“Alright. Stay on with me. I’m only a couple minutes away.”
I nod again, but I don’t have the words to spare right now. I’m shaking like a leaf, mostly from fear, but it also hits me that I left my jacket inside and it’s cold out. Every little sound or movement makes me jump, though, so I’m not really focused on the temperature.
“Baby, keep talking to me,” Ash says. “I need to know you’re okay.”
“You…you don’t have to call me that when we’re alone,” I say.
Why I decide to bring that up now of all times, I’ll never know.
“Call you what? Baby?” Ash asks, confused.
“Yeah. I mean, if it’s easier just to keep it up so you don’t forget, it’s fine,” I say. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to call me ‘baby.’”
My heart beats five times before he asks, “And what if Iwantto call you that?’”
My stomach somersaults.
“Do you dislike it?” he asks.
“No,” I assure him quickly. “No, it’s not that. I just…I don’t…I mean…” I fumble for how to explain things in a way that won’t offend him or make me sound like a headcase.
I’m saved from deciding on something when I hear a car screech to a halt at the curb. I turn around, and relief floods me at the sight of Ash’s Aston Martin. He’s already half out the door before the car is in park and turned off, and I rush toward him without thinking.
He pulls up a few feet from me and holds out his hands. I stop, confused for a moment until he looks at my hand.
“Hand me the knife,” he says, reaching out carefully.
I look down and see I’m still clutching the blade, and it’s thrust out like I’m ready to stab something. I would’ve cut him.
Ash extends his hand, and I shift the knife to give it to him, handle first. He takes it from me and lays it on the ground. Then he straightens, takes my still out-stretched hand, and pulls me to him. I throw myself into his arms and try not to hyperventilate against his chest. I was afraid I might burst into tears when he got here, but my eyes stay dry. I’m probably in too much shock to cry.
“Are you okay?” Ash asks. I feel his chin rest on top of my head.
“Yes,” I say, then rethink my answer. “No.”
“You’re safe now.” He holds me for another few seconds before gently setting me away from him. “Where’s your coat?”
My teeth chatter as I point to the house. “Inside.”
Ash takes his jacket off and helps me put it on. It’s warm from his body, and it smells like a mix of his bodywash, his deodorant, plus some general man-scents I can’t distinguish right now. It soothes me instantly.
Ash picks the knife back up from the ground.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m going inside to check things out.”
“Don’t,” I say, shaking my head. “The police will be here soon.”
“Did they say how long?” he asks.
I look at my phone. The dispatcher texted a few seconds ago. “They’re six minutes out,” I say.
“I’m not waiting that long,” Ash says. “Stay here.”
I want to argue with him, but he heads toward the house before I can, his long legs eating up my front yard. My stomach sinks when I see him disappear inside. I look down at my phone, but his call has disconnected.
Chapter 26
