Page 21 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

I turn on the hazard lights, pulling to the side of the road with a groan. I kill the engine and for a moment just freeze. My eyes squeeze shut like this will all just go away if I can’t see it. Slowly, I peel one eye open. Nope. I really am broken down. In the middle of the night, no less.

Grabbing my phone to use as a flashlight, I pop the hood. Maybe it’s not that serious. Maybe she just needs a little break. We all do sometimes, right? With just the small beam of light from my phone, I can’t see shit. Any light from the moon would be helpful, but clouds completely cover it. It’s not like I’d know what to look for anyway.

With a sigh of defeat, I climb back in the driver’s seat and assess my options. Walking home does not sound smart. Especially not considering how dark and late it is. No towing service in town operates this late, and Mom isn’t home. Of course, this would happen when she’s out of town with her friends.

A lightbulb flashes above my head as I think to call Nitasha. Quickly, I pull up her contact information in my phone and press dial. Unfortunately, it rings, rings... and rings.

I lean my head back and let my arms fall lifeless at my side. Maybe I can just sleep here. It’s only a few hours until the sun comes up. Turning the hazards off, I climb into the trunk. The chilly night causes goosebumps to rise on my skin. Luckily, I keep a pillow and blanket in the Jeep.

I rest my head on the pillow, tucking myself into a blanket burrito. But as the darkness bears down on me breathing life into my fears, I frantically try to think of another solution.

I call Nitasha a few more times. Efforts yielding no success. Outside, I swear I see eyes in the trees across from me.

Fuck. Nope.

Chewing on my bottom lip, another idea pops up, and I debate if it’s smart or idiotic. I pull up Skyler and I’s text thread. My hand flies to cover my mouth as I giggle at our most recently exchanged messages. The doubts melt away as I see that endearing word, Sunlight.

I have to call him.

I press the call button and it’s as if the universe itself stands still. Waiting alongside me with bated breath to see if my Angel will answer.

Fourteen

Skyler

The jingling ringtone nearly causes me to fall backwards in my chair. Whiskey sloshes from the bottle and onto my chest as I jerk awake. Shirtless, asleep on the porch, whiskey in hand. With a newfound gratefulness for the trees surrounding my house, I pull my phone out of my pocket.

Amethyst.

Am I dreaming? Seeing her name on my phone has me leaping out of the chair with enough force that it falls onto its side. Quickly sliding my finger across the screen, I answer, “Amethyst? Are you alright?” My desperation bleeds through and I can’t find it in me to care.

“Oh, thank the Creators. Skyler, I’m so sorry to bother you, but…” Her voice wavers, holding a hint of doubt. “Well, my car broke down on the way home. I have no one else to call.”

“I’m on my way, Sunlight. Where are you?” I ask for her location while throwing my shirt on. Not wasting the time to clasp all of the buttons. I’m grabbing my keys off the hook as her response comes, “Just as you turn onto Highway 18. As soon as I came off the turn, it started knocking and smoking.”

Damn, she’s on the complete opposite side of town. I could make it much faster if I shifted and carried her on my back. I fear it’s too soon for that, though. “Alright, I’m on my way, give me about a half hour. I live right on the lake.”

As soon as the engine roars to life, I throw rocks, peeling out of my driveway. Hopefully none of those damage August’s precious new car. Fuck, hopefully she doesn’t follow me.

Realizing Amethyst never answered me, I glance down at my phone. The call was dropped. Shit. Keeping my left hand on the wheel, I use the right to call her back. It goes straight to voicemail.

Fuck. Why does a bad situation always have to get worse.

Of course, to make matters worse still, there just has to be someone in front of me on the road at one in the fucking morning who isn’t even driving the speed limit. Growling out a string of curses, I desperately watch the lines on the road, waiting for one to become dotted.

Finally, I’m able to pass. Flying around them, I decide to give Sage a heads up. It wouldn’t hurt to let her know I’m driving through town like a maniac. She picks up after the first ring, her voice husky. “This better be good, Ashford.”

A beat of silence passes between us, and a higher pitched voice whispers something to Sage between gasping breaths. Goddess only knows what type of kinky shit is happening on the other end of this phone call.

Huffing out a laugh, I jest, “Sorry, make sure to cut this part out of your sex tape.” With a more serious tone adding, “Just letting you know that Amethyst’s car broke down, and I may or may not be speeding through town to help her.”

Finally, Sage’s voice filters through the car speakers. “Who the hell is Amethyst? Oh, your mate!” My eyes flare, “How do you —”

Sage huffs, “Please, spare me. It’s painfully obvious. Not to mention the fact that you didn’t let me talk telepathically earlier. Weird for you to hide the bond, but not my business either.”

Is it obvious? Then why hasn’t Amethyst acknowledged it? I should’ve known Sage would catch on when I cut her off in the mind link, but I didn’t want to confuse Amethyst. A feminine laugh that definitely doesn’t belong to Sage carries through the phone.

“Anyway, Sky, at this moment I don’t give a flying fuck how fast you’re driving as long as you don’t hit anyone. I can’t come to any calls right now, I’m busy. I’ll tell the ones on duty to ignore you. Okay, love you, use protection... or don’t. Bye!”