Chapter 18
Jake cut the engine and jumped out of the driver's seat, not bothering to shut the car door behind him.
Bianca, still sprawled on the rug, called out, "Jake! Thank God you're here. You won't believe what just happened to me."
Whether he heard her or not, I had no idea, because he didn't even pause. Instead, he strode forward, heading toward both of us – Bianca on the ground, and me, standing just a few feet beyond her.
As I watched, he literally stepped over Bianca and made his way to my side. His gaze searched my face. "Are you okay?" His voice hardened. "Where the hell were you?"
Startled, I drew back. "Out walking. Why?"
His jaw tightened. "Alone? You're joking, right?"
Obviously, I wasn't joking. And from the look on his face, he darn well knew it. But his reaction, well, I didn't know what to make of it.
From a few feet away, Bianca called out, "Didn't anyone hear me?" Her voice rose. "IsaidI need an ambulance!"
Jake turned, letting his cool gaze travel the length of her. "No, you don't."
With a sound of frustration, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. "Why doesn’t anyone care? I think I broke my foot."
Jake's eyebrows lifted. He looked slowly and deliberately toward her feet. She was wearing only one shoe. The other still lay on its side a few feet away.
With obvious indifference, Jake said, "Yeah? Which one?"
She hesitated. "I'm not sure. Uh, the right one, I think."
I made a scoffing sound. "You don't even know?"
"Hey!" she said. "I've had a hard day, alright? So excuse me if I'm a little confused." Plaintively, she looked to Jake and reached out with both arms. "Forget the ambulance. Just carry me inside, okay?"
I gave Jake a sideways glance. It suddenly struck me that this sounded an awful lot like what had happened last night with Nipple Girl. She'd supposedly hurt her foot, too. Had she been faking it just like Bianca was now?
I mean, I wasn't a medical expert or anything, but it was pretty obvious that Bianca was fine in spite of her claims otherwise.
I felt my gaze narrow. "You saw that video. Didn't you?"
She blinked up at me. "What video?"
"The one where Jake carried that girl." I turned to Jake and asked, "Does this sort of thing happen to you a lot?"
"Forget that." He reached toward me and touched the side of my face. He frowned. "You're freezing."
I tried for a laugh, but only shivered. "Really? How'd you know?"
He moved closer and wrapped me in his arms. He was warm and dry, and I gave a happy sigh against his chest. Guiltily, I murmured, "I'm getting you all wet."
He lowered his head and spoke into my still-dripping hair. "Nah."
It was a lie, and we both knew it. I could feel his warmth seeping into me, which meant that my cold dampness was seeping into him. Sure, it was great for me, but what about him? What washegetting from all this?
I pulled away and gazed up into his eyes. What I saw there took my breath away. He might've been angry. But he still loved me. I could see it, as clear as day, all over his face. Apparently, Iwasn'tgetting kicked to the curb, not today, anyway.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and not because of my living situation. I was so obnoxiously in love with him, and suddenly, I was beyond eager to put our fight behind us, or at least, take a break from all that.
A truce – there was nothing wrong with that, right?
My clothes were soaked, and I was still freezing. And yet, I couldn't help but smile. I knew just the thing to warm me up – and Jake, too, while I was at it.
