“What are you talking about?” he asked. He looked tired. So tired.
“I just wanted to solve my own problem for once,” I said.
He dragged a hand over his chin and adjusted his glasses, though they were barely hanging on. He scanned my face, and a million thoughts were clearly spinning through his mind. I was curious which one he’d settle on first. He took a step toward me, and I retreated instinctively. He frowned.
“Do you know how scared I was when you sent that vague text?” he asked, obviously being careful with his tone. “I knowyou, and I knew you were doing something stupid. Irresponsible.”
I looked away from him, keeping my eyes trained firmly on the ground. “That’s me,” I admitted, all my fight gone.
Reid started pacing in front of me, waving his hands in the air. “I nearly had a heart attack when West drove us over here. And then Jackson telling me you were inside? How could you do that?”
I kept quiet, letting him seethe. I deserved it. Itwasa reckless plan. Classic Hazel.
“My car is down that street,” I finally said, pointing. “I can drive you home. We should probably get your cut cleaned up.”
He reached up and swiped at the small gash, smearing some blood onto his fingers. He brought his hand in front of his face, looking surprised. As if he’d forgotten he’d just been hit in the face because of me.
Without waiting to be berated further, I brushed by him, walking toward my car. Reid followed me wordlessly. A tension hung over us. It felt a lot like I was headed to my own execution.
The soft meow that came from my backpack was my only comfort.
Once at my car, I opened the back door, setting Vermont carefully in the back seat.
Reid slid into the passenger side, remaining silent.
I wanted to beg him to talk to me, but then figured nothing good could come from that, so I turned the radio on instead.
The drive went by in a blur. You know those moments when you were conscious you were driving, but couldn’t actually remember it? Like a phantom took over and was operating for you for a bit? That’s what the drive home was like. Could’ve been hours, for how aware I was. The entire time, I was mostly focused on holding back tears.
Funny, I should have been on cloud nine. I had Vermont back. I would get my winnings in the next few days, and I’d beable to set myself up for a better financial future. But relief and happiness remained completely out of reach.
And it was all due to the tragic nature of the situation seated directly next to me.
Reid was pissed. And I figured he was done with me. That cast a shadow over everything. I’d hoped to get Vermont back and show him I’d solved my own problem. Instead, I’d roped him into the rescue and gotten him beat up. I was a trainwreck. He’d be lucky to jump out now before I caused him any real damage.
“I can’t believe you’re so irresponsible,” he whispered, staring straight ahead.
Yep, there it was.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice small. All I could do was apologize and get out of his hair as quickly as possible.
“Anything could have happened to you.”
“I know.”
He sighed and shook his head. “What a dick. I knew that guy looked like bad news.”
“He sucks,” I agreed, eyes on the road.
Silence fell over us again as I drove us the rest of the way. I gulped down the lump in my throat.
When I pulled into the driveway, the crushing sense of finality washed over me. Reid unbuckled and turned to look at me, but I was already out of the car with Vermont.
I pulled off the spare key he’d given me, unwinding it from my keychain. I unlocked the front door for likely the last time, and walked inside, setting the key on the shelf in the entry. Reid was at my back.
“What are you doing?”
I pulled my boots off and set Vermont down. I didn’t want to take him out of the carrier in Reid’s house. I didn’t want to make a mess.
