Stopping suddenly, she spins around to face me, catching me off guard. “You know what? Fine.” She holds a hand up, palm out between us. “I get it. I’m a challenge, and your fragile ego is bruised. How about we go have lunch now and get this over with?”
My jaw twitches in frustration. Fuck, things would be a lot easier if this were just about my ego. “No.”
Her brows draw together. “No? You don’t want to go out with me?”
“I want a date, a real fucking date. I want to pick you up for dinner and take you home after.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she sighs. “Fine, I’ll go to dinner with you, but I’ll meet you wherever you want me to.”
“No.”
Her nostrils flare, and she stomps her foot. “Why not?”
“I just told you why not.”
“Fine, but I can only do Saturday after five.”
“That works for me.”
“Okay.” She uncrosses her arms then starts back toward her office.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m going to write down my number for you, and then I’m going back to work.”
“You still need the key for the Jeep.”
“Why?” she cries, tossing her hands in the air as she spins back around. “I agreed to go out with you. You got your way. There is no need for me to take you out on another test drive, where you’ll ask me to go out with you and I’ll turn you down.” Christ, she’s stubborn.
“I still want a test drive.” I know it’s selfish, but I need my fix of her.
With a loud groan, she turns on her heels and stomps past me, her hips swaying. It’s a good thing I know she’s attracted to me, ‘cause if not, the ego she just mentioned would be seriously wounded right now.
I wait for her to grab the keys to the Jeep then follow her out into the parking lot. I open the door for her then go around to get in on the passenger side. Before we leave the lot, she turns on the radio, something she does every time we’re together. As “I’m a Sucker for You” starts to play, my cell phone buzzes. I want to ignore it but know I can’t when I pull it from my pocket and see it’s my mom calling.
“Hey, Mom,” I answer.
“Talon.” The fear in her voice has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Your dad…. Your….” Her voice cracks. “He was in an accident.”
“Is he okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you?” I try to keep my voice soft, but I know my question comes out harsh, because out the corner of my eye, I see Mia jump.
“I….” She sobs. “You-your aunt’s picking me up and taking me to the hospital. He’s being taken to West.”
“I’ll meet you there,” I say, resting my elbow on my knee and dropping my head to my hand.
“Okay, honey. Drive carefully please.”
“I will, Mom.”
With my heart pounding, I hang up and lift my head, noticing then that Mia has parked the Jeep on the side of the road not far from the dealership. “I need to get my truck.”
“I’ll drive you.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I shake my head. “No, just take me back. I’ll get my truck and you can get back to work.”
“I’m driving you. Just tell me where we’re going.”
“Just take me to my fucking truck!” I shout, and she reaches out, wrapping her hand around my fist and pulling it toward her.
“You’re shaking, Talon. I’m driving you, so tell me where I’m taking you.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, willing myself to calm. She doesn’t deserve me lashing out at her. “I’m sorry, shit.” I scrub my hand down my face. “My dad’s being taken to West. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes. I get it, and it’s okay.” Her hand rests on top of mine as I look at my cell.
I don’t want to be the one to call my family, but I’m not sure who all knows what happened or if my mom will be in a place mentally to call everyone. As Mia pulls out into traffic, I make phone call after phone call, letting everyone know what I know, which isn’t much.
The drive that is only a few minutes long feels like it takes forever, and when we get to the hospital, Mia pulls up in front of the emergency entry and puts the engine in park as I open the door. “Thanks.”
“Wait, give me the keys for your truck!” she yells before I shut the door, and without thinking, I grab them out of my pocket and toss them to her. I watch her catch them, and then without a backward glance, I slam the door and head through the automatic doors, praying my dad is okay.