The stairwell was out of the question now. Derek had probably torn through everything I owned in a rage.
What was I supposed to do tomorrow?
My head was so full of how to survive the next few hours that I didn't notice the group of people walking toward me.
"Thelma Summers?"
My head snapped up at the sound of my name.
"It really is you?"
Of all people, it had to be Benedict Fox.
I swallowed hard, scrambling for an excuse, but my mind came up empty.
What came out instead was, "Benedict, help me!"
He moved fast, pressing his hand over my mouth and giving a slight shake of his head.
My heart went cold. Right. No one saves you but yourself.
But the next second, I was pulled into his arms.
He was so tall. His long coat wrapped around me from head to toe.
He was so warm. His heat seeped through my thin clothes and settled against my skin, and something in my chest thawed, just a little.
His voice rumbled above my head, low and magnetic.
"It's getting late. Let's wrap up tonight's livestream here. The rest of the evening belongs to me and my new girlfriend."
The crowd around us began to disperse.