Page 58 of Pretty Little Scars

“Storm,” is all I say as more lightning flashes, and then the sky opens up, and my breathing becomes rapid and ragged, andshit.

“Listen to me, Duchess. Do you hear my voice?”

“Yeah.”

“I want you to pull over. Right now.”

“I’m on the highway.”

He growls, and I hear him running and then the slam of his truck door. “I don’t care if you’re on the highway, I want you to pull over right now, Darby.”

I press my lips together and do as he says, although it’s raining so hard, I can barely make out the shoulder of the road.

“Did you do it? Are you stopped?”

“Yes. Yeah, I’m stopped.”

“Good girl. Now, tell me where you are.”

The tears have started, and I’m hyperventilating because the sky is exploding in light, the thunder is deafening, and the rain is sohard, and I’m right back there, twenty-five years ago, tied to a fence post, out of reach of my sisters, and?—

“Darby!” His voice is hard and loud, and it brings me out of my head.

“Yeah. I’m here.”

“Where are you?”

“I—I don’t know.”

“I need you to share your location with me, baby. Pick up your phone and share your location so I can find you. I’m on my way, I’ll be there soon.”

I fumble with the phone, and finally figure out how to send my location.

“Perfect, I see you. I’m less than twenty minutes away.”

“That’s forever,” I whisper, closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the seat. “I’m so sorry.”

“Nope. You’re not going to apologize to me for this. It’s a bad storm. It’s just starting to hit where I am.”

“Oh God, please be careful. Don’t get hurt, Hotshot.”

“Never. I’m on my way to my girl. Turn on the air-conditioning in the car. The cool air will help you feel better.”

I do as he says, just going through the motions because I can’t think for myself right now. The sky flashes, and then theboom is so loud, I swear my car rocks on its tires, making me yelp.

“Christ,” I hear Tucker mutter. “Talk to me. You got the baby and mama all settled?”

I sniffle and wipe my tears away. My eyes are closed because I don’t want to see the lightning. But then thunder booms again, and I jump in the seat.

“Tucker.”

“Tell me about that baby. What’s her name? You said it’s a girl?”

“Yeah, it’s a girl.” I wipe more tears. God, this storm is never going to end. “I think they’re going to name her—ah!”

“Stay with me, sweetheart. I’m less than five minutes away. What’s her name?”

“I don’t know.” I can’t stop crying. I can’t think of anything right now. “I don’t know her name.”