Several raindrops splattered on the window.
“Have you seen the new Disney movie yet?” Hailey asked. “Yes, that’s the one….It looks good. Do you wanna see it this weekend?…Then it’s a date. Do you think Nolan wants to see it?…I think so too. He just doesn’t want to admit it out loud.”
The raindrops grew in intensity and a flash of lightning lit up the sky. Shit. Thunder rumbled not far in the distance.
“It’s okay.” Hailey’s voice was soft, almost the calming tone of a lullaby. “We’ll be there soon….I know, sweetie.”
I fought to keep my focus on the road. My sister hated storms. She told me once that they reminded her of our father when he got angry. Both were loud and threatening.
The healing wound on my forehead, the one that had required six stitches, suddenly throbbed, as if to remind me how threatening my father could be. But I didn’t care what he did to me this time. I’d rip him a new one once I saw him. No way would my father make the mistake of abandoning my sister again. I’d make sure of that, even if I had to drive her to and from dance class myself.
The ride turned bumpy, and I realized a moment or two later that the problem wasn’t the road surface. Fuck.
I pulled over to the curb and threw Hailey a look, telling her to keep talking to my sister. With the rain now pelting the ground, I climbed out of the car. Hailey joined me, the rain biting our skin as it turned to hail.
“Is there somewhere nearby you can go for shelter?” Hailey practically yelled into the phone.
An image of the building where the dance class was held shoved its way into my head. The stupid thing wasn’t designed for staying dry if you were unfortunate enough to be out in the rain. And as far as I remembered, there was nothing near her that would protect her.
I had only two choices and neither of them was ideal, but at least one of them would keep my sister safe, even if I had to pay the price later.
Hailey kept talking to Sarah.
“Where’s your phone?” I asked Hailey.
She shook her head, her eyes apologetic. She placed her finger over the receiver. “I didn’t have time to grab it.”
Shoving my hand through my hair, I paced back and forth. What the fuck do I do now?
Chapter 19
Nolan
I blinked the world back into focus. The memory faded yet lingered with promises of more to come.
“Stay here.” I needed to collect myself. I felt off balance, as if I were teetering on the edge of a precipice and I’d never get back up if I fell. Besides, I didn’t want Hailey to know I’d remembered something about that day, or else she might’ve pushed me to remember more. “I won’t be long.”
I stepped out of the car and joined the old woman. “Do you need help?”
A gust of wind wrapped around us, warning of the approaching storm. She shuddered. “Thanks, but there’s no need. My grandson’s on his way.”
“You can warm up in my car and I’ll start changing your tire.” He could be her hero when he got here. Fine by me.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. She opened her trunk, and I removed the spare tire and jack. While she joined Hailey in my car, I jacked up her vehicle.
I’d barely finished doing that when a car door slammed shut. Hailey walked toward me, pushing against the bitter wind.
“Do you need any help?” she asked.
I grinned up at her. “Couldn’t handle her company, huh?”
Hailey snorted. “I think she’s scheming to set me up with her grandson. He’s all she can talk about. Apparently, according to her, he’s great boyfriend material. Which means he’s not.”
I chuckled. “You never know. Maybe you’re missing out on something great.” I might have said that, but inside I hoped he’d be an arrogant ass. Definitely not Hailey’s type.
But neither was I, thanks to my career. Any other time, any other career choice, I would’ve proved to her that I was her type and she should give me a chance. As it was, I’d chosen my career over the girl I loved. I didn’t see how I could have both. At least not yet.
But just because I couldn’t have her didn’t mean I wanted Grandma hooking Hailey up with her grandson. I upped my pace so we could be out of here before he showed up. But before I had a chance to tighten the lug nuts, a black BMW pulled up ahead of the woman’s car and parked. Right now even the paparazzi would have been preferable to her grandson. But not by much.
A good-looking man, dressed in a suit and long black coat, got out of the car and walked toward us. The back door of my vehicle opened and the old woman stepped out, beaming at him. Too bad he couldn’t have been a random stranger wanting to help us.
The woman shuffled over to us across the snowy ground. “Hailey, this is my grandson, Craig.” She patted the man’s shoulder.
Craig held his hand out to Hailey. I narrowed my eyes at the offending limb. I’d punch his lights out if he was one of those sleazebags who kissed the back of a girl’s hand.