A light knock taps on the side window, and my heart stills. As limited as my options are, I still don’t want to talk to Pete. Heck, I think I’d rather take my chances in the disheveled snow cabin than go back inside that apartment tonight.
I turn my head slowly, debating how fast I could drive away if I had to. Except when I turn my head, it’s not Pete at the door. It’s Wade.
Wade?
Wade!
I squint my eyes and crane my neck forward as though I must be seeing things, then glance down at the clock. It’s nine thirty. Why is Wade here at this time of night? No one comes down here this late. The stores closed an hour ago, and though the diner is open until midnight, it’s usually tourists or folks driving through that stop. Not locals. That said, Wade’s a grown man who can do what he wants with his time, so I guess he could be at the diner late.
I roll the window down and lean my elbow onto the console. “Hey, everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He swallows hard and stares toward me as though he doesn’t know what to say. “I was going to ask you the same.”
My brows narrow. “Oh, yeah. Jasper and I are just going for a ride.”
“A ride? At this hour?”
I glance down at the hem of my sweatshirt and fiddle with a loose string. I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to air my dirty laundry but I’m kind of in the middle of a breakdown here.
“Umm… you’re also out for a ride this late. What’s up with that?”
He leans forward and rests his arm on the top of the car. “I’m worried about you. Something felt off today and I got this voice in my head tellin’ me to do stupid things, so I drove over here.”
“So, you’re stalking me?” My eyes widen, and though I know this behavior is the darkest shade of red, I’m not angry. In fact, I’m really glad to see him.
“Stalking is probably a good word to use, yeah.” He drags his hand down over his salt and pepper beard. “I’ve been doing loops for the last hour.”
“What did you think you’d find?”
“Not sure, but I couldn’t leave for some reason.”
He glances into the back seat where my bag is sitting. “You goin’ somewhere?”
“Somewhere,” I sigh, glancing back down at the hem I can’t stop fidgeting with. “I just officially left my fiancé. The ring is on the counter. It’s been bad for a while.” I swallow hard, my voice shaking as I speak, though I don’t know why. It’s probably the stress of the last few nights.
“I’m assuming you need somewhere to sleep?” His voice is low and comforting. “You can’t sleep at the shop.”
“I think there are some blankets in the trunk. We’ll be fine. It’s just one night while we figure things out.”
“No.” He opens the back door and grabs my bag off the seat. “You two are staying with me. I have plenty of space and anextra truck you can drive. Leave everything here and let me help you.”
“Why wouldn’t I bring my own car?”
“You only have the one, right?”
I nod as he unbuckles the car seat and lifts it out, careful not to wake my boy.
“He’s already going to be pissed that you’re taking Jasper. Maybe he’ll be less pissed if he has a way to get to work.”
“I’m not sure he’ll even be mad. He hasn’t left the bedroom.”
“He’ll be mad come morning. That’s not your concern, though.” He sets Jasper’s seat into the back seat of his truck and buckles him in gently. I’m so glad he’s stayed asleep for this. If he can get through tonight without any memory of all the drama, that would be ideal.
I’m standing behind Wade’s truck when he lands his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just tired.” I glance up at him. “Thanks for stalking me tonight. I’m not sure where we’d have gone if you hadn’t.”
He opens the truck door and helps me inside, one strong hand on the back of my arm, the other on the small of my back. “I know this is hard, but you’re doing the right thing. I saw it on your face this morning. You’re ready for change.” He shuts the truck door quietly then makes his way around to the driver’s seat as snow falls lightly beneath the streetlamp.
