The word was almost drowned out by the rumbling thunder. I walked faster, but the car kept pace with me.
“Brie!”
My head snapped to my left at the familiar voice, deep and throaty. I squinted through my wet lashes.
Shit.
Sawyer.
Knowing it was him was both a comfort and a bane. Sure, I wasn’t about to be murdered by the mayor’s son, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t about to be cruel.
My body tensed as I faced forward again, navigating the freezing rain. That splash of water would probably come any second.
“It’s a fucking downpour!” he shouted. “What the hell are you doing out there?”
“Thought I’d do a polar plunge,” I yelled back without looking.
Five months.
“Very funny, get in!”
“Leave me alone, Sawyer.” I couldn’t begin to guess what he’d do if I actually did what he asked, but I wasn’t about to find out.
“I’m serious, Brie.”
“So am I. Go fuck yourself.” Despite being soaked to the bone, that felt good.
“Get in the damn truck, Brie!” His voice held none of his usual haughtiness. It was a frustrated growl, and I relished it.
A fresh gust of wind blew a veritable ocean at my face. Icy water dripped down my neck and into my sweater.
The sound of his engine revving caught me by surprise, and for a split second, I thought maybe hewouldmurder me, run me over right here. A moment later he was blocking half the sidewalk with his truck, cutting the engine, and storming out like a bull.
Sawyer strode through the rain and began walking nextto me, matching my pace step for step as I bypassed his truck.
“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded.
“If you won’t let me drive you, I’m walking with you.”
I turned to face him, not believing my luck. The stubborn son of a bitch. The spoiled brat. The absolute gall of him.
Sawyer wasn’t used to being told no.
“And why would you do that?” I spat.
He heard me, I knew he did, but he didn’t say anything.
“You’re getting soaked,” I informed him, speeding up.
“So are you,” he countered.
Thunder boomed directly overhead. My scream didn’t even register in my own ears as the thunder rolled on for seconds, heart galloping in my chest.
“Come on, it’s miserable out here.” He still had to shout to be heard, but his voice was softer.
More freezing rain trickled down the inside of my sweater.
I looked back at his truck just as lightning lit up the sky behind it. I could let him drive me for ten minutes, or I could walk through the storm for forty. And he really would walk with me the whole way, Sawyer was nothing if not tenacious.
