Page 5

“And, lucky for you, I am,” he continued. “I think I can help.”

“You can help?”

“Yeah, with the car. I know a guy.”

“You know a guy,” I repeated, trying to keep the suspicion subtle in my voice.

“Well, I live with a guy. My dad owns a garage. He’s closed on Saturday nights unless there’s an emergency, but I can call him and ask him to tow your car back to his shop.”

I shook my head. What were the chances I’d break down just as a guy whose dad owned a garage ran past? A part of me felt like my bad luck for the day was finally turning around. But then I remembered Mia’s warnings about this guy and wondered instead if the worst was yet to come.

“Uh, that’s okay,” I stuttered. “I’ve already interrupted your run. I don’t want to bother you anymore. I’m sure I can find someone on Google.”

“Not on a Saturday night in Sunshine Hills.” He chuckled. “There’s only one garage near here: my dad’s.”

My frown deepened as I looked between Reed and my phone. I wasn’t sure if I should believe him. But what reason would he have to lie?

“You don’t trust me, do you?” he asked.

“I mean, you’re just some guy I met on the side of the road, and my mom really ingrained the whole stranger-danger thing into me as a kid.” If I was honest though, my mom probably would prefer it if I was talking to a creepy stranger rather than a jock with a bad reputation.

“Well, you’ve been talking to just some guy for a while now,” he replied. “Maybe your sense of stranger danger isn’t quite as ingrained as you think.”

“Or maybe my getaway car is broken…” I nodded in Betty’s direction.

“Right.” He released a breathy laugh. “Well, I’m Reed Darling. Now the stranger has a name.”

“You could still be a danger, Reed Darling.”

“I promise I’m not a danger to you.”

That didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous at all. Mia certainly thought he was. I kept waiting for some sense of self-preservation to kick in. To feel my sixth sense twinge and tell me to back away from the guy. Apparently, mine was faulty. Not once since we started talking had I felt threatened.

“So, will you let me help you?” he asked.

I hesitated. I needed the help, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted it from a cocky star athlete who apparently just got out of juvie. For all I knew, he was going to steal my car and strip it for parts. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t pay someone to take Betty off my hands.

I’d paused for a fraction too long, and Reed took advantage of the opportunity to pull out his phone and lift it to his ear.

"I didn’t agree, you know…”

But he raised one finger, indicating for me to wait as he listened to the phone ring. As I suspected, he wasn’t someone who took no for an answer. The way he’d disregarded my protest might have pissed me off if I hadn’t been quite so cold and my car not quite so dead.

“Hey, Dad.” Reed’s voice softened a little as he spoke, and his expression became less rigid.

“I know it’s Saturday night, but my friend’s car has broken down.

Any chance you can take it to the shop?” He paused as he waited for a response.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure she won’t even notice.

” Reed paused again. “Okay, great.” He then gave his dad the address before he hung up and turned to me.

“He’s on his way. He can drop it at the garage, but he won’t be able to look at it until Monday. Is that okay?”

“Yes.” I released a long breath, and all the tension I’d been holding went with it. Now that he’d called his dad, I realized I’d been crazy to even consider turning down his help. Reed Darling might be dangerous, but it appeared he wasn’t all bad. “Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. It was just a phone call.”

It was much more than just a phone call to me. I’d been this close to giving up and calling Luke for help. Mia would have never let me hear the end of it if I’d gotten both of us in trouble. She should be thanking Reed too.

“Also, my dad told me to ask you not to judge him,” he continued.

“Why would I judge him?”

“You’ll see.” Reed’s eyes creased at the corners like he was struggling to contain a laugh. “I didn’t catch your name…”

“I didn’t give it. Apparently, I’m the only one who’s concerned about stranger danger.”

He laughed. It was deep and pleasant, and it made me wonder how anyone who made such a comforting sound could be as bad as Mia made him out to be.

“You got me there,” he said. “So…”

“Violet,” I replied. “But all my friends call me Vi.”

“Am I your friend, Violet?”

His voice was friendly, but I swallowed because he was looking at me so intently I struggled to meet his gaze. “Well, if you’re not pranking me with the tow truck thing, I think we can be friends.”

“Good to know.”

As we stood there waiting, I wondered how he wasn’t freezing. His athletic wear was molded to his firm body, and he must have felt the cold despite the fact he’d been running. What was he even doing out here? Surely, he had to be exhausted after the game he played earlier today.

Before I could pluck up the courage to ask him, he put the question to me.

“So, what were you doing out here all alone?”

“Just on my way to a party. What about you? Do you usually go running in the freezing cold on Saturday nights?”

“Only when my damsel-in-distress radar goes off.”

“Oh, and I suppose that makes you Prince Charming?”

“Sorry, princess, but I’m definitely no prince.

” Reed flashed me a mischievous grin, which I almost instinctively returned.

I managed to resist and rolled my eyes instead.

It almost felt like Reed was flirting with me, but, then again, he probably flirted with every girl he found stranded on the side of the road.

“You know, if I was your boyfriend, I’d answer your calls and I’d drive you to parties.”

This time, I definitely didn’t feel the urge to smile at him.

Instead, my cheeks flushed as I remembered how I’d spilled all my personal problems to him just a few minutes earlier.

I didn’t want to dive any deeper into why my boyfriend appeared to be dodging my calls.

I still hadn’t heard from Jeremy since I’d missed his game, and I was trying my best to ignore that depressing fact.

“I can drive myself.”

Reed smirked as he eyed my stranded car and the Violet-shaped hole in the snow behind me. “Are you sure about that?” He stepped slightly closer as a set of headlights appeared up ahead. “Because it looks like your car had other plans.”

I didn’t have a chance to respond as the tow truck finally arrived. The driver jumped out, and I had to suppress a laugh when I caught sight of him. He was dressed in a giant lobster costume.

He was a large guy, built just like his son, with the same deep blue eyes and dark hair, although his was dusted with specks of grey. When he saw the smile on my lips, his expression dimmed.

“I thought you were going to tell her not to laugh, Reed.”

Reed was failing to withhold his smile too. “She’s laughing at a joke I told, Dad. Not at your glorious lobsterness.”

“You cracking a joke? I guess there’s a first for everything.” His dad grunted before walking over to me. “I’m Danny,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Violet,” I replied. “I’m sorry for dragging you out here on a Saturday night.”

“The shop’s on the way to my party,” he said. “And it’s no problem. I won’t be able to take a look at your car until Monday though.”

“Reed already told me. And that’s totally fine.”

“Okay, well, let’s hook her up. And we better pray I don’t ruin my costume, or Reed’s mom will kill me.”

Once Betty was safely connected to the truck, Danny offered to give me a ride home.

It was remarkably kind of him, considering everything he’d already done, but I wasn’t ready to face my uncle just yet.

Besides, I was still hoping I’d see Jeremy at the party so I could finally talk to him, and I knew I could catch a ride back with Mia.

“Thanks, but I’m headed to a friend’s place near here,” I said. “I can make my own way there.”

“I’ll walk you.” Reed spoke with such confidence I didn’t know how to say no.

I was still surprised he’d stuck around this long and wasn’t planning to bail as soon as his dad left.

Now he was offering to escort me to the party?

He might not be a prince, but apparently, he could be a little charming when he wanted to.

Unless, of course, he had some ulterior motive.

“Well, I’ll leave you kids to it,” Danny said before handing me his card. “Come to the garage Monday, and I’ll let you know what’s wrong with old Betty here.”

“Thanks.” I gave him a smile. “Do you need payment now for the tow?”

He waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. First tow’s free for one of Reed’s friends.” He winked, making me blush, before he headed back to the front of his truck and squeezed his way into the cab, which could barely fit his large red lobster suit.

“That was really kind of your dad,” I said to Reed as we watched him drive off. “And you.”

“Guess it’s lucky we’re friends,” he said.

“Guess so,” I agreed with a smile.

“So, where are we headed?”

I told him the address but then added, “You really don’t have to walk me.”

“It’s not far,” he replied. “And it’s on my way.” He waved his hand, gesturing for me to go ahead, and the two of us walked side by side as we made our way to the party.

I was sure he had better things to be doing with his Saturday night, but I appreciated his company all the same. I didn’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t come along when he had, and I was unbelievably grateful he’d called his dad to help.

“So, you go to Sunshine Hills Prep?” he asked.

My brow creased as I wondered how he knew that. He must have seen my confusion because he quickly explained. “You said you were in senior year, and I haven’t seen you around my school.”

“Ah.” I nodded. “Yeah, I go to Sunshine.”

Given the age and failing health of my car, he was probably wondering how it was possible I went to such an esteemed and expensive school.

Betty definitely looked out of place in the Sunshine Prep parking lot.

I was certainly the only kid there driving a car older than them.

The only reason I was able to go to the school was because my uncle was a teacher there, and my tuition was heavily discounted.

There was no way my mom could afford it otherwise.

Reed didn’t question my car though. “I’m at Ransom High,” he said. He watched me closely as he waited for my response, as if he was expecting me to judge him for it. I hadn’t grown up here, so I didn’t share the same prejudice against Ransom that most of my peers held.

“I know.” I nodded at the Devils logo that was prominently displayed on his top.

He glanced down at his chest and frowned. “I’m surprised you’re still talking to me then.”

“Why?”

“People from Sunshine Hills and Ransom don’t generally play nice.”

“Well, I’m not from Sunshine Hills or Ransom.”

He glanced at me with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “No, I didn’t think you were.”

“What gave me away?”

He laughed. “It might have something to do with the fact that you’re wearing about ten coats and you’re still shivering.”

“I wish I was wearing ten coats,” I muttered.

“So, where are you from?” he continued. “And how did you end up in this freezing, miserable place?”

I cringed as he once again referenced my deranged rant. “I’m from California. My mom ditched me here for the year to live with my uncle. He teaches at Sunshine Prep.”

“Ditched you?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “She got offered her dream job in London and couldn’t turn it down. So here I am.”

“Stuck,” he said, his voice low, almost like he was talking to himself, but then he looked across at me. “I’m sorry, that sucks.”

“It’s okay,” I replied. “I understand why she had to go. Sort of.”

I didn’t know why I was sharing all this with Reed.

A boy I’d just met who, at first glance, seemed to be exactly the kind of guy I did my best to avoid.

Before I could dwell on my uncertainty, I heard music drifting toward us from up ahead, and I realized we were almost at the party.

As we drew closer, I could see people milling in the front yard, despite the cold, and the party appeared to be in full swing.

A few of them shot curious looks in our direction as we reached the front gate, but it was dark enough they probably couldn’t make us out clearly.

“This is me,” I said. “Thanks again for tonight. You really came to my rescue.”

“Like I said, my damsel-in-distress radar was pinging.”

I hesitated because I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to Reed.

Mia had made it sound so simple: Reed Darling was trouble.

However, after our brief but eventful encounter, I felt like he might be a little more complicated than that.

He was like a good puzzle, and I didn’t want to put it aside until I’d figured it out.

“Do you want to come in?” I asked. “I know it’s a Sunshine party, but the girl hosting it is really nice. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind…”

Reed smiled softly and slowly shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Besides, I’m still in my running gear.”

It was hard not to feel disappointed. Even more so when he leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “But you have a good night, Sunshine. I hope I proved to you not all hockey players are pigs.”

My eyes widened as I realized he had remembered me after all.

I caught the briefest whiff of his cologne, and then he was off, jogging down the road into the night.

I stood in a state of shock as I stared after him.

There might have been rumors swirling about Reed Darling, but despite everything I’d heard about him, he didn’t seem to live up to his infamous reputation.

Not yet, at least.