Page 4 of Hometown Lover

"Get in," I called as I walked back to her car. "My friend can tow this back to where you're staying."

"My mom's," she said quietly. "I'm staying there for now until I can get it all cleaned up so I can sell it."

I watched her and frowned as she slid behind the wheel of her car. I knew that had to be hard, staying in the place that she hated so much. I'd been with her so many nights when we were teens, and she'd broken down and held onto me for support. When life had been too much and she couldn't handle another second of it.

I was glad that she'd gotten away. When she left I knew that she'd be happy.

The only problem was that she'd left me behind in the process. I thought I'd hear from her eventually, but as the weeks had turned into months, had turned into years, I knew I'd never hear from her again.

"Turn your wheel," I called from behind the car. "I'll push you over to the side so nobody comes along and hits it in the meantime."

Joanne nodded, and I pushed and she steered until the car was more on the side and alongside a ditch then sitting in the middle of the road. It was a good thing that she hadn't been hit already. I dusted my hands off on my pants as I panted and she slipped out of the car. She stared at me as I tried to catch my breath.

"I'm not that out of shape. It's just hard to push a car."

I watched a grin tick up the corner of her mouth. "Are you sure? Should I call someone for you?"

"Get in the truck," I growled.

Joanne chuckled as she climbed into my truck. I shook my head. Still an asshole. That's true at least.

I climbed into the driver’s seat and watched as she practically melted against the chair. She groaned deep and it stirred something deep inside of me. I raised a brow at her.

"Heat," she moaned. "Sweet, glorious warmth. My car wasn't built for the cold and I never got it looked at because I was in the desert." She laughed. "It was so stupid, but I guess it wouldn't have mattered anyway. The car still would have died."

"Or if you'd taken it in they could have made sure everything was good before you left and you wouldn't have almost frozen to death."

Joanna narrowed her eyes at me. "Don't make me go from grateful and appreciative to slapping you."

I laughed. There was that attitude that I hadn't had the pleasure of being around in a long time. She'd never been an agreeable person. If anything she'd argue you down and call you an idiot. Or maybe that was just the way that she was with me.

For a while we drove in silence. I glanced over and she was buried in her jacket as if it were an igloo. When her head popped out she smiled and I knew it was the simple pleasure of warmth and comfort. I remembered spending the night at her place when there was no heat and the blankets were thin and ratty. We'd cuddled underneath the same blankets and the thick quilts that I snuck over until she stopped shaking and had that same tamed look on her face.

"So, where have you been?" I asked as we drove closer and closer to her mother's house.

"All over," she said with a shrug. "California, Arizona, Colorado and then I settled in Vegas."

"Vegas?" I asked. "You ran off to become a call girl or something?"

Joanne flipped me off. "That's not the only profession in Vegas," she scoffed. "I'm a nanny out there."

"Who the hell keeps kids in that place?"

"People who work there," she said pointedly. "Execs, socialites, celebrities. Most of them don't stay there the whole year, but when they're in town I'm the one that watches and helps raise their children."

"They sound like shitty parents."

"Oh yeah," she mumbled. "You're a paragon of understanding and kindness as usual."

"How would you know what I am?" I mused. "You haven't been here in over ten years. I think that means you no longer know what the hell you're talking about."

She blinked at me and I instantly felt bad. My deep-seated anger at the whole situation made me cranky toward it, but I still couldn't stand that look on her face. She looked guilty and sad.

"Sorry," I said quickly. "I was just kidding. You know that, right?"

Joanne nodded. "It's no big deal. I'm exhausted and freezing. I'm dying for some food and a good bath."

"I'm sure we can find that for you."

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