Chapter 5
ONSTAR? MORE LIKE HOTSTAR
A few moments later, I sat behind the wheel again, white-knuckling it.
Through the windshield, I had a clear view of Sky giving the world’s hottest emergency roadside service. If I hadn’t been questioning the reality of my entire existence, it would’ve been a lot more enjoyable.
The blink of his SUV’s hazard lights cast rhythmic flickers, and my own headlights illuminated his tall silhouette in front of Faith’s hood.
Despite the heat blasting from the vents, I couldn’t stop shivering, and I didn’t think it was just the cold air spilling through my open driver’s side window.
I couldn’t wait for a hot shower. Possibly a glass of wine—or six—if that bottle Amelia had brought over was still in the fridge.
“All set?” Sky called, and I nodded. He pushed up his jacket’s sleeves, and added, “Remember, keep the tires straight and don’t hit the gas until I say go.”
“Roger that!” I said brightly, then winced at myself. Roger that? If he thought it was a weird thing to say, he didn’t react. He splayed his palms on Faith’s hood, leaning in.
Blowing my bangs out of my eyes, I adjusted my grip on the wheel.
The whole situation felt surreal. Sky Acosta, pushing my car. After nearly hitting me. After that…that thing in the road.
Out of all the people who could’ve come across me…why did it have to be him? What was he even doing out here in the boonies? Maybe he had a girlfriend who lived in the country. Jealousy curled in my chest before I caught myself and rolled my eyes.
Seriously, Rae? Now was not the time.
“Get it together,” I muttered, disgusted with myself.
“What was that?” Sky glanced up from in front of the car.
“Nothing. I was just…nothing.”
He frowned, squinting as if trying to see me through the windshield. “Right. Are you ready?”
“Yes. Ready. Whenever you are.”
He bent back into position. “Now!”
I tapped the gas, and the car lurched but didn’t go far. My gaze flew to Sky. He dipped his head in acknowledgment, braced again, and strained with another push. His jacket pulled taut across his shoulders. Good God, they were a thing of beauty.
Okay, maybe I could enjoy it a little.
“More gas!” he shouted over the engine’s rumble.
Averting my gaze, I pressed harder. With a grinding whirl, the wheels caught, and Faith yanked herself out of the ditch.
My tires bumped over the uneven ground, jolting me hard enough I winced as I jammed the brakes.
But we were out. Shaky with relief, I eased into park, headlights now facing the still-running SUV.
Looking at it, I had the wildest urge to laugh. Seeing it parked there felt almost as crazy as seeing the unidentified—
Nope. Not going there. Not yet.
I put it aside to analyze later, when I had time and privacy for a mental breakdown. Gathering myself, I climbed out on watery legs. Sky made his way to me, brushing his hands off. When he reached my driver’s side, he flashed a tentative, close-lipped smile.
“It worked.”
“Yeah. Thank you,” I said, hugging my midsection. I should’ve grabbed a coat before work. I hadn’t exactly anticipated loitering on a country lane after dark, though.
He gave me a once-over, the curve to his lips fading. “You sure you’re okay to drive?”
I opened my mouth to say yes—
But then Faith’s engine sputtered and died.
My stomach plunged. Spinning back to the door, I yanked it open. “No, no, no…”
This couldn’t be happening. I dropped into the seat and turned the key. Something in the car’s innards clicked twice and then nothing. Not even a flicker. I pumped the gas. Tried again.
Click-click-click. Then silence.
I let my head fall forward, resting my forehead on the wheel.
The universe officially hated me.
“Did you run out of gas?”
I jumped. I’d been too caught up to realize Sky now stood right outside my driver’s door. I didn’t look at him, though. I glanced at the very full gauge instead and shook my head. “No. I have plenty of gas. I just filled up.”
Sky didn’t say anything. Just waited. I felt him scrutinizing me through the open window.
“I’m fine,” I said, answering the unspoken question. “You’ve done enough. I’ll just—”
Leaning into the passenger seat, I rummaged in my purse until I found my phone. I lifted it.
Somehow, I wasn’t surprised to find the screen blank. Despite the fact I could’ve sworn I had at least half a charge left, it was very dead. My shoulders collapsed in.
Dead, like I’d almost been. Like I would’ve been if Sky hadn’t stopped in time. Like I wanted to be after this stupid, stupid day.
I stared at the blank screen I held. My throat tightened. My lower lip gave a telltale tremble. I was going to lose it, finally—
“Come on. I’ll take you home.”
Hinges squeaked, jerking me from my spiral. I yanked my head up as Sky opened my door the rest of the way. He stooped a little to peer in, raising his brows when I didn’t move.
I kept my butt firmly planted, though, and my protest came out hoarse. “No, really—”
“I’m not leaving you out here alone in the middle of the night with a dead car,” he cut in firmly. “If you’re not going to let me call someone, I’m taking you home. Do you have someone who can get you back here in the morning? Maybe give you a jump?”
The brusque tone startled me enough that I blinked. My grip on my dead phone tightened in reflex.
But then I caved a little, considering it. Because what other option did I have?
“My brother,” I said, licking my lips. “He’s a mechanic. I’ll call him in the morning. I don’t have class until later, so—” I realized I was rambling and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I can figure it out.”
“Okay.” Sky tapped the car’s roof before stepping back. “Come on, then. Grab your stuff and make sure to lock it up.”
An order. A gentle one, sure, but an order. When he turned back toward his SUV, I frowned after him.
This version of Sky was…unexpected.
Bossy. Take-charge. A little commanding. Not what I was used to seeing behind the bar. He’d always seemed so…laid-back. Reserved.
I narrowed my eyes, watching his lanky form waver against the SUV’s lights. He opened the driver’s side door and leaned in. It was too dark to see what he was doing.
Kelly had once theorized he was snobby, but I found that hard to believe. He’d always been polite and pleasant enough. I’d always been more inclined to say shy. Aloof, maybe, but he’d certainly seemed nice enough.
This serious, authoritative version of him was…different. It had my nerves ratcheting up even higher. It was a reminder I didn’t really know him know him.
Despite all the hypothetical conversations we’d had in my head.
I jumped when he slammed his car door and headed back toward me. He drew near enough for me to make out the faint line between his dark brows, maybe because I was still sitting behind the wheel.
I chewed my lip. Going with Sky made the most sense. Even if I imagined it’d be the most awkward ten-minute drive of my life.
Suppressing a sigh, I grabbed my dead cell, purse, and apron.
After one last scan of the car to make sure I hadn’t left anything important behind, I pressed down the manual lock and climbed out.
Ahead of me, Sky bent over the hood, scribbling something on a piece of paper.
I watched, puzzled, as he walked around me and slid it onto the dashboard.
“A note, in case a cop or a Good Samaritan stops by,” he said, catching my confused look. The thud when he shut the driver’s door echoed. “You lock it?”
I nodded, and he turned away. With one last glance at Faith, I trailed after him. Wind swirled through the rustling cornstalks and tugged at my hair. Gravel crunched softly beneath my shoes. My pulse still hadn’t quite evened out.
The night was so still. So quiet. Deceptively quiet, considering how hazardous it’d been so far.
I tore my attention from the deserted stretch of road when we reached the SUV. Sky surprised me by opening the passenger door. For me. I blushed for absolutely no good reason and climbed in. When he closed it again, I was alone in the car.
The interior smelled like him. Spice and leather and something cool and fresh. A low, sultry beat whispered from the speakers, and I took in the gleaming chrome, buttery leather seats, and touchscreen dash.
It was all…nice. Pretty nice for your average bartender’s paycheck.
Did Sky come from money? Or was he just that good at mixing Old Fashioneds?
Maybe he moonlighted as a male stripper.
A second later, I started guiltily when he opened his door and slid behind the wheel. I cleared my throat and looked out the window, trying to pretend like I wasn’t just imagining him shirtless and gyrating to a Ginuwine song.
He was quiet as he settled into the driver’s seat. With him in it, the SUV’s interior suddenly felt much tinier. I shivered and not entirely from the cool fall night.
He noticed. “Cold?” His smooth voice wrapped around me like velvet.
“I think it’s just the adrenaline.” My teeth promptly clicked together, proving me a liar.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him tap a button on the console, and the seat warmed beneath me. Heated air surged from the vents, and I began thawing out almost immediately. Some of the tension in my back released.
“Better?” he asked, buckling his belt.
“Yeah. Um, thanks.” I tucked an escaped hair behind my ear, feeling suddenly shy, which was completely ridiculous in the circumstances. He’d just seen me nearly puke up a fish sandwich. And yet here we were. Or I was. Blushing furiously just because I was sitting next to him.
Sky’s eyes met mine. The dashboard’s glow traced the sharp edge of his high cheekbones, the graceful lines of his strong jaw.
Be normal, Rae. Be normal.
“Seriously—thanks,” I said in a rush. “For everything. You didn’t have to do all this. And I’m sorry about earlier, about being in the road. There was…” Oh boy. Where to begin. “I’m not sure…”
That was all I could manage. In another life, this would be a dream come true. On another night, when I hadn’t just had a near collision with a…a…
I may as well admit it, at least to myself.
I’d seen a UFO.
An unidentified flying—no, floating—object. I’d seen an Unidentified Floating Object, which, in my book, still counted. Same acronym.
Even inside my head, though, it sounded ridiculous. Saying it aloud? Forget it. Kelly would die of smug satisfaction. Amelia would question my caffeine intake. My mom would schedule a therapy session. Bob would probably blame it on the government.
But I’d seen something. It’d been real.
And then it’d vanished.
Shaken, I glanced up again—only to find Sky still staring at me. He hadn’t said a word. His eyes appeared nearly black again in the dim light, and his expression was just as impenetrable.
He was watching me so intently, I jumped when he leaned his elbow on the steering wheel and twisted my way. “So what did you actually see?” he asked evenly.