Page 23

Thank god I was going at a snail’s pace. Still, I shrieked as the car thudded into the soft embankment on the other side of the road.

Of course. On top of Reese canceling on me too late to call off Remy—she’d gotten called into Gastronomique to cover a shift—my bold decision to go to the coffee shop opening on my own now seemed like the stupidest decision I’d ever made.

My readers were right—my life was tragic, and it was my own damn fault.

A few seconds after impact, the door of my car opened, a rush of freezing, flurry-filled air smacking me in the face.

“Michelle!” Will exclaimed, breathless. His face was a rictus of worry. “Are you okay?”

I let out a breath. “I’m fine,” I said.

“You sure?” He looked significantly more panicked than I felt.

“Will, I’m fine,” I said. “Seriously.”

He obviously didn’t hear the warning tone in my voice because he was still focused on how I’d gotten here.

“Don’t you have snow tires?”

“I didn’t think it was going to snow this early,” I snapped. I could hear, as I said it, how bad that excuse was. That I was being defensive because he was right.

I knew my tires were shot. I knew half the car was shot, but two grand for both the regular and snow tires I needed had sent me into a spiral.

You always were stubborn as a mule.

I startled. I’d heard that in Joe’s voice. For a moment, I glanced up, looking around as if I’d see him standing there, arms folded, laughing at me. He’d always teased me about being stubborn.

But only Will was standing there, his hair whipping in the wind, his stupid handsome face all sharp planes in the dark.

“I couldn’t… I haven’t gotten around to getting them,” I said.

“My sister still owns our family’s garage in town,” Will said. “I can get you some at cost.”

The irritation flooded back. It was nice of him—objectively, I could see that. But I didn’t need my hand held. Not when I felt stupid enough for not having gotten the tires sorted sooner.

“It’s fine, I’ll take care of it,” I said.

Always gotta do stuff yourself, eh Mich?

Joe was right, I was being obtuse, but I was in too deep now.

Will put his hands up. “Fine. Just—let me help you out of the ditch, at least?” I could hear the annoyance in his voice now too.

“I’mfine,” I said, throwing the car into reverse. Will jumped out of the way of the door as I put my foot on the gas.

But the car didn’t move. The tires screamed as they spun in place. Of course. Ofcourse.

To my horror, I felt tears filling my eyes. I rubbed them away fast on my shoulder. The wool of my coat scratched at my face, doing nothing but smearing the tears around.

“Why are you still standing there?” I snapped at him.

“Because you can’t get out of this without help, Michelle.”

“You’d be surprised at what I can handle on my own,” I said.

“I don’t think I would,” he said softly. “But I’ll leave you to it.”

Then he was gone, leaving the door open and wet blots of snow hitting my face like little slaps. I went too far—I know I did, and guilt unfurled in my stomach. But I slammed the door shut angrily. I didn’t need Will Archer. Icouldfigure this out on my own. I had to.