Page 168 of Hate Mates

Ten miles down, one-hundred and sixty-two to go.

I close my eyes, and a silent prayer slips out.

“Please.”I need to make this trip.“We can make it, baby.” My efforts to encourage my car are inspirational, I’m sure.

My beat-up old Volvo disagrees, wheezing on with encouragement for me to turn around.

But then I’ll never see Colten again. Never hear his voice.

Turning on the radio, warnings for severe weather ring out loudly. Those more sensible—which is apparently everyone on this side of Oregon—stayed at home today.

The road ahead is empty of anything but the blanket of white snow that hides the danger beneath.

The car drags to the left, and my grip tightens on the wheel. Fear holds me just as tightly.

Turning the wheel spins my car and sets me in the other direction.

Something goes pop as I slam my foot down on the brake.

A scream leaves me, and my body tenses as the car drifts through the snow and hits the barrier at the edge of the road.

My phone slips from its position on the dash, but the navigation app continues giving directions the car can no longer follow.

“Make a U-turn when possible.”

Impossible. I breathe out a stuttering breath.

“What the fuck?” The view in the mirror shows nothing but the tire tracks that led me to my current position.

Stretching down into the passenger footwell, I reach for where my phone had fallen on impact.

Shaking fingers unlock the screen and flick through contacts until I land on Amelie’s number.

Two rings, and she answers. “Hello. You on the road?”

“I’m off the road. Kinda.”

“What do you mean? You’re there already?”

“No. My car literally skidded off the road. Do you think you could come and get me?”

“I can’t. I’m working until five.”

“Shit. Okay. I’ll see if any taxis are running. If not, can you come and get me when you’re done? I’m only ten miles away.”

“Do you have a coat?”

“Yeah, but I don’t wanna walk back in the snow.”

“No, of course. I just don’t want you to be cold while you wait. What even happened?”

“I don’t know. There were noises?—”

“There’s always noises, Lourdez.”

“Worse than usual, and then it kinda dragged me to the side and skidded, and now I’m not even on the road, I don’t think. I’m kinda wedged down some edge against a barrier.”

“Are there any cars around? Maybe you can get a tow?”

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