The sound of my name on her tongue made me want to hear it again, under slightly more nakedcircumstances.
Okay, underverynakedcircumstances.
Though I would have settled for a kiss. Forone chanceto make her look at me the way Faythe looked at Marc—as if being with me would fix everything that was wrong with her life, rather than ruiningit.
She liked me. I could tell that from the way her pulse sped up every time she looked at me. But I had no right to act upon her attraction, when soon she’d have to watch me run. Or see meexecuted.
We only had one day. Less, really. But that should be enough time for me to show her that she’s worthy of everything she wants in life and in love—even if I can’t be the one to give it toher.
Three
Kaci
According to the map app,the drive to Houston would take just under an hour and a half. Faythe and Marc started calling about twenty minutes in, but they only called my phone at first, which told me they hadn’t yet discovered that Justus wasmissing.
Justus plucked my phone from the cup holder, where it was plugged in and giving us directions to the airport. “You want me to put it on do notdisturb?”
“I’m thinking I should answer it. Maybe I can delay the inevitable.” I flicked on the blinker, then changed lanes alittletoo fast. “Answer on speaker phone, please, but be quiet. I don’t think they know you’re goneyet.”
Justus tapped the speakerphone button, then angled himself in the passage seat to face me. Ready for theshow.
“Hello?” I said, loud enough to be heard over the roadnoise.
“Kaci?” Faythe nearly shouted at me. “Where the hell are you? Did you take Chris’scar?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but…I had to get out of there for a little while. I can’t stand the way the guys look at me. As if I’m going to shove up someone’s sleeve and just…take abite.”
“Whathappened?”
“Nothing, I just… I’m tired of being the man-eater.”
Faythe made a furious noise deep in her throat. “I will personally fire anyone whosays—”
“Threats won’t help. They’ll still be thinking it.” I paused for a moment. Then I pressed on, trying to pretend Justus wasn’t listening to me humiliate myself, because I wasso closeto buying us enough time to get to the airport. “How many times had you been proposed to by your eighteenth birthday,Faythe?”
Silence echoed from the other end of the line. Then she exhaled. “Kaci, you’re too young to get married. You’re too young towantto getmarried.”
“I don’t want to get married. But knowing that no one’s interested? That no one’s ever going to be, because of something I can’t go back and undo? People have wanted you your whole life. People fought over you like you were fu—” I aborted the profanity when I remembered that I was speaking to Faythe. “Like you were Helen of Troy. People won’t even sit next to me at dinner unless there are no other chairs left. Normally I’m fine with it, but tonight, I need a break. Tell Chris I’m sorry about his car, but I’m taking good care of it. He’ll totally get itback.”
Faythe’s new silence stretched into several seconds, and I was starting to worry that I’d misjudged her sympathy. Or her sleep-deprived, postpartum temper. “Where are you,Kaci?”
“I’m headed to Angelina Forest. I want to run in peace. Near thelake.”
“By yourself? Let me sendsomeone—”
“It’s our territory,” I reminded her. “And I’m grown. I’m sorry I took the car, but maybe this is a good time to revisit the discussion about me having myown?”
The car discussion was to Faythe what the sex discussion was to Marc—kryptonite. And a guaranteed subjectchange.
“We’ll see,” Faythe hedged. “If you’re not in the driveway by three am, I’m sending out the guys. Either way, you’re going to have to make it up to Chris on yourown.”
“Deal. And I will. Ipromise.”
“Donotmake me regret this.” The exhaustion in her voice made me flinch withguilt.
“Thanks, Faythe,” I said. “I really appreciatethis.”
“Love you, hon. Becareful.”
