Page 58 of Crave Thy Neighbor

I toss my head back with a groan.

Normally if something like this were to happen, I’d call River, but since she’s at work covering my shift…well, I’m screwed.

I can call Patrick and let him know I can’t pick up Sam early, but he’ll just be a dick about it, even thoughI’mthe one doinghima favor.

“Well, that’s a bummer,” comes a smooth voice from next to me.

I slam my eyes closed and take a deep breath, wishing I were anywhere but here.

“What are you doing down here?”

“Was gonna take a drive.” He jingles his keys in front of him. “Been cooped up in the apartment too long and need a breather. Didn’t feel like walking, wanted to roll the windows down and cruise.”

I nod, understanding him more than he knows.

Eager to have a reason to get out of the apartment this morning, I was a half hour early to meet River, and thatneverhappens.

“Do you have a spare?”

“No.” I sigh. “I’ve been meaning to replace it, but I just…haven’t.”

“It’s a good thing we don’t live too far from stuff then.”

He’s right. His apartment is in a popular shopping district and pretty much everything—including Sam’s school—is within walking distance. So even if I have to wait a few days to get the tire changed, I’ll be fine.

Except for right now when I need to be somewhere.

“Do you want a ride?”

“No.”

He laughs. “Let me rephrase that. Do youneeda ride?”

I want to say no. I want to be able to walk away and take care of my own problems.

But I can’t.

Again.

“Are we talking all of a sudden?”

He doesn’t answer right away, and we stand there staring at the flat tire for several quiet seconds.

“We’re notnottalking.” I smile at his non-answer. “Is that a yes on the ride?”

“Please.”

He nods, then leads the way across the parking garage to his truck. It annoys me when I see he’s backed into the spot like some show-off.

We climb into the big vehicle and Nolan fires up the engine.

“Where to?” he asks, peeking over at me.

“White Wing Estates. I have to pick up Sam from his father’s.”

“Ah.” He nods, throwing the truck into drive and inching out of the parking space. “I thought his father had him until this evening?”

“Patrick had a work thing come up.” There’s a tic in his jaw, though I’m not sure what it means. I have a feeling even if I asked, he wouldn’t answer. “If you’re serious about the ride, you can drop us off at Making Waves for my shift.”

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