Page 63 of When Fate Breaks
“That’s going to be a good one,” he says.
He’s right and wrong at the same time. The picture is amazing in the most ridiculous way. My face is right in the camera, my brows raised and mouth hanging open as my soaked wavy hair flings out to one side from me being startled. Blake is in the background of the picture, one hand on the steering wheel and a massive smile across his face, his eyes crinkling in the corners.
“This needs to be destroyed immediately,” I shake my head, staring at the developed picture.
“No way,” Blake says, snatching it from me and securing it into the mirror of his pull-down sun visor.
“C’mon, it’s so bad!” I groan.
“It’s a memory,” Blake replies, keeping his eyes on the road as he flips the visor closed, trapping the picture from my reach.
I sigh, giving up, knowing there’s no way I’m getting that picture back, and settle back into my seat.
We remain quiet for several minutes, both of us staring straight ahead out of the windshield at the empty road and unrelenting rainstorm. I glance at the clock on the dashboard.2:30 a.m.
Jesus Christ.
“Come here,” Blake says, stealing my attention.
“What?” I question, confused.
“Come here,” he repeats, motioning me towards him and patting the middle section of the bench seat.
“... I– Why?” I stammer.
“Because you’re shaking like a leaf.”
I glance down, not having realized I had my arms wrapped around myself. I suddenly become aware of my teeth chattering and my body shivering.
“Your seat is soaked,” Blake says. “Scoot over here.” He opens up his arm closest to me, flicking his fingers toward himself.
I open my mouth to tell him I’m fine and then change my mind. “Okay,” I say, giving in.
I shift towards him, just enough that I’m no longer sitting directly in a puddle. Blake keeps his arm raised, inviting me to move closer. I blow a breath out of my nose, slowly doing so. When my side is flush with his, he finally relaxes his arm, letting it sit on the back of the bench momentarily before it slowly glides down, resting on my shoulder and encircling me.
I exhale, but it comes out as a shudder, a chill sweeping over me. Blake instantly tightens his hold, pulling me into his side, his citrusy cedar scent filling my nose and lungs and hitting me like a brick wall. His hand slowly rubs up and down the outside of my arm and I suddenly become aware of his heart pounding in his chest against my side. I glance up at him, his face only inches from mine. His eyes flick down to mine once quickly and he clears his throat. “Gotta get warm,” he mutters.
“Right,” I whisper. “Thanks.”
* * *
Blake bringsthe truck to a stop in front of the house, removing his arm from my shoulder to kill the engine as soon as we are parked parallel to the front yard.
“I don’t want to risk waking anyone up,” Blake says. “Are you okay to make another run for it?”
“I’m right behind you,” I nod.
“Ready, set,go!” Blake pushes the truck door open, stepping out in one swift motion and jogging across the front yard through the pouring rain.
I pull my denim jacket around myself tighter and adjust my still soaked athletic shorts before sliding out of the seat after him. The rain obstructs my vision as I try and fail to find the side step. With a huff, I shove myself fully off the seat, taking the jump in full. I stick the landing, grinning to myself in pride before I take off after Blake and promptly slip on my first step.
“Woah,shit!” I cry, my feet flying out from under me. I see mud fly up into the air and feel it squish into my back and hair as my backside smacks firmly flat onto the ground.
“Evangeline?Oh my God!” I hear Blake whisper-shout from across the yard. “What the hell–” As he gets closer I hear his words breaking off into chuckles. “Walk much?” he laughs, extending his arm to me.
“Shut up,” I groan, accepting his hand and letting him pull me up. We both glance down at my clothing, nearly every inch of it and my skin caked in mud.
“Crap, your shirt!” I blurt. “Blake, I’m so sorry–”
