Chapter Twelve
Mikayla
Another day, another nightclub. The noise is more than I can handle! And I’m beginning to feel like I’m ready to move on from this city.
I love Raquel. But you can tell she’s the extrovert in this relationship. It’s not that I don’t like people. I just… clubs aren’t my thing. This isn’t my idea of fun, but I do it for her.
I have been staying at Raquel’s now for three months, and it has been amazing. I’m not expected to cook and clean for her, but of course I do. I don’t have a problem with doing nice things for people. I guess it’s the expectation? I don’t know.
Now that I’ve been away from my mom, I’m beginning to wonder if maybe I was too close to it?
Maybe I was being too hard on her? I mean, fucking Cody…
that was a line she crossed. But the stuff before then, maybe I was being overly judgmental?
Yet, I can’t seem to bring myself to contact her.
I feel guilty, but at the same time, happy.
Over the course of my time here in Texas, I’ve studied enough and felt confident in taking my boards. So… I took the exam earlier today.
Not that she needed an excuse, but of course, Raquel said I had to go out and blow off some steam.
I haven’t told her yet, but I’m gonna head out tomorrow, maybe go to California.
I’m not sure. But I need to figure out where I want to work.
I love Raquel, but I can’t live with her. And I’m getting restless.
“You make it seem like I’m trying to kill you by making you go out!” she yells at me over the blaring music.
We walk to the bar and order apple martinis after waiting for what feels like hours.
“I’m just tired.” I shrug. The test took all of my energy. And if I had a choice, I’d be home reading a book.
We grab our drinks and make our way to a two-seater high-top. We sit down, and a group of guys make their way over to us.
I roll my eyes at the all-American dream team coming over in their jeans and polo shirts. When did the eighties make a comeback? They can’t see me, thank God.
“Hey!” a tall blonde says, lifting his chin at me in greeting.
“Hi,” I say, waving a shy hand.
I hate being picked up at a club. And while this guy is hot, he’s just not doing it for me. None of them are.
“I’m Ian. This is Carter and Denis,” Ian says, pointing to two guys with brown hair beside him.
“I’m Raquel, and this is my friend Mikayla.” Raquel beams at Ian.
Thank God, because I’m not at all interested.
I drink my martini while Raquel flirts with Ian. Carter and Denis leave the table, seeming to scope out other women they can likely score with since I’m not the best company.
After I finish my drink, Raquel forces me onto my feet and onto the dance floor when APT. by Rose and Bruno Mars comes on. We make it through three songs before she and Ian are making out, and that’s my cue to leave.
Look, I’m not mad at Raquel. I’m just not feeling it tonight, and I want her to have fun. Plus, she deserves to enjoy a night out.
I get a rideshare and make my way inside her house and change for bed and brush my teeth.
The following morning I’m packed up and ready to go when I’m greeted with a less than smiling Raquel.
“That fun?” I ask as I set my bags down.
“You’re leaving?” she whines. “Don’t leave!”
“It’s time,” I say as I make her a cup of coffee.
It’s already noon, and I know if I don’t get out the door in the next hour or two, I won’t.
“Where are you going now?”
“I don’t know. I’m thinking of going to California, maybe. I think I passed the boards, but won’t know for a few weeks, so figured if I want to travel, now’s the time,” I reply with a shrug.
“I’m gonna miss you!” She stands up and hugs me close.
I prepare us an easy lunch and more coffee since Raquel is a total mess. Over sandwiches, we talk about her night.
“Are you leaving because of me?” she asks me when I get up to leave. Her eyes are worried.
“Rock, of course not,” I say with conviction. “I told you last week I wanted to travel a bit more after I finished my boards.”
She nods, but frowns. “I like having you here,” she whispers, looking down at the table.
“Then I’ll come back. And wherever I end up, you can visit me,” I remind her, pulling her in for a hug.
After a long goodbye, and well after four in the afternoon, I throw my shit into the trunk of my car and get on the road.
I drive toward Dallas and make it all the way to Fort Worth when the rain starts falling and falling hard!
Then the worst thing that can happen during a rainstorm happens.
My car starts making the strangest sound, like something is rattling in the engine or something.
I take the first exit and pull into a well-lit parking lot.
I turn off the engine and grab my phone so I can look for a place to take my car.
The wind blows outside, shaking it a little, which is kind of creepy, and the rain pounds harder against the windows.
When I pull up the map, I find that the nearest car repair place is thirty minutes away and closes at four. My phone shows that it’s already after eight o’clock. I frown and decide to look up the nearest hotel in the meantime and find that the closest one is again thirty minutes away.
“Fuck!” I say as I look around. I’m in the middle of nowhere!
I don’t know where I am or what to do. I have no choice but to try to make it to the hotel, and then I’ll call a tow truck to take my car to the garage in the morning. But when I push the starter button on my car, nothing happens. I turn off the headlights and try again.
Nothing!
The sun has set, and there are no people around. The wind blows harder as I sit in my car, unsure of what to do at this point.
Think Mikayla! Think! What do I do?
I scroll through my phone and come to Patrick’s name. I rub my thumb over my lips and think… do I bother him? Will he even remember me?
Patrick told me if I was ever back in the area to call him because he would love to introduce me to his wife, Rabecca. I hadn’t texted him or anything, but considering the situation I’m in… it’s not like it’s an inappropriate time to call someone.
I’m overthinking this. I need help, and he’s the only person I know that lives near here. I just have to hope his wife won’t be mad at me or him.
I push the call button on my phone and just hope he isn’t like me and ignores calls from an unknown number.
It rings three times before someone answers. “Hello?”
“Hi! Patrick? It’s Micky, do you remember me?” I rush out.
“Micky?”
“Yeah, from the steakhouse?” I ask.
Please remember me.
“Uh, yes, of course, but this isn’t Patrick. This is Caine.”
My heart stops. Caine?
Then my heart begins to pound, hard.
Fuck!
I frown. I’m silent, trying to understand why Patrick gave me his brother’s phone number instead of his.
“Mick, you still there?” Caine asks quietly.
“Yes, sorry, I’m just surprised.” And thank fuck he can’t see me! I’m freaking out right now!
“Is everything alright?” he asks worriedly. “Why are you calling my brother?”
“Um, well, I… my car kind of broke down just outside of Fort Worth. Patrick gave me this number in case I was in town. But I…”
“Where are you?” he asks, his voice rising with worry.
“I’m not sure. I can share my location settings with you and text you my current location,” I suggest.
“I’ll wait.”
I hear a car door slam and let out a deep breath of relief. I feel oddly comforted and sigh, knowing he’s coming to get me.
I open my location settings and share them with him.
“Got it. Okay, you’re a little over an hour away.” Then I hear the revving up of an engine.
An hour! Jesus!
“I’m so sorry! I’ll figure something else out!” I feel emotional all of a sudden. I didn’t even consider where he lived. This area is so large! He’s really far away.
“Like hell, Micky, I’m on my way. Don’t be sorry.”
“But you’re so far away,” I argue.
“Why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to since I last saw you?”
“Caine, are you sure?” I ask. “I…”
“Mick, just talk to me,” he says softly.
I swallow and blink back tears. I can’t believe he’s coming to help me, and he’s over an hour away!
“I was in Austin, visiting my best friend,” I tell him.
“What’d ya do in Austin?”
I spend the next hour talking to him about Raquel, I share stupid shit like the shopping I did (thank you, Jack), my studying, and how I just took the boards.
“How long until you find out if you passed?” He sounds genuinely curious.
“It can take over a month,” I explain. “It kind of sucks.” I laugh.
I see a pair of headlights pull up in front of me, then see a big black pickup truck pull in beside me. My chest aches at the sight of the star of my sex dreams now not two feet away from me.
I’m not sure what compels me to do what I do next, but when I see Caine get out of his truck, I open my door and jump into his arms. I don’t even care that it’s pouring rain; I’m just so happy to see him.
“Woah,” he says as I slam into him, but he catches me.
I close my eyes when he wraps his arms around me, his scruffy face nestles in the crook of my neck. For the first time in two hours, my heart calms. He smells clean this time, like fresh air, leather and man. He’s warm, and for some reason I feel… safe.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
For a moment, his arms tighten around me, and I feel his hand rest along the side of my face, and oddly, it feels comforting. But then he lets me go, and my feet drop back down to the earth.
“Let’s get your car hitched,” he says. “Get in my truck. I need to pull in front of you.”
I really don’t want to let him go, which is ridiculous, but I force myself to and hop into his truck.
I wrinkle my nose at the smell inside; it’s gross. It smells like a dirty wet dog… no… not a dog… but some kind of animal I can’t identify. I open the door because, fuck… I need to get some air.
“What’s wrong?” Caine hollers when I poke my head out.
“Nothing,” I say as he rounds the back of his truck and hops back in.
“Then close the door.” He smirks and shakes his head at me.
I shut the door and try to breathe through my mouth.
Caine turns his head and starts to laugh when he sees me. “You’ll get used to it.” Well, he clearly knows why I’m making a face.
He pulls his truck in front of mine and then hops out again. After about ten minutes, he has my car hitched to his truck, and he’s back inside.
“You’re drenched!” I announce as though he doesn’t already know he’s wet.
“I’m fine,” he says, waving me off. “I’m glad I got here when I did; it’s really coming down now.”
I chance a glance at him as he turns onto the highway. “Thank you,” I tell him. “I don’t know what I would have done had you not agreed to come here.”
Caine turns and gives me a quick glance, his black hair plastered to his head, but he doesn’t say anything. I find his looks almost alarming. It causes my heart to pound harder.
Caine connects his phone to the car, and the song “Beautiful as You” by Thomas Rhett comes over the sound system on low.
I look over at this handsomely rugged man, who is a virtual stranger, yet for some reason I find my heart racing in his presence. I feel like I know him! Hell, I have been dreaming about him for months.
After several moments of us just listening to the music, Caine breaks the silence. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he says gruffly.
I don’t know what to say. I look at him, my mouth open in surprise.
“Ha, some thoughts are best kept in my head, I guess,” he adds, his laugh choked.
“I’m just surprised,” I say, unable to stop staring at him.
“Why’s that?” He gives me a quick glance as he drives, moving his eyes back to the slick road.
“You didn’t even say goodbye to me,” I say uneasily. “Or tell me your last name.”
His lips twitch. “Montgomery. I’m Franklin Caine Montgomery the third. But everyone just calls me Caine,” he says. “What’s your name?”
I smile. “I’m Mikayla Juliette Masterson.”
I extend my hand across my body. Caine releases the wheel, extends his arm, and shakes my hand.
It’s like a jolt of electricity when our skin touches, and I suck in a breath at his warmth.
“Good to meet you, Mikayla.” And although it’s dark, I can see his smile.
“My friends call me Micky.” My voice is low and shaky. I don’t know why I’m nervous.
His hand is still holding mine, and I find it hard to breathe. I feel flushed and am grateful for the cloud of darkness that shields my face from him.
What is happening to me?