Page 69 of Howling Night

He reached out, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “Do you have enough money? A place to stay once you get back to Chicago?”

“I’m fine. I’ll just get a hotel until I figure things out.”

Ryder pulled me into his arms, and I breathed in his scent, hoping to commit it to memory. Despite everything, I didn’t want to let go.

“Be safe,” he whispered against my hair.

“Are you kidding? You are the one who needs to be safe,” I said, closing my eyes to stop the tears that were threatening to roll down my cheeks. “Don’t do anything stupid, okay?”

“I never do,” Ryder said, leaning back.

He tilted my chin up and kissed me, deep and desperate. My whole body melted into him. I couldn’t believe this was how we had to say our goodbye.

“Go,” he said, his voice hard as he took a step back. “Before I actually do something stupid and keep you here.”

I gave him one more look before climbing into the driver’s seat of my SUV. I put the key into the ignition, but when I tried to turn it… it wouldn’t move, not even a little, just like the other time.

I tried again, twisting harder. The key wouldn’t budge.

It didn’t make sense. I’d just driven it the other day when Courtney and I went into town.

I cracked the door open. “It won’t turn.”

“What do you mean?” He approached the car, brows furrowed.

“I don’t know,” I said, feeling panicky. “It’s like the key is stuck.”

“Let me see.” He opened the door wider and reached across the steering wheel. The key turned effortlessly in his hand, and the engine roared to life.

“Huh, that’s weird, right?” I asked, meeting his eyes. “What if I get out there and that happens again? What if I get stranded somewhere?”

Ryder rubbed the back of his neck. “You have my number. I’ll get someone to help you. For now, you just need to get far away from this place. Far away from me.”

I frowned, pressing my lips together hard as my head bobbed in understanding. My fingers wrapped around the gearshift, and I tried to put it in reverse, but it wouldn’t move.

“What the fucking hell?” I said, hitting the steering with my palms. “Now the shifter is stuck!”

Ryder ducked back in, placing his hand over mine on the gearshift, and it easily slid into reverse. When I stepped on the gas, the SUV sputtered and the engine died.

“What is going on?” I asked.

“Oh, shit.” He backed away from the SUV, running his hands through his hair. His expression shifted from confusion to realization to what looked like panic. “Everly, get out of the car.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, but complied. “What?”

“Get back in,” he said.

“What are you doing?”

“Just try again.”

I slid back behind the wheel and tried turning the key. Stuck.

“What’s going on?” I asked, throwing a hand in the air. “It’s just like the other time. I couldn’t leave!”

Ryder paced a few steps, then stopped, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t read. “I think something happened.”

“Would you please tell me what you’re talking about?” I asked, getting out of the car and crossing my arms.

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