The dog has his foot in the beans and is going for thecarne asada.
I grip the steering wheel. “I’m not crashing this car because of you.” One hand on the wheel, I grab the dog by the back of his raincoat.
“What the shit?” I scream, slamming on the brakes as an SUV speeds past me then swerves in front of me. Truman falls off the seat as the sedan careens into the SUV that’s stopped in front of me.
Metal crunches as I hit the car, screaming.
Hands still gripping the wheel, I take several gasping breaths. The airbag didn’t go off, so it’s not that bad of a hit, right?
I toss the take-out container in the seat and, hands trembling, unclick the seat belt and race out into the rain.
“Hello? Are you okay? Are you okay? I’ll call 911.” I pull at the door handle of the driver’s-side door of the SUV.
“You don’t need to call anyone.”
I’m frozen when I see the man in the car. “What the hell?”
“Why don’t you just give us a ride? We’re heading up to my lake house.”
“Are you following me?” I demand as Bethany’s husband heaves himself out of the car, followed by a heavyset man.
I recognize him from that day McCarthy got into a fight in the middle of the street.
“You said McCarthy would be with her.” The dark-haired man scowls at Stu.
“She’s dating him. He must be in the car.”
“You… you’re from that company, ExoTech,” I stammer, tripping over my feet as I try to get away.
“Your boyfriend ruined me.” The disgraced CEO grabs at me.
“Now, Jenna, we’re going to leave McCarthy for Titus. You won’t get hurt if you just come with me.”
Truman’s barking from the car.
Titus peers through the windshield.
“I have flowers for you. There are flowers in the car and muffins. Bethany said you like muffins.”
I glance back to the car. You legally can’t leave the scene of an accident, but this is more like a kidnapping in progress. I inch toward the car.
Titus grabs my wrist. “Where in God’s name is McCarthy? You just wanted this girl, didn’t you?” The heavyset man snarls.
“I’m your fraternity brother. I wouldn’t lie to you,” Stu whines.
“You are coming with me.” Titus starts to drag me to Stu’s car. My ballet flats slide on the wet pavement.
“Your boyfriend ruined my company. I’m broke. I have creditors after me, and now he’s not even here,” Titus shouts, and flecks of his spit mix with the rain on my face.
He pulls out a pair of handcuffs.
Not today, Satan.
I kick at him as he tries clumsily to attach the cuff to my wrist. “I have already had a terrible day, and I am not getting kidnapped.”
I knee him in the gonads and sprint back to the car, losing one of my shoes.
“Sorry, you’re going to the shoe gods now.”
