Page 42 of Runaway Road (Runaway 1)

“What was I supposed to do, Londyn? Let my ex-wife drive across the country?”

“Yes!” I threw up my hands.

“I’m try—”

“Everything all right here?” Brooks’s deep voice sank into my bones as he stepped up to my side.

“It’s fine.” Thomas waved Brooks along. “We’re having a private conversation.”

“What are you doing here?” I looked up at Brooks. Shouldn’t he be at work already?

“I had a tow call at six this morning. Once I got the car to the shop, I came home to shower and get some coffee.”

The strands of his golden hair were loose and damp. My fingers itched to dive in and twist a lock around my finger.

“You know each other?” Thomas narrowed his eyes as he looked between us.

“Yep.” I smiled as he cringed again.

“Here.” Thomas dug into the pockets of his slacks. They were navy and the seam was perfectly creased down the center. He’d probably flown to the airport and rented that sedan this morning. From his pocket, he pulled out a phone.

My phone, to be exact.

“How did you get that? I gave it to Gemma.” And she never would have given it to him.

“My PI retrieved it for me.”

“What?” I shrieked. “You mean he stole it from her.”

Thomas shrugged, shaking the phone at me. “I need to be able to reach you.”

“For what?” I swiped the phone from his grip and immediately threw it on the sidewalk. The screen didn’t even crack. Damn it.

“Londyn, what the fuck?” Thomas bent for the phone but it was too late.

I raised my knee above my waist and brought my heel down onto the phone. The screen cracked, but it wasn’t the utter destruction I’d been after. So I tried again, still not achieving total annihilation and now my heel hurt. Flip-flops weren’t exactly practical for phone obliteration.

“Grr.” I stomped again, no doubt looking like a toddler having a tantrum, only to catch the edge of the phone.

“Let me.” Brooks took my elbow, easing me aside. Then with one step, he shattered my phone to pieces.

“Ha!” I giggled. “Thanks. I should have done that in Boston.”

“Anytime.” He smiled.

Thomas stared at us both, his mouth agape.

“Was there something else you needed, Thomas? I imagine Secretary would prefer it if you scurried back to the city. Does she know you’re stalking your ex-wife? Oh, and should I start referring to her as Baby Mama now?”

“She was a mistake, Londyn. I made a mistake.”

“So did I,” I admitted. “Somewhere along the way, I forgot who I was.”

“And you’ve remembered?”

I’d run away from home to find a better life all those years ago. I was doing the same now. “I’m not coming back to Boston, Thomas. That part of my life is over.”

He stared at me for a long moment. His silence grew and stretched until the heat surrounded us, making it uncomfortably hot. Beside me, Brooks stood perfectly still. Most men would leave me here alone with Thomas, not wanting to intrude on a personal conversation.