“Great.That’s just great, given that I don’t even know where I am,” I admitted, trying to keep from looking at the attractive man behind the counter who was still watching me.
“Nowhere.”The woman smiled, but it didn’t feel genuine.
“Nowhere?”I arched an eyebrow, not having the time or patience for her to bullshit me.My nerves were shot, I was exhausted, and my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I had been neglecting basic human functioning for the past few days.
“Nowhere, Colorado.”
“This tiny town is seriously calledNowhere?”While I knew I had crossed into Colorado at some point, I seriously doubted they would name a town something as silly as Nowhere.
“Yes.”She pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows as she challenged me to continue questioning it.
“A lot of people don’t know that this town exists,” the guy behind the bar said.“We like it that way.”
“That seems odd.Why wouldn’t you guys want people to know about your town?Don’t small towns thrive off of people visiting them?”I asked, not sure I really wanted the answer.
“Because people don’t come to Nowhere to settle down and start families.They come here to be forgotten,” the woman answered.
As she turned her head, I noticed a long, jagged scar that ran down her neck.
Three
Axel
Itried to mind mybusiness and give her space as she devoured the grilled cheese like it was her last meal, but seeing a pregnant woman covered in bruises did things to me.Like make my blood boil hotter than the tomato soup I made to go with her sandwich.
The bar had died down as everyone tried to make it home before the storm.I had a million and one questions I wanted to ask the beautiful stranger in front of me, but I kept my distance as she continued to look around, fully guarded every time the door opened.
“Do you want more?”I asked, nodding to the empty plate and bowl in front of her.
“No.Thank you.It was delicious, but I’m beyond full now.How much do I owe you?”
“It’s on the house.Remember?”I tossed the towel over my shoulder and cleared the dishes, setting them in the sink behind me.Eventually, I would run them to the kitchen, but at that moment, I didn’t want to leave and risk her sneaking out.I had no idea where she was trying to go, but I knew she wasn’t going to get there until this storm passed.The least I could do was make sure she didn’t do anything stupid, like try to leave and get stranded somewhere, left to die in the beat-up car she pulled up in earlier.
“I have money.I can pay.”She reached into her purse and pulled her wallet out when I lifted my hand to stop her.
“I’m not taking your money.”
