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“So you’ll call us if you need us?”
Geez, he wasn’t giving up. “I will tell you the same thing I told Julian when he texted me earlier. If I need you, I’ll let you know, but I won’t.”
Indie growled low in his throat, but Cameron managed to get him to back off, and they left. My three close friends all had plans with their men tonight. Ollie’s mom was having dinner with him and Chip. Cameron and Indie were headed to Cameron’s dad, Roland’s, house to hang out, and Julian and Joel alternated dinner at their parents’ homes on Thursdays. It was nice they were all concerned about me, but I wouldn’t be interrupting any of their evenings. Besides, if they were all so worried about the weather, why weren't they all just headed home to hibernate for the night?
“Are you sure you don't want a ride home?” Oz asked a few hours later. “Maybe we should call Ollie or Cameron to pick you up.”
“Stop. I'll be fine.” It figured that for the first time in God knew how long the weathermen were spot on with their forecasts. The light flurries of snow that started earlier in the day had surged into hardcore gusts that were keeping customers away and had most of us heading home since the place was so deserted.
Oz nodded, reaching out and tugging my hat down around my ears while I shoved my hands into my gloves. “Okay, but drive slowly.”
“I will. Thanks, Oz.” I rushed out the door, thankful that he’d gone out while I finished my end-of-night stuff and started my car. I'd been even more thankful when he'd come in without saying he’d had any problems starting it. I didn't dare mention to him that my baby was a little temperamental in the cold, and I'd had a hard time getting her going when I'd left to come in for my shift.
Sliding into my seat, I rubbed my hands over the steering wheel. “Okay, girl. I know it's cold out tonight, but we have one more stop to make before we head home.”
Never before had I cursed myself more for disregarding the weather predictions. Instead of my normal food shopping today, I’d blown off my bare refrigerator and cupboards because I didn't want to deal with all the people who mobbed the stores for bread, eggs, and milk at the first sign of inclement weather. Boy oh boy, did I regret that decision now.
Driving slowly on the slick streets, I made my way to the grocery store. The parking lot was practically deserted, and it was only eight-thirty PM. Big flakes fell on my face as soon as I got out of the car, coating my lashes and stinging my cheeks. It was really coming down. Running in, I only grabbed the necessities and ran back out so that I could get home before the roads became any worse. Damn, it was so cold. Putting the key in the ignition, I turned the key, wanting to get some heat going. But nothing happened. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. “You've gotta be kidding me.”
Sitting back, I took a deep breath and blew it out. Then, placing my hands back on the steering wheel, I rubbed several times. “Come on, girl,” I coaxed. “We can do this.” Then I tried again.Nothing.
Looking out the window, I saw that the snow was already falling harder and faster than two minutes ago. This was the exact reason that most of us had been cut early tonight…so that we wouldn't get caught in this. “Damn.” I slapped my palm onto the wheel.
Pulling off my gloves, I picked up my phone from the center console where I'd thrown it when I got in. I'd have to call anUberor aLyft.Stopping, I sighed. Having friends was awesome, but at times like this, it sucked. It wasn't just Julian or Indie who'd be upset if I didn't let them know I needed help, but their Daddies wouldn't be happy campers either. Scrolling my contacts, I stopped first at Chip, but what if they were already having to give Ollie’s mom a ride home? Bypassing him, I went to Indie’s number and huffed. If they were with Cameron's dad, there was no reason they couldn’t just spend the night at his house and not go back out in this crap at all. No, I wouldn’t bother them. That left Julian, but chances were he and Joel could stay at either of their parents’ homes, too. Did I really want to drag them out?
Did this mean it was okay to call for a rideshare? Unsure, I wondered if I should reach out to Levi. Since he'd been a bartender at The Tap before he and Christian got together and he started college, we'd talked often. Since he'd started school, he'd reached out to me several times about his classes. Plus, Christian owned The Tap, and he’d always been invested in our safety. Yeah, I felt comfortable giving Levi a call.
Clicking on his number, I held my breath, hoping he'd pick up. “Hey, Luca. What's going on?”
Phew.“Hey, are you and Christian busy? I got cut early because of the weather and stopped at the store for some food and—”
“Are you okay? Which store? We're on our way,” he said, interrupting me.
A silly smile bloomed on my face. It occurred to me that his reaction would’ve been the exact same even if I hadn't started hanging out with all of them, but I’d have never felt comfortable reaching out if I hadn’t spent more time with them all lately. Again, I wanted to kick my own ass that I could’ve had this for such a long time.
I gave him the information, and then I reached into my backseat where I kept a blue and green throw blanket. Thank goodness I knew my baby's tendency to not start when she was cold, so I was always prepared. Bundling up, I stared out at the beauty of the snow as it twirled and spun from the sky. Which, like everything lately, sent my thoughts straight back to standing outside with Harrison the other night. He’d been amazingly kind and attentive. Like, he’d really listened. I wondered what he was doing now? It was a perfect night to cuddle with someone on the couch with hot chocolate and a Christmas movie. I snorted. Right. If he had anyone over, they weren’t snuggling. He played with boys; he didn’t woo them.
Light flashed through my side window as a small sports car passed me and then pulled in right in front of my car, blinding me for a second. Why in the hell did they have to park there, for fuck’s sake? There were plenty of empty spaces in the lot. And who in the hell would drive a sports car on the roads on a night like tonight? I shook my head at the ridiculousness.
It was hard to see the person who emerged beyond their height before they hunched down from the falling flakes. As they approached my car, I gasped.Harrison.
CHAPTERSIX
Luca
He leaned down and tapped on my window. Since my car wouldn't start, I couldn't put the window down, so I opened the door a crack. “What are you doing here?”
He smirked. “Is that any way to speak to your rescuer?”
The man only had on a lighter leather coat and no hat or gloves. Was he really trying to look cool in this weather? I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I had dinner at Christian and Levi's house tonight. Since the weather was getting so bad, and I was headed out when you called, it only made sense for me to pick you up since I live near here.”
I gaped at him. “But…but you're in a sports car.”
He tilted his head up, fluttering his eyelashes as snowflakes hit his face. Then he held his hand out, gracing me with the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. “Tell me about it. Come on, it's freezing out here, and you’ve gotta be frozen sitting in this car without heat. My car’s nice and toasty warm.”
Why? Why was he being so kind to me when I’d been so hostile to him for years? Was this just a continuation from the other night? Maybe he’d felt it, too.No, Luca. Bad.Despite my sex-fueled dreams, we hadn’t had a moment. We’d been two guys hanging out on a porch. No more, no less. People did that all the time. I pushed myself back into my seat, wanting to scream my frustration. I didn’t want to get in a little tiny sports car with him. We’d be so close and… Ugh. What had I done to deserve this? I had to remember that my attraction to Harrison’s body was nothing more than lust. He didn’t date, and I didn’t want a Daddy. I couldn’t let myself forget those two very important facts. If I had to say it a million times a day, then that’s just what I’d do.
