Wicked Beat

Chapter 22

Rebekah squeezed Eric’s hand and opened the front door of her parents’ house. The guy looked like he was about to ralph all over his shoes, and Rebekah couldn’t really blame him. Her father was laidback and easygoing, but her mother? She wouldn’t wish that woman on anyone. Rebekah smiled at Eric reassuringly and squeezed his hand again.

“Anybody home?” she called into the foyer.

Her mouth fell open when Dave wheeled himself through the dining room door. “Hey, little sis!”

“Dave!” she released Eric’s hand and squeezed Dave’s neck excitedly as she hugged him. “You look great!” She planted a big wet kiss on his temple. “How’s your recovery going?”

“I’ve got about seventy-five percent usage in my left arm. Ninety percent in the right.” He wriggled his fingers and made a fist. “They still say I’m not going to walk again.”

“I say they’re full of shit,” Eric said with a grin.

Dave grinned back. “Sticks? When Rebekah said she was bringing one of the guys home, I was sure it would be Mills.”

“I managed to snag the best one,” Rebekah said. She sauntered over to Eric and grabbed him around the neck to draw him to her waiting lips.

Someone cleared her throat in the dining room. “Not only do you bring riffraff into my home,” Mom said, “but you engage in inappropriate behavior with it right before my eyes.”

Rebekah rolled her eyes for Eric’s benefit and then turned to face her mother. “And he gave me a little tongue too,” she said.

She glanced at Eric, expecting him to participate in her teasing, but he looked entirely shell-shocked.

“Mom, this is Eric Sticks, the drummer of Sinners,” Dave said.

“Sinners. The band who practically kidnapped my daughter and exposed her to only God knows what? The band who paralyzed my only son?”

“The man who saved Dave’s life with CPR,” Rebekah said.

Mom snorted. “I guess he can stay since he’s already here.” She turned her back and returned to the kitchen.

“She’s a little prickly tonight,” Dave whispered.

“A little?” Rebekah squeezed Eric’s elbow. “Don’t let her get to you.”

Eric shook his head slightly.

“So how are things going with the tour, Reb?” Dave asked nonchalantly.

“As good as can be expected, considering you’re not there,” Rebekah said.

“She’s being modest,” Eric said. “She’s absolutely amazing.”

Dave grinned with pride.

“Not as good as Dave is though,” Rebekah said, ruffling her brother’s hair and bending to smother him with another hug.

“It’s okay that you’re great, Reb,” Dave said. “You don’t have to feel guilty. I’m proud of you.”

She didn’t know why her eyes were suddenly leaky. Maybe because she did feel guilty. She was off having the time of her life, making a career for herself, finding love, while Dave was stuck here in a wheelchair with their oppressive mother.

“Is that my little girl I hear?” her dad called from the living room.

She released Dave and grabbed Eric’s hand. “Come on,” she said. “I want you to meet my dad.”

“The minister?” Eric said.

“No, the poodle trainer.” She shook her head. “Yes, the minister. I only have one dad, you know.”

Eric followed her with heavy feet.

“I thought I heard your voice,” her dad said, a huge smile on his jovial face. His smile faltered when he caught sight of Eric.

Eric’s palm grew damp against Rebekah’s hand, but she held it tightly.

“Who’s this?”

“This is Eric,” she said. “My new boyfriend.”

Her father pressed his recliner’s footrest down and climbed to his feet. He craned his neck to appraise Eric carefully. “Don’t you think he’s a bit… tall for you, sweetheart?”

“Nope. He’s perfect for me.” She hugged Eric’s arm and smiled happily.

Her dad’s eyes roamed her face, and then he smiled. “I trust he takes good care of you and treats you well?”

“Like a princess.”

Dad extended his hand toward Eric, who for once was speechless. He took Dad’s hand and shook it firmly. “Nice to meet you, Father Blake.”

“Likewise, Eric. Have a seat.” He waved at the free recliner situated next to his. “Tell me about yourself.”

Eric glanced at Rebekah uncertainly. Her heart melted into a puddle. She released his hand and patted him on the back reassuringly. “You can talk to my dad about anything. He doesn’t judge.”

“I leave the judging to God,” her dad said and returned to his recliner.

Eric looked like he was about to bolt.

“Sit,” Rebekah insisted. She knew her dad would love Eric once they got to talking. Her father would appreciate Eric’s open honesty and quirky sense of humor.

Dave wheeled himself into the room and arranged his wheelchair next to the unoccupied recliner. “Rebekah, Mom’s got a surprise for you in the kitchen.”

“What kind of surprise?”

“Go see. Dad and I will keep Eric company.”

Rebekah nodded. She’d never once in her life liked any surprise her mother had for her. She was fairly certain she wasn’t going to like this one either. She gave Eric’s hand a squeeze of encouragement and then turned to head for the kitchen. Before she was even back in the foyer, Eric already had Dave and her father laughing.

She smiled as she walked to the kitchen. She knew it would take awhile for her mother to get used to the idea of her dating Eric. Her mother had been completely enamored with the idea of Isaac becoming her son-in-law. Rebekah doubted her mother would give any man an easy time, but one in a rock band who had tattoos, his nipple pierced, and a strange haircut? Rebekah didn’t have her heart set on her mom ever accepting Eric. She didn’t care though. She loved Eric with all her heart. If her mother couldn’t see what a wonderful man he was, that was her loss, not Rebekah’s. Not Eric’s.

Rebekah bumped open the swinging door to the kitchen with her hip. “Mom, Dave said you had a surprise for me.”

Isaac turned from the counter where he was helping her mother prepare dinner. Rebekah’s heart skipped several beats and began to race. “You’re back?” she gasped.

Isaac dashed across the kitchen and wrapped both arms around her. He planted a tender kiss on her temple and squeezed her until she was breathless. “Oh Rebekah,” he murmured. “I missed you so much.”

She caught her mother’s expression of glee just before she went into the pantry.

“Isaac,” Rebekah said. She tugged away from him to look into his gentle gray eyes. “What are you doing here?”

He was still the handsomest man she’d ever encountered. Wide eyes, straight nose, perfectly sculpted lips, even features, and thick, brown wavy hair framed his face. And his recently acquired tan contrasted nicely with his white dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal strong forearms. As attractive as he was, he didn’t make her heart race when she looked at him. She didn’t experience even a twinge of lust.

“Your mother invited me. You know I can’t turn down her homemade biscuits.” Isaac searched Rebekah’s face and then cupped it with both hands. “You look fantastic, angel.”

“I feel great.”

“Have you been getting all your medical screenings?” he asked, looking at her with concern.

Touched, she brushed a wavy lock of hair from his forehead. “I have. So far, no signs of it. I have another appointment in December.”

She didn’t have to say what it was. They’d lived through it together and come out stronger people on the other side. That bond between them would always exist.

He hugged her again. “I missed you. Did I tell you that yet?”

“Yeah. I missed you too.” It wasn’t a lie. She had missed him.

But as he held her, she realized she’d never really loved him. At least not romantically. Her feelings were the same as they’d always been.

That of a really close friend. A friend she could count on to be there for her no matter what. Isaac was her best friend, but they weren’t meant to be lovers. She knew that now. Now that she had Eric, she could tell the difference.

Rebekah pulled away from Isaac’s embrace and smiled, knowing everything was as it should be. They weren’t meant to be together as a couple, but they meant too much to each other to be kept apart.

She was really glad to see him, and that was okay. It wasn’t a betrayal of her feelings for Eric, because they weren’t the same feelings she had for Isaac. Realizing that was such a huge relief, she couldn’t help but beam at Isaac. “Tell me all about Africa,” she said and took a seat at the counter to listen to him talk about his adventures while he chopped vegetables for their salad. Her admiration grew as he told her about all the people he’d helped while living under abysmal conditions in the bush.

“So the baby survived?” she asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

Isaac nodded. “There was another woman in the village who had lost her baby to cholera, so she took the newborn as her own. I wish I could have saved the mother too, but the crocodile had done too much damage to her spine, and I lost her on the table.”

Rebekah’s vision blurred with tears. “That’s so horrible,” she said. “And you. You are absolutely wonderful, Isaac.”

A sudden intake of breath alerted her to Eric’s presence. He looked like someone had punched him in the stomach. “Eric,” she said. “Come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

Eric had wondered who the too-attractive-to-be-believed man was.

Rebekah was hanging on his every word like she’d been struck dumb by his charm and charisma. When she’d said his name—Isaac—and called him absolutely wonderful, Eric was certain his soul had been sucked from his body. And now Rebekah wanted Eric to meet the guy? No, thank you.

“I was looking for the can,” Eric said. A lie, but he in no way wanted to be anywhere near Dr. Perfect over there.

“I’m sure you can hold it for a minute,” Rebekah said. She hopped off the stool and took his hand before he could flee the kitchen.

“Eric, this is Isaac. A dear, dear friend.”

Isaac looked none too happy to be called her friend. Eric extended his hand. “I’m Eric, Rebekah’s very possessive boyfriend.”

Isaac’s eyes widened.

“And lover,” Eric added. “We get it on constantly.”

Isaac’s tan face paled several shades, but he took Eric’s hand and shook it cordially.

“Eric,” Rebekah chastised. “There is such a thing as need-toknow information, and that definitely wasn’t it.” She giggled, but didn’t deny his claim. Eric felt marginally better.

Rebekah’s mother bustled into the kitchen. “Rebekah, help me mash those potatoes,” she said. “Isaac, would you get the roast out of the oven? I need to get the biscuits in.”

“Sure.” Isaac put on a pair of oven mitts and headed for the oven.

“Can I do anything to help?” Eric asked, his heart thudding.

Rebekah’s mother scared the shit out of him.

“Don’t be silly. You’re a guest. Go sit down with Bill and Dave until dinner is ready.”

“Isaac’s a guest too,” Rebekah reminded her mother.

Mrs. B offered Isaac a one-armed hug as he struggled not to drop the roast. “Don’t be ridiculous, Rebekah. Isaac is family. Just set that on the stove, dear.”

Isaac set the roast on the stove.

Eric watched Rebekah drain the potatoes and start whipping them with a mixer. Mrs. B cut biscuits from dough and arranged them on a baking sheet. Isaac took it upon himself to carve the roast. They did look like a family. Something Eric had never had, but had always wanted. He wouldn’t be getting one now either it seemed.

Dave bumped the door open with his wheelchair. “Come on, Sticks. I need help setting the table.” Dave pulled plates and bowls from a china cabinet and set them on his immobile legs.

Eric smiled, grateful for a task.

“David Adam Blake, don’t ask Rebekah’s guest to do your work,” Mrs. B said.

“I don’t mind,” Eric insisted.

“Go sit down in the living room,” Mrs. B said.

Eric had no choice but to obey.

Father Blake, or Bill, as he insisted Eric call him, looked up from his war movie when Eric sat in the empty recliner beside him. “Did you get shooed out of the kitchen?”

Eric nodded. “Apparently I’m a guest, but Isaac is family.”

Bill chuckled. “Isaac is family.” He patted Eric’s forearm. “Great kid. He’s a doctor, you know.”

“Yeah, Reb mentioned that.”

“He just got back from Africa. He said taking over his father’s practice could wait a year. Wanted to go where people needed him most. You don’t come across many men as selfless as Isaac in this day and age.”

True, but Eric still hated him.

“Dinner’s ready!” Mrs. B called.

Eric rose to his feet. Mrs. B steered him to the end of the table.

“Guests get the seat of honor,” she said.

Eric sat at the far end of the long table, and Bill sat at the opposite end. A chair had been removed from the side of the table to accommodate Dave’s wheelchair, and his mother sat beside him.

That left Rebekah and Isaac to sit next to each other. The dinner was delicious, but though Eric ate everything on his plate, he scarcely tasted it.

Everyone was so enthusiastic for Isaac’s tales of Africa, which were amusing and heroic. Eric couldn’t deny it. He felt like an unwanted outsider. Rebekah scarcely glanced at him the entire meal.

She was too busy laughing with and fawning over Isaac, who was so fucking charming, it was nauseating. When Isaac started passing around pictures of himself treating the sick and wounded in some village in the Congo, Eric said all the appropriate things, but his heart sank. How could he compete with that? He’d never done anything remotely honorable. After dinner, Mrs. B brought out a cheesecake smothered in cherries.

“I know it’s your favorite,” she said, beaming at Isaac as she served him a huge slice.

“You’re spoiling me,” he said, his knockout smile charming even Eric.

Fuck. The guy could at least have the decency to be ugly or stupid or boring. Something!

“It’s the least I can do for our heroic, life-saving physician.”

“Seems to me Isaac isn’t the only lifesaver at this table,” Dave said. He grinned at Eric, who shook his head slightly, not wanting to bring up his little attempts at CPR.

“Oh yeah?” Isaac questioned, looking genuinely interested in what Dave had to say, the bastard. It was really difficult for Eric to maintain his hatred for the guy. “What happened?”

“Eric saved two lives this year alone,” Dave said. “One of them mine.”

Eric stared at the slice of cheesecake in front of him and speared a cherry repeatedly. “It was nothing. Anyone would have done the same.”

“That’s not true,” Isaac said. “Most people look the other way when someone is in trouble, even if they’re capable of helping. They just… don’t.”

Eric poked at his cheesecake, trying hard not to feel pride due to Isaac’s words.

“Who else did you save, Eric?” Rebekah asked.

“It was nothing,” he said again.

“Trey,” Dave said. “He had a seizure, and Eric kept him breathing until the ambulance arrived.”

“How have I not heard this story?” Rebekah said, glancing from Eric to Dave, then back to Eric.

Eric shrugged. “Trey doesn’t like us to talk about it.”

Rebekah leaned closer and whispered, “And I thought I was witness to the first time you locked lips with Trey.” She giggled and squeezed his knee under the table.

Eric stared at her with wide eyes. He prayed no one had heard her little aside.

“Who’s Trey?” Isaac asked.

“Sinners’ rhythm guitarist,” Rebekah said.

“Sinners?”

“Yeah, Eric’s band. Sinners.”

“So you’re in a band? Like a local band or what?” Isaac asked in all seriousness and took another bite of cheesecake.

Rebekah laughed and hugged Isaac’s arm. “You’re so sheltered!

One of the most famous drummers in the world is having dessert with you, and you’re totally clueless.”

“This guy’s famous?” Isaac asked, eyes wide with wonder.

“Should I be asking him for his autograph or something?”

This caused Rebekah to laugh even harder. She released Isaac’s arm to hold her stomach. “Stop. You’re killing me.”

Eric thought he was the only one capable of making her laugh that hard. Apparently not.

“So you’re a rock star? For real?” Isaac asked. “How’d you meet him, Rebekah?”

“Dave was Sinners’ soundboard operator. When he got hurt, they let me fill in until he’s back on his feet.” She realized her slip a second too late. Her eyes widened, and she whipped her head around to look at her brother. “Oh Dave, I’m sorry I said that. I didn’t mean…”

Dave just smiled. “It’s okay. I’m hoping they might take me back before I’m literally back on my feet.”

“Are you up for touring again?” Eric asked. “You know how grueling it can be.”

Dave nodded. “I’m hoping when you go back out in January that I’ll be ready to take over most of my duties. Well, those I can do in my chair. I don’t think I’ll be walking that soon and won’t be all that helpful at assembly and teardown. I’ll do as much as I’m able to though.”

“Don’t rush yourself, son,” Bill said. “You can stay here with your mother and me for as long as necessary.”

Dave and Rebekah exchanged glances and then smiled at their mother.

“I like to work,” Dave insisted. “I really miss it. And the guys. I miss them too. How are they all doing?”

“Great!” Eric said. “Me and Reb signed them all up to volunteer this Thanksgiving at the homeless shelter. I can’t wait to tell them.”

“Awesome. I’ll be there,” Dave said. “I can’t wait to see them again. And I really can’t wait to go back on tour.”

“Whenever you think you can handle it,” Eric said with a smile.

It was great to see Dave doing so well.

“But… what about me?” Rebekah asked.

“Reb, you knew your work with the band was temporary from the beginning,” Dave said.

She ducked her head, looking entirely defeated. Eric didn’t want her to leave, but when Dave was ready to return to work, she’d have to. And then she’d be here with Isaac all the time, while Eric was on the road.

This entire situation sucked.

“I don’t like the idea of you on the road with all those sinful, dirty rock stars in the first place, Rebekah,” Mrs. B said.

Eric’s hackles rose. He had the sudden urge to hit someone.

“As you’ve told me every other day on the phone, Mother,” Rebekah said. “Give it a rest.”

“Is it safe?” Isaac asked, glancing at Eric out of the corner of his eye. “They wouldn’t hurt you, would they?”

Rebekah rol ed her eyes. “The guys are great. All of them. I had a bit of a rocky start with Marcus, but things are going perfectly now.”

“Did Marcus give you a hard time?” Dave asked.

“At first,” Rebekah admitted. “We’re good now. We’ve come to an understanding. He’s stopped trying to sabotage my soundboard, and he even gave your notebook back to me.”

“What? I’m so going to kick his ass,” Dave said. He chuckled.

“Well, maybe I’ll have Eric knock him down so I can roll over his fuckin’ ass.”

“David Adam, watch your language!” Mrs. B said.

“Sorry, Mom,” Dave said sheepishly.

“Is everyone finished?” Mrs. B asked.

Eric was so ready to leave it wasn’t funny. He stood and picked up his plate. “I’ve got dishes.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Guests don’t do dishes,” Mrs. B said.

“Rebekah, get the dishes.”

Rebekah stood to obey her mother, scraping plates and stacking them.

“Why don’t you help her, Isaac?” Mrs. B smiled fondly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Eric watched Isaac and Rebekah clear the table, his heart aching.

They were so comfortable with each other, sharing quiet words and laughs. He had no doubt it was common for them to be domestic.

Like a couple.

“Can I help?” Eric grabbed Rebekah’s hand as she collected his empty wineglass. He ran his finger over the butterfly bracelet he’d given her.

She smiled. “Isaac and I have a routine. We’ll be done in no time.” She leaned close to his ear. “Then we can go home. You look like you’re ready to climb out of your skin.”

How very observant of her.

“Where’s the bathroom?” he asked her.

“There’s a powder room off the kitchen.”

“I don’t need powder,” he said.

She laughed and poked him in the ribs. “Joker.” She kissed his lips eagerly. The metallic clang of silverware interrupted their exchange. Isaac crouched to retrieve all the silverware he’d just spilled across the floor.

Eric climbed to his feet to find the powder room, whatever the fuck that was. It turned out to be a half-bathroom, though there was a wooden placard on the door denoting it as a powder room.

He took his time using the facilities, needing to collect himself.

He was a jumble of conflicting emotions, his stomach tied in knots.

His hands were shaking, for fuck’s sake. He took several deep breaths to try to calm his nerves. This was all too much, too soon. Sometimes he was glad he didn’t have a family to call his own. His interactions with families always left him bewildered. Even Sed’s family, pretty much the most awesome people Eric had ever met, became too much to handle after a few hours. It was all so… busy. And close. When he finally came out of the bathroom, Mrs. B accosted him immediately.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” she hissed.

“Uh, taking a piss.” He bit his lip. “I mean, going pee.”

The woman made a sound of exasperation. “That’s not what I mean, You’re bound and determined to corrupt my daughter, aren’t you?”

“Huh?” He honestly had no idea what she was talking about.

“I mean look at her. Her hair is blue, for crying out loud.”

He smiled. “Her hair was blue before I met her.”

“You have nothing to offer her. Traveling all over God’s creation with a bunch of no-good musicians. What kind of life is that for a young woman?”

“She seems to enjoy it.”

“She needs a stable home. With strong support. Did she even tell you that she has cancer?” Mrs. B said, as if it were scandalous.

“She told me. I can support her just fine.”

Mrs. B released another exasperated sigh. “She does these things to get back at me, you know,” Mrs. B said. “She broke up with poor Isaac just because I like him.”

“Uh…” He decided it wasn’t his place to set her straight on that issue.

“Will you look at them?” she said, waving a hand toward Rebekah and Isaac, who were side by side at the sink washing dishes and sharing the tender camaraderie that flowed between them so easily. “Have you ever seen a more perfect couple?”

No, actually, he hadn’t, but Eric and Rebekah were great together. Her mother just didn’t get it.

“I know you don’t like me,” Eric said, “but I love your daughter.

I’m not stepping aside for Isaac. Forget it.”

“You love her?” The skepticism in her question frayed Eric’s already raw nerves.

“Yeah, I love her. What? You think because I’m not like Dr.

Perfect over there, I’m not capable of loving her?”

“If you really loved her, you’d let her go. She can’t possibly be happy with you. I mean, look at you!”

Eric’s brow crinkled. He was well aware of what he looked like.

He knew he didn’t fit the image of a mother’s dream man for her daughter, but he wasn’t so hideous that he scared babies or anything.

“What does the way I look have to do with anything?”

The woman apparently thought it best to change tactics. “Isaac stood beside her while she was sick. What have you ever done for her?”

“Maybe you should ask her that.” He stepped around her and headed into the kitchen. Eric had to admit the woman was right.

Isaac had done a lot more for Rebekah than Eric had. Was it Eric’s fault he hadn’t met her sooner? He could have been there—would have been there—had he known her when she’d been sick.

Isaac dabbed suds on Rebekah’s nose, a loving smile on his lips.

She laughed and squirted him with water, wetting his crisp, white dress shirt. They really did make a cute couple. Nauseatingly cute.

Eric stopped behind Rebekah and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You ready to go?” he murmured into her ear. “I need a blow job.”

The look on Isaac’s face was priceless.

“She sucks good dick, doesn’t she?” Eric said to egg Isaac on. He really wanted the guy to take a swing at him, so he had a legitimate reason to punch him in his perfect nose.

“I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to say in front of a lady,” Isaac said, lowering his gaze to the dish he was scrubbing.

“I’m not in front of a lady. I’m behind her. She likes it from behind. Did you know that, Isaac? Or is that too kinky for you? I take you for a missionary position only kind of guy, limp dick.”

Eric was too busy trying to piss off Isaac to notice he’d missed his target and pissed off Rebekah instead.

She jerked the long yellow latex gloves from her hands and tossed them on the back of the sink. “It was great to see you, Isaac,” she said and kissed his cheek. “I’ll call you. Let’s go,” she bellowed at Eric.

She jerked from his grasp and stomped out of the kitchen.

“If you hurt her, I will make you regret it,” Isaac said calmly and placed a sparkling clean dish in the drain board.

That sounded like a threat. Eric was half-tempted to provoke him, but Rebekah was already heading for the front door. “Thanks for dinner, Mom,” she said and gave her mom a peck on the cheek.

“Bye, Dad. Dave,” she called into the dining room and opened the front door. “I’ll see you all Thursday, if not before.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Eric said and dashed after her.

Rebekah didn’t know it was possible to be this pissed off at someone you loved. She could not believe Eric would say those things in front of Isaac. She headed for the car, not much caring if Eric had followed her or not.

He caught up with her halfway down the walk and tried to take her hand. She jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”

“What’s wrong, baby?”

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

He looked at her, genuinely confused by her tirade.

“Why did you bring up our sex life in front of Isaac?”

Eric shrugged. “I dunno.”

“You don’t know?”

He shook his head. She growled in frustration and continued to the car. She opened the door and climbed inside before he could assist her. A moment later, he climbed in beside her and closed the door, but he didn’t start the car. After a long silence, she turned to look at him. He was staring at her. “Are you mad at me?” he asked.

“Wow, Eric. How did you ever come to that brilliant conclusion?”

“I really don’t know why I said that,” he said quietly. “He just… gets on my nerves.”

“Isaac?” How could Isaac get on anyone’s nerves? The man was wonderful.

“Yeah. I don’t like him. I don’t want you around him.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why not?”

“You used to be lovers!”

“So what? We can still be friends.”

Eric scoffed. “Let me tell you something about guys. Once they’ve fucked you, they can never just be your friend. They might say it and pretend, but every time they look at you they’re thinking about how great your pussy feels around their dick.”

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “That’s probably true for someone like you, but Isaac’s different.”

“Someone like me? Your perfect pansy of a doctor is better than me, is that what you’re saying?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you implied it. Get out of my car.”

She was too stunned to move. “What?” she breathed.

“You fuckin’ heard me. Go back to him if you want him so much.” He leaned across her body and opened the door. “Get out!”

“Eric?” She’d never known him to behave this way. It made absolutely no sense. She wasn’t even mad anymore. Just confused. “I don’t want him that way. Why are you being like this?”

Staring out the dark windshield, he said, “Because I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

Her heart caught in her throat until she thought she’d suffocate.

He started the car and gunned the perfectly tuned engine.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” he asked, still not looking at her.

Her heart was breaking, and he was being an insufferable asshole.

If he didn’t want her, fine. It wasn’t like she didn’t know how to be alone. She climbed out of the car and slammed the door. He took off so fast, the Corvette was nothing but an emerald green blur. She knew she shouldn’t have helped him fix it. He was going to kill himself in the damned thing. At the moment, she wasn’t sure she cared.