Alexis
Chapter Five
Life can change in an instant.
One minute I’m at a party trying to get my head around the idea that the person I thought was my best friend could actually be the best thing that ever happened to me. I was on a high, in a place I never expected to be, looking at Dax in a totally new way.
The next I’m locked in a speeding car with a psychopath, driving far too fast on the narrow mountain roads down from Peppermint Lodge.
Ty’s sniffing at regular intervals and his eyes are wild. He’s clearly been indulging in some sort of substance and has the music turned up loud. I tried screaming and banging on the window, but he just turned it up even louder.
I’m imprisoned in this car with a crazy guy who isn’t paying full attention to what he’s doing.
Happy Fourth of July to me.
I regret wishing my life was more exciting. I’ll take the familiar every time rather than this. Ty’s dialing his cell with one hand, loosely gripping the wheel with the other and then starts shouting into it over the music.
At least he’s distracted. I flip my cell out from my purse with one hand, hiding under a fold of my dress, and text one handed.
Dax. Ty locked me in the car. On mountain road down to Snowflake. Can’t talk. Not a joke. S.O.S. For real.
S.O.S is kind of an in-joke for Dax and me, but it also has a serious side.
When my brother Alfie broke his arm falling off the swing there were no adults at home because Bette was supposed to be babysitting.
She was in the shower and I started shouting S.O.S.
I don’t know why, I was young and I’d seen it in a movie and thought it would help.
And Dax heard me from next door, came over with his Mom and she called an ambulance.
I want to ask Ty what the hell he thinks he’s doing but I don’t think I’m going to get a coherent answer.
The strap broke on my stupid high-heeled sandals as I came out of the ladies’ room at the lodge.
Ty came over and said he had something in his car that would fix it and like a fool I believed him.
Once I was sitting in the passenger seat he locked the doors and sped off.
My cell vibrates. Ty is still distractedly talking to someone.
I think he’s trying to get more drugs. I knew he was a live wire, but he’s from a good Snowflake family, has his own business and I thought he was trying to make it work.
It looks like he’s going downhill fast. I sneak a peek at the text from Dax.
Hold tight. I’ve told my brother and he’s on his way. Mr. Huckle is driving us down the hill to catch up with you. Be there soon.
I take a deep breath and grip the edges of the seat. Ty finishes the call and turns the blaring music down. He tries to put his hand on my thigh but I swipe it away.
“Ty what are you doing? You’ve just kidnapped me.”
“Don’t be stupid Alexis. You were giving me all the signals back there. And don’t try and fool me that you and that asshole Dax are together. You need a masterful man who makes the decisions for you and I’m that guy.” He sniffs and flicks his white-blonde hair out of his eyes.
I shake my head. “You’re wrong. I didn’t agree to this. And Dax and I are together.” I’m not sure if this will make him mad but some part of me is hoping that in Ty’s warped mind he’ll consider me off limits.
“Like hell. You just need some convincing. I’ll get some coke and then we can go party in my hot tub. You’ll change your mind pretty quick once I’ve got my hands on you.” He takes a sleazy gawp at my cleavage.
“Fuck you Ty. You try anything and I’ll scream the house down.”
He responds by turning the music up. It’s so sinister that I feel a chill rise from my toes to the crown of my head. This can’t be happening. I went to school with Ty. I mean, he was always a dick but I didn’t consider him dangerous.
The road down from the lodge is familiar to me. I’ve driven Taylor up here a few times when she’s been catering. There’s a wide field on the left where the farmer hasn’t put up his new fencing yet. Ty has one eye on the road and one on his cell.
Without thinking, I grab the wheel as hard as I can with both hands and pull to the left. We’re going at high speed and the change of direction takes the car into a sudden spin.
The music is blaring as I grit my teeth.
I’m not letting Ty take me anywhere, certainly not some stinking hot tub.
Ty’s so surprised that his hands just grip onto the steering wheel.
It’s a battle of wills; I’m not letting go until he takes his foot of the gas.
I feel a rush of relief as he stamps down on the brake which quickly turns into fear as the car spins, tips up on two wheels and flips over onto its side.
I have my seatbelt on, so once we’re at a standstill I’m okay, if a little breathless.
Ty’s not wearing his seatbelt and has bashed his head on the steering wheel.
It looks like he’s knocked himself out. There’s a little blood trickling down from a cut on his head.
He’s on the side against the ground, which is lucky, otherwise he’d have crushed me when the car flipped.
The music is still blaring. I reach up and turn it off.
I roll down the window on my side and take a gulp of fresh air.
I manage to lean down and turn the engine off too by taking off my seatbelt and bracing myself against the side of the car.
Suddenly strong arms are pulling me out of the car. I get another surge of relief as I realize it’s Dax.
“Alex, are you okay? Are you hurt?” He pulls me into his arms, crushing his lips down on mine.
I start kissing him back and then pull away. “I’m fine, but I can’t tell you if you’re kissing me.”
“I’m sorry. I was just so worried about you.” His face is pale.
“You got here so fast!” I give his arm a squeeze.
He is just so incredibly handsome looking down into my eyes intently.
How could I not have wanted to be with him before?
Maybe, deep down, I knew what a catch he was, but didn’t want to risk ruining our friendship.
I don’t know the answer, I just know I want to be close to him.
“Magnus was a former racing car champion back in Denmark before he became an architect. He got us here in record time. Are you sure you’re okay?” He strokes my hair lightly, cupping my face in his hands and gazing deep into my eyes.
“Just a little shaky. Ty locked me in the car and was trying to take me to his hot tub. Ick. He’s taken coke, he’s out of control. But I think he’s hurt.” I look back at the car.
Dax looks up as a police car drives and parks by the side of the field, and his brother Zac gets out.
He jogs quickly towards us and Dax fills him in on what’s happened.
He walks back to his car and radios for an ambulance, then goes to peer in the open door of the overturned vehicle.
I can hear groaning from inside, so I guess Ty has woken up.
Even though he’s an awful person, I’m glad he doesn’t seem to be seriously injured.
Zac walks over to Mr. Huckle’s car and talks to him in a low voice for a few minutes, then walks back to us.
“Mr. Huckle says he’ll drive you two back home.
Alexis, we may need you to come down to the station for an interview, but not until tomorrow.
You probably need some time to process what’s happened. ”
I look over at the overturned car. “What about Ty?”
“Ty needs to be checked over at the hospital. He’ll need a drug and alcohol test, and he’s facing some pretty serious time if he’s convicted. Do you want to stay and get checked over by the ambulance crew?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine Zac. I was wearing my seatbelt.”
“Okay, but you should go home and take it easy now.” Zac shades his eyes from the sun. “You two get back home - I’m going to take some photos of the tire marks.”
Dax puts his arm around me and leads me over to Mr. Huckle.
Mr. Huckle smiles gently at me. “You’re a very brave girl Alexis.
No wonder Dax wants to marry you. That Ty was incoherent at the party, sniffing and rubbing his nose like a snorting piglet.
I’m sure everything he said to me was a lie.
Let me get you two home, this must have been a very stressful experience.
But more exciting than what usually goes on in Snowflake Falls, I think. ”
Dax and I sit in the back seat while he strokes my head gently. It feels wonderful to be nestled in his arms, like I’ve come home.
As we draw up to Dax’s Mom’s house, our family party is already in full swing next door.
My Mom must have invited everyone in Snowflake who wasn’t at the Peppermint Lodge event.
Smoke is rising from two separate barbecues, there’s a long table piled high with food, and all the kids are chasing each other around and jumping through the sprinklers on the grass.
I look down at my dress which is crumpled and torn from the accident.
I nudge Dax and whisper: “maybe take Mr. Huckle to the party and introduce him to my parents. If you let Neva or Bette know I need a change of clothes, can you bring the outfit over and I’ll shower and change at your house?
I don’t want to worry my Mom and Dad with what’s happened today, I’ll tell them tomorrow. ”
“It’s a deal.” Dax hands me his key and we get out of the car.
He guides Mr. Huckle towards the party as I slip into his house.
Just as well Dax’s Mom is away and Zac is on duty, although I’m sure neither of them would mind too much.
I run upstairs, find a towel, peel off the dress and my lingerie, and jump in the big walk-in shower that joins onto Dax’s bedroom.
The hot water feels good, like it’s washing away all the stress of the past few hours. It’s like I’m shedding the past as I step out. I wrap the towel around me and take a look in the mirror. Most of the makeup Bette put on me has survived, although the curls in my hair have dropped out.