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Something told her Darius Payne hadn’t received his answers yet.
Addisyn rose and went to her window. The rain was lighter now. Instead of roaring in a bleak monsoon, it now pattered gently like a warm harbinger of spring.
A surge of resolve and hope filled her soul. Addisyn would be patient. She would wait for her answers. But in the meantime, she would take control of her life, her choices. She would make a direction for herself. Right now—that direction washere.
DARIUS GLANCED AThis console as he drove. Oh, there was a nice tip from Addisyn. He chuckled slightly. For a moment he’d forgotten that they were an Uber driver and a fare; they’d seemed more like friends out for a drive.
It had to have been their conversation. He shook his head, remembering the haunted look on her face. She needed something—something for which she was hunting desperately.
His mouth crooked in cynicism. Sure, he was the man to be dispensing life advice, all right. Why had he even said something like that, about searching for answers? He was in no way the wise sage or the skilled self-help coach. The mess he’d made of his past disqualified him from helping others find their path. Good grief, he was far from certain of his own.
He didn’t expect magical solutions for himself. No, he’d blown those chances a long time ago—broken his soul when he still did have choices, and joy, and freedom. Before those things had indefinably vanished. But—well, for Addisyn it should be different. He wanted to believe it would happen for her, wanted to believe that a girl like her would get a square deal.
A girl who seemed far too good to be true.
Knock it off, Payne.He silently chided himself as he drove. But the part of his heart that tugged him toward Addisyn—what a pretty name, like a melody of music—was surprisingly persistent. That first glance in the coffee shop had absolutely taken his breath away. He’d never forget how sweet she looked, leaning on the counter, hair spilling over her shoulder like a waterfall. The way she tipped her head to one side, both shy and slightly sassy.
Quickly he shook his head, as if to send the thoughts scattering.Come on, Payne. Get real, man.Of course Addisyn was a nice girl, but thinking of her in that way would only lead to trouble. For heaven’s sake, she might already be married. Or have a serious boyfriend. Good grief, he’d seen her only twice in his life. He knew practically nothing about her.
And that didn’t even take into account the darker reasons, the reasons he couldn’t get involved with her. He was washed up, damaged goods. He’d been born only twenty-three years ago, but he’d been through hellacious lifetimes of anguish since then. He had to face facts—he wasn’t good enough for any girl.
Darius took a deep breath. A weight of sadness settled over him, as dark and foggy as the night. No, it was no use thinking of Addisyn, no use at all. Just an exercise in heartbreak—and he certainly didn’t need more of that.
As he parked in his driveway and stepped out of the car, he noticed the rain had almost stopped. In fact, a few stars were just peeking out over Whistler Mountain.
He gazed at their bright pinpoints for a moment. The stars, the mountains—at one time, these had reminded him of his greatest answer.
Jesus.
But that was years ago. Lots of water under the bridge. God was—well, God and Darius didn’t speak that often anymore.
But Darius still believed that somewhere in the crazy universe, answers truly existed. And if they did exist—as firmly and unwaveringly as he had once, in a brighter time, believed—then they would surely find their way to this girl.
A girl who was sweet—beautiful—captivating—whose eyes, even on this dark and soggy night, had held the promise of summer.
