“Vail, I’m sorry,” I said, my words hanging in the air.
She remained silent.
Ahead, beneath a black umbrella, I spotted Connor walking along the slick sidewalks. My fists clenched aroundthe steering wheel. I didn’t want to see him again, but now, with what happened, I had no choice.
I swerved the car to the side and pulled over. “I’ll be just a minute,” I told Vail, uncertain if she heard me.
I grabbed Connor’s leather jacket from the passenger seat, my fingers tight around the worn leather. I needed to confront him. I was going to get answers. About George. About Donovan and Sam. My blood boiled, and every step I took toward him was fueled by the anger that simmered beneath my skin.
“Connor!” I shouted, and he stopped, turning around and taking out an earbud from one ear. A smile spread across his lips, and for a moment, I almost lost my grip on my anger— his damn dimples.
“Hi,” he said, extending his umbrella to offer me shelter.
“Hi,” I met his gaze through rain-soaked lashes. “I wanted to return this to you. Thanks for lending it to me.”
He took the jacket from me, his fingers brushing mine. He hesitated like he was going to say something else, but I didn’t give him the chance.
“Where are you going?” I asked him.
“Walking to get lunch. Sam borrowed my van for something, so I’m stuck hoofing it in this shitty weather,” he explained.
“Sam borrowed your van?”
“Yeah, not sure exactly what for.” He shrugged, but something in his eyes hinted at a concealed truth.
“One sec,” I said, cutting him off and darting back to Vail’s car.
I tapped on the car’s back window, a warm draft brushing my face as she rolled it down. “Hey, I’m going to grab lunch with Connor and try to get some info on Sam and Donovan. You should head home and rest,” I suggested.
She looked at me, her expression unreadable, but I could feel the weight of her emotions swirling under the surface. “Sure,” she replied, and with that, she climbed into the driver’s seat and peeled off before I could say more.
Momentarily, I regretted leaving Vail alone in such a fragile state, but I quickly shook off my unease and refocused on my mission. I approached Connor, who raised an eyebrow in question.
The rain fell in a relentless downpour, dark clouds casting a shadow over the town as we stood, my clothes already drenched.
“Can I join you for lunch?” I asked, drawing close to him under his umbrella.
“I thought you weren’t interested in going out with me,” he smirked.
“It’s just lunch,” I replied firmly. “And my ride just drove off,” I added, gesturing down the road toward where Vail had departed.
Despite the cold rain, I could feel the warmth radiating from Connor’s body. Our faces were so close that I couldn’t help but notice a small freckle on his upper lip, and I almost reached out to touch it.
“We should get out of this rain,” he suggested, his voice soft amidst the soothing symphony of raindrops on the umbrella. I nodded in agreement, and we made our way to a nearby restaurant seeking refuge from the downpour.
We settled into a secluded booth tucked away in the restaurant’s back corner. The quiet chatter of other humans blended in with the sounds of the stormy rain outside. My damp jeans clung uncomfortably to my skin, and droplets from my jacket formed a small puddle on the floor beneath my chair.
The waiter approached. Connor ordered a burger, and I opted for a salad—a simple choice that would allow me to push it around my plate, pretending to eat while talking.
My thoughts swirled as I replayed the events of the day. Connor’s damp hair clung to his forehead, and I tried to decipher what he was thinking.
We sat there waiting for our meals, and I seized the opportunity to bring up what I came here for.
“Connor, I’ve been meaning to ask you about Donovan and Sam.”
Connor’s eyes met mine, and he hesitated momentarily before asking, “What about them?”
“How well do you know them?”
