Looking straight ahead, I keep up my pace and ignore him. That is until he takes three more long strides and turns around, stopping right in front of me. He’s blocking the narrow sidewalk, so I practically skid to a halt so as not to crash right into his chest.
Face to face with him and no escape in sight, my chest rises and falls. For the briefest second, I indulge in the sight of him. All tan skin, broad shoulders, and barely there scruff. My eyes narrow to a slit, trying to blur away the outline of him in front of me.
“The office where I parked my car this morning is just down a few streets. I’ll be just fine to walk there,” I say and add a hand to my hip to prove how casual this is for me. Truthfully, it’s a little bit farther than just a few streets down. And my feet are killing me. But nothing good has ever come out of spending time with this guy. I’d rather just be on my way.
“It’s dark out. Just let me take you home.”
“Why? Are you hoping Emma hears about you giving me a ride and turns green with envy? Or maybe you’re hoping it will piss off my brother?” I point my finger in the air like it’s a novel idea, but then roll my eyes. “I’m not falling for your tricks again. And anyway, my brother cares a lot less about who I happen to be with than you think. Trust me, acting like you want to drive me home is not worth your time.”
He lets out a long, exhausted breath and flexes his jaw. If my stubbornness annoys him, then so be it. He won’t be the first to be annoyed by me, nor will he be the last. I take a step to the right in an attempt to get around him, but he mirrors mymovement to stay in front of me. I shift to the left, hoping he doesn’t block me again, but he does.
Our eyes meet once again and my eyes search for something to focus on other than the striking blue of his irises.
“Come on, Savvy. It’s not like that,” he says.
“I’m not stupid. It most definitelyislike that,” I argue. “Now if you could kindly step aside, I wouldreallylike to go home now.”
“I can’t do that,” he says with a shake of his head and a firmer tone than before like his patience is wearing thin.
I open my mouth to give him one last protest before I end up taking a shoe off and throwing it at his head, but he takes the bag from under my arm before I get the chance to do either of those things.
“Hey! I need that, my phone is in there!” I jump up to try and snatch it back from him, but he holds it high in the air where I can’t possibly reach it. Stepping closer, he looks down and waits until I reluctantly meet his gaze.
“If you want to go to the office to get your car, I’ll drive you there,” he states. “But I’m not about to let you walk a mile there by yourself at night and that’s final.”
Slowly, he lowers the bag and places it back in my hands. His brow quirks up as he waits for me to give in to him. I crumple the clear plastic bag in my fists, damn near ripping it open with my grip. I don’t want him to be a reasonable gentleman right now. I need him to be the slime bag that I know he is.
I’m tired. So fucking tired. From this day, the last few months, hell the last five years.
I see in his determined expression that I won’t be able to change his mind about letting me walk to the office right now.
I also won’t be able to go back in time and undo everything else that took place today.
And I certainly can’t erase what happened between Warren and me either.
Everything feels so out of my control and it’s paralyzing.
With that realization, the fight that I’ve been holding on to for dear life in me dims and my shoulders fall in a slump. I sniff back the threat of tears and spin on my heel to head for his truck so he doesn’t detect the emotions on my face.
If he wants to take me to my car so I’m not walking alone in the dark,fine. Apparently, I don’t have a choice in the matter, let alone the strength to argue with him or anyone else any further tonight.
On my trek along the sidewalk, I pass the police department building and scan the side parking lot for his truck. After a minute, I finally spot it parked under a single streetlight, looking even more black and shiny than I remember. The last time I was walking toward this vehicle, I was actually excited. I shake my head at the memory. So naive.
Warren somehow passes me again, making it to the passenger door first and opening it for me.
“Oh, cut the crap, cowboy.” I scoff and slide into the seat.
He closes the door and I sink into the luxurious leather. As soon as he climbs into the driver’s side and roars the engine to life, I push the seat heater button and kick the heels off my now-swollen feet. God, that’s comfortable. He may be a pain in the ass, but at least he has a nice truck. The worst ones always do.
4
WARREN
When we pull out of the parking lot and onto Main Street, rolling clouds blacken the already dark night sky and tiny drops of rain sprinkle the windshield. That brings a smile to my face. I get why some people might not be a huge fan of rainstorms. They leave behind a bit of a mess. But I love the fresh earthy smell of them. And I know the farmers and ranchers in the area need the moisture as bad as ever.
I take my eye off the road for a split second to roll down the window and then chance a peek at Savannah. We’re creeping along at the speed limit so I can drag out this short drive as much as possible.
The expression on her face is a mix of exhaustion and irritation. She makes no secret of how unhappy she is to see me again. I don’t fucking like it one bit.
