“Come on, let's get you to my car and you can sit down,” I say, pulling her with me away from the asshole fiancé.
“Oh god.” She puts her hand on her head and wobbles a little on her feet.
“Hey, easy does it.” I reach out and put my arm over her shoulder to keep her from tipping over. “You okay?”
“Sometimes I get a little…” She swallows hard, and her face is flushed. “Overwhelmed? I guess? I feel dizzy.”
“I’m parked right over here.” I pull out the keys to my car and hit the button so she can see the lights come on. “Do you feel like you’re going to pass out?”
She nods and swallows hard again. “Or throw up.”
“I’ve got some water in my car.” I guide her to where I’m parked and slide my hand around her waist. “Be careful stepping off the curb.”
“W-what’s your name?”
“Lawson.” Her body is soft against me as I open the passenger door for her and help her take a seat. “Put your head down as far as you can and try to breathe. I’m worried you’re going to pass out.”
“It happens.” She’s gulping in air too quickly.
“Vanna, I need you to breathe. Look at me.” Her eyes find mine, and I see her pupils are dilated. She’s had an adrenaline rush, and she’s probably not eaten.
“I just need a second.” She stutters out another breath, and then she looks confused. “How do you know my?—”
Before she can finish the sentence, her eyes roll back, and she passes out cold in the passenger seat of my car.
“Well shit,” I say to myself, quickly glancing around. “I guess this is one way to do it.”
Placing her feet inside the car, I turn her body and then buckle her up. Once she’s secured, I go around to the other side and get in.
“Just so you know, this wasn’t part of the plan,” I say to her sleeping form as I pull away from the curb and head out of town. “But a win is a win.”
I check the back seat to make sure all her stuff is still there, and I look at the GPS to see how much farther I’ve got to drive. Putting my foot on the gas, I hope that I can make it there before she wakes up.
Earlier today, I broke into her apartment and packed a few things.
It’s scary how few possessions she had and how easily I could erase all traces of her from that studio apartment. After I had all of her stuff loaded in my car, the plan was to surprise her out of her building and then play it out based on her reaction.
I’m not willing to admit all the back-up plans I had just in case she wasn’t so cooperative, but lucky for the both of us, it’s nap time.
Vanna must have been exhausted because the whole way to the lake house she sleeps quietly. It’s dark out by the time we arrive, but she keeps on sleeping as I go around and open her door.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.” I cradle her in my arms, and her body naturally curls around mine. Her face pushes into that safe space at my neck, and for just a second, I close my eyes and savor it.
“I’m tired,” she mumbles, and I smile as I nod.
“You slept the whole way.”
When I walk in the house, she stirs a little, and I feel her pick her head up off my chest. “Where are we?”
“My family’s place,” I answer honestly. “I thought after your ordeal on the street, you could use a little break.”
“Oh my god.” She stiffens as if she’s truly waking up. “I can’t believe you punched him.”
I stop walking and stare down at her, my jaw clenched tight. “He put his hands on you.”
Her eyes stay locked with mine, and after a beat, she nods. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” I say as I walk into the living room that overlooks the lake. It’s completely dark now, but this far from the city, you can see the stars. “Sit here and rest, and I’ll get you something to eat, okay?”
