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“Good, I just wanted to make sure.”
“Appreciate it.” He gestured the way I’d come. “Afraid you’ll have to find a way around.”
“That’s fine. Be careful.”
“You too.”
I rolled up my window, shutting out the wind and rain. Checking my surroundings, I made sure it was clear, then maneuvered so I could turn around. I took a left onto a side street. The route would take me a little bit out of my way, but it wouldn’t take too long.
No lights were on in the houses I passed. The tree must have knocked out the power. Hopefully it wouldn’t be out too long. Although the thought of snuggling up with Zachary by candlelight and listening to the storm didn’t sound bad at all—so cozy and romantic.
Out of nowhere, a dark shape crashed to the ground in front of me. I slammed on my brakes to keep from hitting it, my tires skidding on the wet road. Tree branches scraped across my windshield, pine needles flying everywhere.
Adrenaline rushed through my veins and my heart raced. A tree had fallen across the road.
If I’d been there a second later, it might have crushed me.
I put the car in park, then closed my eyes for a moment and took deep breaths to steady myself. I was fine. I hadn’t hit it. Just came close.
When I opened my eyes, lightning flashed overhead, and for an instant, I could see all around me.
Someone was standing next to my car.
I fumbled for the lock, but he was already opening the door. Cold wind whipped around us as he grabbed me, reached across to unfasten my seat belt, and dragged me out of the car. I started to scream but he had his arms tight around me and a hand clamped over my mouth. Something pricked my neck. My head swam and it felt like my arms and legs were completely detached from my body. I couldn’t make them move. Couldn’t resist.
Couldn’t even scream.
As he dragged me to the car I hadn’t seen pull up behind me, all I could do was wonder why Preston was putting me in the trunk.
CHAPTER 33
Zachary
Pacing around the house, I checked my phone about every twenty seconds. As if I’d somehow miss her call with my ringer on and my phone in my hand. She hadn’t been gone that long. Only a little over an hour. Her parents were across town, maybe fifteen minutes from here. That meant half an hour just to get there and back, plus however long she spent talking to them. There was no real reason to be alarmed that she wasn’t home yet.
But I couldn’t sit still.
Deep down, I’d known the truth had to come out eventually. We couldn’t go the rest of our lives without ever talking about the stupid prom incident. And of course she’d be upset. I didn’t blame her for that. I just wanted this whole thing to be over.
I wanted her to come home so she could do what she needed to do, say what she needed to say. Yell at me, cry, punch me if it would help. I’d take it all. And then I’d spend the rest of the night apologizing, making it right.
Loving her hard so I could show her I meant it. That I loved her and I’d never hurt her like that again.
The storm wasn’t making me feel any better. She was a capable woman, it wasn’t like she couldn’t drive in torrential rain. But every flash of lightning and crack of thunder made my back ripple with tension.
I just wanted her here in my arms.
My eyes kept darting to the clock on the wall outside the kitchen. It didn’t make noise, but I swore I could hear it ticking. Mocking me with the slowness of each second. It was like the last half hour of the last day of school before summer break. Every minute might as well have taken an hour.
I checked my phone again, although I knew she hadn’t called, then slipped it in my pocket. I had to keep telling myself I’d done the right thing by letting her go. She’d asked for space, and I was giving it to her—trusting her to handle the situation with her dad on her own. That was what she needed.
But I didn’t like it.
I sat down and tried to distract myself with a mindless game on my phone. It didn’t really work but at least I wasn’t wearing a groove in the floor with my pacing.
Time went on and my restlessness grew. Was she still at her parents’? How long would it take to talk this out with her dad? Was she staying for dinner? That could explain it, but she probably would have at least texted to let me know.
Where was she?
