Page 169 of Hate Mates

“Literally no one. I haven’t passed a single vehicle.”

“The weather is too bad.”

“Yeah, and it’s getting much worse.” The snowflakes fall on the other side of the glass, bigger than they were only seconds ago. “I shoulda just flown.”

“Well, there’s no point in dwelling on that now.”

“You’re right. Anyway, it’s fine. Go back to work. I don’t want you to get in trouble with your boss.”

“Yeah, and she’s giving me evil looks, as usual.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”

“Stay in the car, and if I can get off early, I will. We have no clients getting to this salon today. So, there is really no point in me being here if they can’t get in. I’ll see what I can do and call you. Let me know if you get a ride before you hear from me.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Three different taxi services laugh down the line before I give up and relax in my seat. The car is getting cold. I’d made the mistake of turning off the ignition, and now the vehicle that’s definitely ready for Old Man Johnson’s yard refuses to start.

I blow out a puff of smoke that makes me look like an incompetent dragon. Cold hands scroll through posts on social media. I freeze on a photo of Colten with three guys I remember from high school and another photo with his mom and dad.

Colten was always so handsome. He looks so different without his hair; without the muscles he’d built through his teens.

It hurts my heart that I might not get to see him ever again. That I might not make it there. The tears feel so much colder in this car than they did at home last night, and more of them come as I stare at the images on the screen.

Life really was unfair.

I tuck my phone away, unable to look at him anymore, and I close my eyes to try and stop the cold tears from attacking my cheeks.

I’m not sure how much time has passed when I open my eyes to the sound of a car horn and a husky voice that asks, “Do you need some help?”

I rush from my car, screeching out, “Oh, my god, yes!”

I grab my purse from the passenger seat, rush from the car without a second thought, and pop from one vehicle to another.

Thank God and whoever it is that turns out to be my savior.

THREE

Lachlan

Easily, one hundred snowflakes fall and land in a whirl of brunette waves as this woman rushes around her car and jumps into my Discovery.

She clips in her seatbelt before looking my way, but the scent of her shampoo hits me in the face before getting a good look at her. I know who she is, and she absolutely cannot travel with me.

“Thank you. Where are you headed?” Her mouth hangs open on the last word as she turns to me. “Shit.”

“Get out of my car.”

“Are you kidding? You just asked if I needed help. I obviously need help.”

“I don’t care.”

“Is this your idea of a sick joke? I’m freezing in there.”

“That isn’t my problem.”

“Are you really not gonna help me?”

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