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Wrapping my arms around my body in an attempt to get warm, I peer up and down the street. The only cars I see are the ones parked along the edges of the curbs, obviously not going anywhere for a while. I don’t know what to do. I am stuck outside, in a seeming blizzard, with no coat and no ride home.
I am about to pull my sister’s contact up in my phone when a warm coat is draped across my shoulders.
Chapter 4
Holden
Watching Everly walk away from me is like watching myself being gutted in slow motion. How can I just let her walk away? I don’t understand what happened. One minute we were talking like we have known each other for years, and the next she is jumping at the chance to leave me.
When she almost reaches the doors to exit the club, she turns to look back at me. Her beautiful hair swings behind her shoulder as she does, allowing me one last glimpse of her. Could that be a hint of regret in her eyes?
I have no way of knowing as she pushes on the door and walks out of my life.
I drag a hand down my face, sighing. I’m so confused. With women, I generally get what I want, and they get what they want from me. With Everly, I want so much more than her body. The way she laughed at me, her smile, her perfume. I want all of her with me.
I am still standing in the lounge in shock, staring at the back of the door when Ryan finds me. “There you are, man,” he says as he slaps my chest and puts his hand around my shoulders. “I’ve been wondering where you headed off to. I’ve got us some girls lined up in the VIP area if you're interested.” He leans in and sloppily whispers in my ear, “I mean, I wouldn’t mind taking both of them home if you’re not.”
“They’re all yours,” I say, as I remove myself from his grasp. Something is bothering me about Everly. I just can’t pinpoint it.
“Suit yourself.” Ryan shrugs and turns to head back up to the VIP section. “I’m going to head out with the lovely ladies then. Are you good?”
Absent-mindedly I wave him off. We drove over separately from our meeting earlier today, knowing that this would likely happen. “Be safe,” I yell after him. Without turning around, he holds out a “thumbs up” letting me know he heard me.
It’s at this moment that I realize what has been bothering me. Everly never went to the coat check. She walked out of the club in her thin dress and nothing else. Does she not realize that it’s beyond freezing right now?
I quickly stop in and get my coat, in a rush to get to her. I hope she is smart enough to not wander down the road in this type of weather.
I push through the doors on a mission to get Everly warm. The winter chill cuts to the bone as I step outside and spot her through the swirls of snow. She is hunched in on herself, both arms wrapped around her body, trying to keep warm. Her head is on a swivel looking up and down the street. Is her ride coming? Is that why she is out here?
I quickly approach her and drape my coat over her shoulders. I would rather be the one freezing so long as she is warm.
She jumps slightly and turns to face me, her arms already winding through the too-long sleeves. “Holden?” My name in her mouth is like a vice around my lungs, all air ceasing to escape.
“What are you doing? It’s freezing out here,” I chastise. I am angry that she would put herself in this situation, let alone in the frigid temperature.
“I was looking for a ride. But apparently, no one is out with this weather.” Her teeth began to chatter. “I was supposed to get an Uber back to my sister’s house, but no one picked up my ride. I was hoping there would be a cab or something.”
I absentmindedly wrap my arms around her shoulders, rubbing my hands up and down her arms to offer some warmth. “Why don’t you have a coat?” I try not to sound harsh, but my overprotective nature is coming out. She should know better. Chicago in the winter can be deadly.
“If you must know, I wasn’t planning on being outside.” She snaps. “I didn’t know a blizzard would be hitting the city tonight or that I would need to find a different way home.”
I take a deep breath and soften my voice. “I don’t like that you are out here by yourself, without a coat or someone to watch over you. I just want to make sure that you’re safe.” As I say this, Everly begins to relax into my hold, nudging closer to me as we stand huddled on the sidewalk.
“Let me take you home?” The words fly out of my mouth before I even register what I said, and I realize that I mean them. I do want to take her home. Not back to my place, but I want her safe at home. What is it about this woman that makes me want to protect her?
***
Everly
Holden wants to take me home? His hands gently run up and down my arms like he is trying to warm me up with friction alone. Do I want him to take me home? Looking back at the street, it looks like I don’t have much of a choice at this point.
I could call Mel, who should be wondering where I am pretty soon. But I don’t want her to have to come and get me, especially in this weather. She doesn’t have the same issues with driving as I do, but I still don’t want my sister out on these roads. I pull my phone out and double-check for an Uber ride. It looks like I am out of luck.
Am I afraid of Holden? My immediate response is no. I feel completely myself with him. He hasn’t done or said anything that makes me think this is a bad idea. It’s just a ride home.
I take a deep, steadying breath. “A ride home would be nice.” A soft smile crosses his face as he peers down at me, still in his arms. “I will need to take a picture of your ID to send to my sister.” I’m not dumb. I’m about to get a ride with an almost stranger who I met at a nightclub.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his driver’s license. I snap a photo and immediately send it to my sister, letting her know that I couldn’t get a ride and that Holden has offered to drive me.
