Page 4 of Desperation

“Hand me your keys, and I’ll take care of this part.” She slid the truck key off her key ring and dropped it in my hand. “Wait for me here?” Her eyes finally found mine again, and she searched my face. After a moment, she nodded, and I left her to settle the bill.

“Where’s the girl?” Cody asked when I sank down into the chair across from him. He slid on a pair of glasses and scribbled something on a receipt.

“I’ll be taking care of this.”

“We gotta run her insurance to see what it’ll pay. Chances are this will cost more than her deductible, so they’ll have to cover part of it.” I winced knowing how much this was going to hurt my savings. I briefly questioned my sanity, asking myself why I would do this for a stranger. Turning in my chair, I caught sight of her through the glass, and it all made sense again. I didn’t know why or how, but this girl was important. Something in my gut told me I needed to do this.

“This isn’t going through insurance. I’m paying for it.”

He stopped scribbling and looked up at me over the rim of his glasses. When had he gotten so ... mature? Was that how I looked now? We weren’tthatold. Were we?

“I thoughtshehityou. Why would you pay for this?” I couldn’t tell him the truth. It would just raise more questions. I also couldn’t tell her the truth. I’d told her Cody owed me a favor, but in reality, I was planning to pay for the repairs out of my own pocket just to keep her from having to submit a claim through her insurance. If there was no paper trail, whoever owned this truck—and whoever Hannah was so afraid of—would never know about this little accident. Besides, if anyone owed someone a favor, it was me who owed Cody. He was the one who got me to turn my life around back when I was a rebellious teenager on the road to prison instead of the Navy. I pushed those memories away and looked him square in the eye.

“It’s complicated.” My tone left no room for argument. I wasn’t willing to admit the real reason for my generous act.

“Alright, alright,” he acquiesced. “How about this? I’ll cut ya a deal.” My eyebrow quirked, ready to hear what he was proposing. “Half price on the labor. Consider it a friends and family discount.” He smiled, and I relaxed a bit.

“I appreciate it.” We shook hands across the desk, and once I handed over the check, I was free to return to Hannah.

“All set,” I announced, stepping up to her.

“Now what? Do I need to do anything else?”

“Nope. Your truck will be ready tomorrow afternoon. I’ll bring you back here to pick it up.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can walk. It’s not that far.” She averted her gaze and sunk her teeth into her lower lip. It was her tell. She was either embarrassed or lying, maybe both. It hadn’t taken me long to figure her out.

“Don’t be silly. It’s too hot outside to be walking anywhere.”Especially in your condition.I couldn’t voice that, though. I didn’t know why, but it didn’t feel right to bring that up. “I can drop you off at home now then come back for you tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay.”

I led her out to my truck and opened the passenger door for her. Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head and slid into the seat. Interesting. She must not have been used to someone opening a door for her. The short ride was silent aside from the occasional direction from Hannah. We turned onto her road, and something familiar flared to life in my memory, but I couldn’t quite place it.

We pulled into her driveaway, and she unbuckled her seatbelt but made no move to get out. She gazed at the house, a flurry of emotions crossing her face. Finally, she turned to me, her dainty fingers gripping the handle on the door.

“Thanks for bringing me home.”

“No problem. I’ll be back around two tomorrow to pick you up.” She nodded and slipped out the door. I watched her until I knew she was safely inside. I pulled out my phone and opened Google Maps to see which way I needed to go to get to my cousin’s house. I nearly dropped my phone when I realized my little blue dot was damn near overlapping the red balloon shaped symbol marking his address. Confused, I glanced up at the front door, searching for the house number. I found it written across their little black mailbox in bright white letters. My palms shook, and I cursed under my breath. This couldn’t be.

The woman I felt so drawn to, so protective over, couldn't belong to the man I’d grown up with, the man who’d been like a brother to me. There had to be some mistake. I needed to sort this out right now.

I shut off the engine and got out, slowly making my way to the door, surveying my surroundings as I went. The small yellow house looked cheery with its brightly colored exterior and flower beds overflowing with colorful blooms. I lifted my hand when I got to the door and gave it three quick taps. A moment later I heard the lock disengage, and the door opened a few inches.

“Hannah.” Her name left my lips on an exhale.

“Yeah?” I stared at her, my mouth agape, taking in her bare face for the first time. Her dark sunglasses were gone, and I could finally appreciate how incredibly beautiful she was. She had wide green eyes, the color of sun faded moss, and a dainty, slightly upturned nose. Paired with her rosebud mouth and golden tresses, she resembled a Disney princess.

“Is everything alright?” she asked hesitantly and opened the door a little wider, stepping out onto the porch. The shadows left her face, and the sunlight illuminated her skin. I swallowed hard against my rage as I took in the faded yellow discoloration around her eye that had previously been hidden by her oversized shades. She dropped her gaze and stepped back, trying to shield her face from me again. Realizing my momentary lack of control over my emotions, I schooled my features and took a deep breath.

“Who owns this house?” I asked, trying to keep my breathing steady. Inside, I was a raging inferno, the need to draw in breath to extinguish the flames making me dizzy. She eyed me warily, chewing her bottom lip.

“Who are you looking for exactly?” she countered, unwilling to give anything away. Smart girl. Never show your hand.

“I’m looking for my cousin. This is the address he gave me.”

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