods like a little kid and pillows her hands on my center console. Within minutes she's asleep. I take out my phone and call in a favor. Now to call Caylee. Before I can, my phone rings again.

Joey....

"Hey Jo..." He cuts me off, his voice low and urgent.

"Liam listen to me. Ten minutes after you left, some asshole came into the restaurant asking about a woman with Sarah's description. He stopped at our table after the bartender pointed him in our direction. Showed us Sarah's picture and we denied seeing her. He wouldn't give his name. We played it off and said that Derek's girlfriend was the only brunette who'd been at our table. Our waiter smartly vouched for that too. He moved to start questioning others. I paid another waiter to tell him there was a girl like that at the bar but she left with three other girls saying they were heading to Harrisville. He was tall with reddish brown hair. Gave off a bad vibe. Left acting irritated."

Paul f*****g Chadwick I'd bet money.

"Thanks Joey. Tell me how much and I'll reimburse you."

"Like hell you will. Family takes care of family." He hangs up and I am once again grateful he got help and we adopted him.

On the way to our stop, I call Caylee.

"Hey Lima bean." She calls out teasingly.

"Cayleebug. What do you know about Sarah's co-workers?" I cut to the chase.

She recognizes my tone of voice and jumps right in. "She's only close to one of them and her boss. Ida is her cubicle mate and she likes her. Someone's always stealing her candy though. She mentioned a few days ago she got hit by the candy squirrel again. Honestly she doesn't talk about them much. I assume it's civil, but since they frequently compete with each other, it's not super friendly. Why?"

"She went out with them and appeared to be drunk. Joey was luckily at the restaurant with his team and called me. I'm taking her home. She's asleep." Sarah doesn't stir.

"No way she got drunk on her own Liam." She snarls.

"Yeah I figured. We are stopping by the hospital to see Rina. She said we can stay in the truck."

"Smart move. Does Vi need to go stay with her?"

"Not yet. I'll let her know if so. Thanks sis."

"No, thank you for taking care of her. She's really happy you guys can talk again Liam. She was suffering." Caylee's voice is somber.

"Yeah me too. Talk to you later Caycay." I end the call checking on Sarah again. An hour later, I carry her into her apartment. She mumbles a little and snuggles against me. "Got you Sarahbelle, just relax." Once she's safely tucked into her bed, I fire off a text to Sean and Noah. Sean is understandably pissed off. I call him and Noah since it's easier and they are no happier once I explain what happened.

"I think we were right. He's following her. Otherwise how would he know to turn up every time she's been with me." I breathe out as I pace her living room.

"The bastard is trying to keep her from talking to you it seems. I have a hunch he only shows up when you've been around." Noah surmises. "What if it's you he's following? Not her. I mean he could be obsessed with you not getting to her instead of the other way around."

"Damn. I hadn't thought of that."

Sean adds "it kind of makes more sense that way. But I'd rather not test any theories with that asshat."

I hear her stirring and tell them I need to go. "We need to loop Chad in tomorrow."

She's moving around fitfully tangled in the blankets. I untangle her and she settles back into sleep.

I go check her fridge. She has almost no food in it. Then I go through her cabinets looking for ibuprofen. She's going to have a headache from hell in the morning. I find the bottle with only one tablet in it. Wandering back into her room to leave a glass of water on her nightstand, I lean down and brush her hair back. "I'll be back with some ibuprofen and breakfast so you won't suffer too much in the morning." I grab her keys hesitating at the door for a minute. She should sleep a while. When I step out, I'm not alone. A woman is crouched by the door across the hall holding a brown bag. It's about to rip open and I hurry to alert her.

"Umm your bag has a hole in it." I point out, stepping closer, not realizing she had no idea I was there. She jumps and stares at me silently screaming.

I hold both hands up. I didn't see the earbuds until she pulls them out.

"Oh gosh I never even heard you. Guess I should listen to my mama and not wear these things so much." She let out a shaky laugh.

"Yeah probably not the safest. Mama usually knows best." I chuckle. Mine does.....which makes me wonder about our last conversation in light of what happened tonight. I have a feeling Mama has been keeping lots of secrets from me. Might need to go visit her by myself soon.

"That's exactly what mine says! Can't admit that to her though, she'd never let me live it down." She laughs before holding her hand out. "I'm Harlow Fielding."

"I'm Liam Jameson. Nice to meet you." Not a spark of recognition in her eyes when I mention my name. Interesting. I prefer not being recognized everywhere I go.

"Same to you. Sorry, my co-worker lives here and he's been sick so I brought him some soup. Do you live there?" She points to Sarah's apartment.

"No, a friend of mine. She was in a minor car accident with my sister and I brought her home. Was on her way to Harrisville and I happened to be driving back from that way." Thank goodness for Joey tonight but I need to protect him too. I don't want Paul the Prick harassing him. Noah's theory makes a lot of sense but something is off to the extreme here and it's time to get to the bottom of it. To protect her one more time from the bully. She deserves to be free and happy.

"Oh darn, I was wondering if you could make sure he takes the soup later if it's still out here. No matter, I'll try to swing back by later on." She beams a friendly, warm smile at me.

"You can't text him?" I ask curiously.

"He isn't answering them. Said he was turning his phone off and sleeping. I told him I'd be by in an hour to drop it off. Hopefully he remembered. It's alright. I'll figure something out."

"That's nice of you."

She shrugs. "He's a good guy. Doesn't have any family nearby and I don't either. We kind of take care of each other when the chips are down. Sometimes you have to make your own family." I find myself nodding at that.

I glance back at Sarah's door, wishing the hollowness in my chest would go away. At least if I can make sure she's safe, that will be enough. No matter where she and I end up. "Harlow, can I get your number? I'll text you later when I come back by to check on my friend and let you know about the soup."

"That sounds great. I appreciate it. Maybe I could repay your kindness with a cup of coffee sometime."

"Sounds perfect." I answer. Time to flip things around.