Page 5 of All Our Ghosts

I nod. My grip loosens on the knife but keeps it firmly in the pocket of my sweatshirt. I unlock the driver's side door opposite him, climbing out and stretching out my body for a moment as he watches me. As I turn, the blue tow truck comes into view.O’Neil’s Towing and Garage. How convenient.

“What’s your name?” The timbre of his voice almost scares me again as he slowly makes his way around the rear of the vehicle. I stiffen at the sound and turn towards him. He stops in his tracks, catching the slight movement.

“Uhm…Kadence,” I say softly. “You said you got a call about my car?”

He smiles as I say my name and nods. “Yeah, people will call in abandoned vehicles to the sheriff’s department and they call me.”

I purse my lips together.

“Cole, by the way…” He takes another step towards me.

My hand finds my pocket, matching his step but backward. My fingers wrap around the handle of the pocket knife as he takes another step. I watch as his eyes flick down to the pocket of my sweatshirt; my heart begins to hammer again as he sighs.

“I’m just gonna get you hooked up if you wanna wait in the cab of the truck. I know it's cold.” He offers and I realize he thought I was cold. I’ll continue letting him think that. “You need anything from the car?”

“Y—yeah,” I stammer as I open the door again. Grabbing my phone, wallet and keys. When I turn around, he’s snuck his way around to my side of the vehicle, standing beside me by the rear door. “Jesus!” I gasp, almost dropping the items in my hand.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to freak you out.” Cole takes a step back again, eyes narrowing in on me for a moment, assessing my skittishness.

I close my eyes and steady myself against the car with a deep breath.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asks and I flash him a pointed look. He chuckles before tossing his head to the side towards the tow truck. “Door’s unlocked and the heat's on. It’ll only take a few minutes to get you loaded.”

I nod. “Thank you…” I say softly as I step around him, heading towards the truck. When I see him follow me, I stop, turning my body around. “What—”

Cole stops again, furrowing his brow before realizing what him following me looks like. “Gotta flip the truck around to get you hooked up.”

“Right.”

“If you wanna wait by the car till I’m done… you’re welcome to.” He offers again, a gentle smile spread across his face.

For a moment, I feel bad. This man is trying to help me and I’m treating him like he’s a serial killer. But that’s what life as a woman has come to, right? Fearing the idea of leaving the house at night, walking down the street alone. Normal things that men don’t even spare a second thought. But I can’t afford not to. I’ve spent four years not fighting back against someone who laced his bitterness and evil with an all-addicting love. I’m not about to let my guard down now.

“Yeah, I’ll do that…” I say, clutching my items closer to my chest as I lean against the car.

Cole smiles again. “No problem, Kadence.”

He disappears into the cab of the truck, and I watch as he pulls it in front of the Comet. Once he’s got it positioned the way he needs it, Cole hops out. His large frame climbs over the edge of the truck, lowering down the hook and chains to pick up the car.

“Door’s unlocked if you wanna climb in,” he yells over the rumble of his truck’s engine.

I nod, heading towards the cab. My eyes inadvertently watch him as I pass. He flashes me a pearly-white smile and gives me a reassuring nod before getting back to work. The man is attractive, I can’t deny that. I don't miss the ripple the muscles in his arm make as he pulls on the chains.

People thought Ted Bundy was attractive too.

My inner self scolds as I open the cab. A waft of what I can only describe as the scent of man, hits me. Spice, citrus, and motor oil fill my nose as I climb inside. Holding my belongings close to me, I pull out my phone, still no service and the battery slowly draining. I’ll have to see if I can charge it when we get to town.

After a few minutes, Cole climbs back into the cab with a huff and flashes me another smile before putting the truck into drive.

“Shouldn’t take us too long to get to town. I’ve got a garage there; I can take a look at the car in the morning,” he says, checking over his shoulder as he pulls onto the desolate highway.

I subtly scoot my body closer to the door as he begins to drive. “Sounds great,” I mutter. My tone is sharper than I intended, and my eyes slide shut. “Sorry, I’m sorry,” I say, glancing over to him. “It’s just been a long day.”

Cole just nods and doesn’t press me. “How long were you out there?”

I laugh. It's hollow and void of anything other than annoyance. “Since late afternoon?” I say and he sighs. “These roads aren’t very popular, I take it?”

He laughs softly. “Well, that and it’s small-town folk out here who are tired of tourists.”

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