Chapter 13
Tuesday
Slosh. Slosh. Slosh. My boots make an unpleasant, wet, slurping sound as I trudge through the cold slush to my car. While the blanket of fresh snow on the trees and grass is pretty, it’s just a dismal mess everywhere else. This overcast, almost gray day matches my mood. I’m a far cry from Miami now.
I haven’t heard from or seen Alex since we returned from our trip. Not only did he not join us for dinner the last evening, but he and Ainsley disembarked without even saying goodbye to anyone. My heart hurt worse than it had waking up with him the morning after that squad party. The last time he quickly dismissed any consideration of something physical between us.
I’d dreamt of a night like that with Alex for years, yet I won’t allow myself to replay that kiss. While I’ll never regret it, his rejection has stung more than a little. It never ended up like this afterward in my dreams. It’s as if the magic of that one incredible night with him onboard that ship is utterly tainted by the days that followed.
Starting my car, I rub my hands up and down my arms. The chill is sinking into my bones. I let the heater warm up before backing out. I’m leaving an hour early to ensure I make it to my volunteer job in the inclement weather. It’ll be a busy night for the rescue squad with this early mix of precipitation. While there wasn’t a lot of accumulation, and it doesn’t seem overly icy, this can be the most deceiving type of winter weather. People underestimate the risk when the temperature drops and the wet roadways turn to black ice.
I turn up the radio to hear Sia over the repetitive swish of the snow-laden wiper blades. The snowfall has lightened, but each heavy, wet flake looks the size of a golf ball as it smacks against the windshield. I find myself leaning forward as if this will help me see more clearly through the cold, soppy mess.
Whoosh . My car swerves a bit as the eighteen-wheeler flies by me on the highway, adding a new layer of dirty, mushy spray over my car. Just when I feel as if I’ve righted myself, the front end of my car veers into the other lane and spins as I overcorrect the steering wheel. I can’t help but let out a scream as my car flies off the highway onto the shoulder and collides with a metal guardrail.
My heart is hammering in my chest. Get a grip, Tuesday. You’re okay. I reach to turn off the ignition when I realize the car is no longer running. Great . Stepping out of the car, I walk around the front end and see the damage to the passenger side isn’t terrible. But if I can’t get the car to start back up, there may be something worse going on underneath the hood. What’s more, I’m going to need a tow.
Sloshing back to the driver’s seat, I attempt to restart the car without success. Ugh. I pull out my phone, and as if on auto-pilot, I begin to call Alex. He’s always been my go-to for anything car related. Not only does Alex have a tow truck business he runs on his days off from the fire department, but he’s also just a wiz with cars. My brother, not so much.
Yet the reality of our current situation becomes clear, and I refuse to ask him for help after he ghosted me following that kiss. Okay, so maybe ghosted isn’t the right word. I knew he was in a relationship. I was in the wrong too. But there’s still no way I’m calling him.
Hitting Grace’s number on my contact list, I tap my foot on the floorboard, praying she’s home.
“Hey, girl. Whatcha doing? Hot chocolate and romcoms?”
“I wish.” I shiver. “Does your brother still have that big SUV with all-wheel drive? I just slid off of the highway on Route One near Atlee Road on the way to my volunteer job, and now the car won’t start back up.”
“Yeah. But why don’t you call Alex?”
“Grace, I told you what happened. I’m not calling him.” I’d shared everything with Grace the night after my return. I tried to downplay how much it hurt and focused on my amazing night with him. I refused to shed any more tears over this ridiculous crush.
“Tues, he’s your friend. He’d want to─”
“Grace, I don’t have much battery left on my cell. I’m going to have to call someone else if your brother isn’t there.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll get him. Put your phone on low battery and hang in there. Someone will get to you soon. Promise.”
“Thanks.” I hang up the call and reach into my backseat for the duffel bag I use for the rescue squad. It has some medical supplies if I should ever respond to a call from home, a few granola bars, a bottle of water that appears frozen solid, and a sweatshirt. I pull the thick gray sweatshirt over my head and pray they get here quickly.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Max. This is Tuesday. I was on my way there when I hydroplaned and hit a guardrail. I’m okay, but I’m waiting on a ride. I just wanted to let you know I’m probably going to be late.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I’m glad you’re all right. We could definitely use the help, though, if you can still make it. We’ve had one call after another today, and most are car accident or fall related.”
“I understand. I’ll get there as soon as I can. I have to go. My phone battery is almost dead.”
“Okay. Be careful. See you when you get here.”
Hanging up the call, I drop the phone into my bag and again attempt to warm up my body by rubbing my hands up and down my arms and legs. I’m so distracted by my efforts to fight the chill that I scream like the scene of a horror movie when someone knocks on my window. My hands fly to my heart, and panic sets in as I can’t see through my window now.
“It’s me, Sunny. Open the door.”
What? Slowly, I push the car door open to find Alex leaning against the car. He’s wearing thick overalls, heavy Timberland boots, and a red and black flannel shirt. A beanie covers his thick dark hair, so all I see is his beautiful dark eyes and dreamy smile. “Hi.” My voice comes out broken after that scream. I’m going to kill Grace.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Just cold. I have squad duty tonight. They really need all hands on deck with this weather.” My voice is shaky. I’m sure this is due to the cold, not his nearness. I’m too mad at him to let him affect me anymore.
Before I can give this any further consideration, he steps forward, reaching into the car, and scoops me into his arms in one swift motion.
“Alex─”
“Hush.” He carries me to his truck, parked on the shoulder directly in front of mine. Dropping me onto my feet, he reaches for the door handle and pats my backside, encouraging me to climb in. Any other time this would do all sorts of things to my brain, but I’m so overwhelmed with his being here I can’t think clearly.
Once I’m seated, he steps up and buckles me in. The smell of diesel fuel is replaced by an earthy, masculine scent that has me swooning as it envelopes me. It’s so him. As the metallic click of the seatbelt snaps into place, my eyes flick up to meet his. He tucks a damp tendril of hair behind my ear with his snow-covered glove. The action makes me jump, but I’m again unsure if it’s the connection with the cold mitt or him that’s causing me to be so jittery.
It’s the cold, Tuesday. He’s not getting to you again.
“Sit tight. I’ll be right back.” He descends to the ground, closing the door behind him, and I watch through the rear window as he starts gathering what he needs to secure my car to the truck. He manages to lift my car behind the tow truck and returns to the driver’s seat in no time.
“I can’t believe you did that so fast. And by yourself.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice.” He winks. The action sends my heart into overdrive. What is happening here? Are we just going to ignore the elephant in the truck?
I train my gaze on the road in front of us, trying not to let my mind wander to places that are best left alone. Besides, my tears might freeze solid once I leave the warmth of his vehicle.
Alex carefully steers us off of the shoulder and onto the highway when his voice breaks the silence. “Sunny. We need to talk.”