Titus and Stu rush after me, screaming and waving the cuffs. Stu slams his hands on the hood of the car while I scream, put the car in reverse, and floor the gas.
Well, I thought I put it in reverse.
It’s one of those fancy cars where you can barely make out the little letters.
There’s a thud as I hit Stu then another as I run over Titus.
“Shit, shit, shit!” I scream.
A car going the opposite direction flies past me. I see it slow down in the rearview mirror as I finally do put the car in reverse and try to back up.
“No, no!”
Far down the road, the car’s hazards are on.
A motorcycle roars in the distance.
“Great, more witnesses.”
The tires squeal as I floor the gas and back up. The car jerks as I run over something.
My hands shake. What do I do? And are those police sirens I hear?
“I’m going to jail.” I sob. “How can my life get worse? This isn’t fair.” I can’t think, I’m crying so hard.
A heavy gloved hand knocks on my window.
I scream. It’s one of Titus’s men. I know it is. I should have stayed with McCarthy.
“Help!” I scream.
“Cupcake.” The handle clicks. “Cupcake, unlock the door.”
“Oh my god.” My fingers are numb. I scrape at the lock until it unlatches.
The door flies open, and McCarthy is gathering me into his arms.
“I ran over them,” I sob. “My life sucks. I’m going to jail for murder. I should have just listened to you be an asshole and gone upstairs to your penthouse.”
Stu is moaning on the ground. Titus isn’t moving, and yes, those are definitely police sirens.
“I’ll handle it,” McCarthy promises, leaning into the car to turn off the headlights.
In the dark, with the moon dim through the clouds, he pulls off his gloves and sets them on top of the car. “For someone who’s in PR, you sure do know how to create a crisis. Everything just goes to shit whenever I’m with you.”
I can’t read his face through the dark visor as he drapes the motorcycle jacket around me, shaking it so I put one arm through then the other.
“It’s because you drive men crazy.” He slides the gloves on my hands, the right one then the left. “You drive me completely fucking insane. I can’t stop thinking about you. You wrecked me, you know that, Jenna? You made me fall in love with you. You might have said it first, but I fell for you first. I was just too much of a coward to say it.”
“This doesn’t mean I forgive you,” I choke out.
He gently tugs up the jacket zipper. “I would be offended if you did.”
“Or that I love you,” I add.
He takes the helmet off and leans in to kiss me. “But I love you, Jenna. I love you more than I thought I could.” He kisses me again then puts the helmet over my head.
“Now, just for once, can you please keep your mouth shut?” He hands me Truman.
