Hush, Hush (Bonus)

Chapter 3 Nora

I knew something was off the moment he picked me up. I opened the front door to find Patch wearing a distracted expression, as though he’d been thinking about something besides me on the ride over.

“You’re late," I teased him, but I was a little annoyed. He’d kept me waiting nearly thirty minutes and hadn’t bothered to call.

“I had a few errands to run,” he said without so much as a kiss or a comment on my dress—a white eyelet sundress that was his favorite. “I had to go back to my place and trade out the bike for the Jeep.”

“Nothing like last-minute errands,” I said, trying not to sound cranky.

“The worst,” Patch agreed absently.

We drove to Enzo’s in almost perfect silence. Patch sat forward in his seat, arms draped over the wheel, eyes watching the road as if he expected to catch a deer in his headlights around the next bend. He didn’t seem to notice five minutes had passed without a single word spoken between us. His thumb tapped the wheel, and the set of his jaw seemed almost rigid.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

He flashed me a quick reassuring smile. “Nope. Been looking forward to this all day.”

“Liar.”

“How’s Vee? Decorations up and ready?”

Patch never asked about Vee. And he never made small talk.

“Seriously, are you sure nothing’s wrong?” I asked.

He gave my knee a quick squeeze. “You look incredible in that dress. I can’t take my eyes off you.”

My mood lifted. “You noticed.”

“It's my favorite.”

I let go of a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, and returned Patch’s smile. I rolled the window down, letting the wind chase through my hair, The air didn’t feel hot and muggy now, but refreshing and breathable. Funny how it could change so fast.

Just like a moment.