Tryst (Take It Off #8)(36)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“If you don’t work,” I threatened the car, “I’m taking you to a scrapyard.”

It started on the first try.

I threw the old beater into reverse and backed out of the driveway. I couldn’t help but look over at Gavin’s place, the last time I’d ever see it. I did a double take when I realized he was watching me from the small portion of the deck that wrapped around the side of his house. He stood there, still wearing that black wetsuit, while rain poured around him. His lips moved. He might have called my name.

I put the car in drive and drove away.

23

Talie

The wind howled around my Jetta, making it feel unsteady on the road. Rain splashed against the windshield, making everything look tear-streaked. Or maybe it wasn’t the rain. Maybe everything looked that way because I was crying.

I should have known that a girl like me couldn’t have a tryst and not get emotionally involved. I wasn’t made that way. I was soft inside. I wish I wasn’t.

“It’s okay, Talie,” I told myself as I turned onto the main road that would lead me to the bridge. “You’ll be fine.”

And I would be. I might not ever trust my heart to another man again, but that wasn’t the end of the world. I could still have a full and happy life.

And the family I wanted? I could always adopt.

The roads were wet, and large puddles washed up against my car as I drove down the road. I pulled out my cell and hit a button for Claire.

She answered on the second ring. “Did he show up there?” she asked immediately.

“Oh yeah.”

“And?”

“And I told him if he didn’t give me a divorce, I’d ruin his family name.”

She snorted. “He’s going to do that all by himself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that assistant of his is talking. Running her mouth all over town that the reason you left was because he’s leaving you for her.”

I laughed. “She can have him.”

“You okay?” Claire said, her voice turning serious.

“Not really,” I answered as the bridge came into view. There were barely any cars on the road because of the storm. Most people had enough sense to stay inside until it passed.

“I’m sorry,” she said. I knew she meant it.

My eyes filled with tears again and I blinked them away. “I’m on my way back.”

“What? I thought you were staying.”

“I’m not going to hide from my life.”

“You weren’t hiding, Tal. You were taking a breather.”

“My breather only made things worse.”

Claire knew me well, and the second I said that, she knew there was more going on than I revealed. “What’s going on, Talie?”

“I’ll tell you when I get to your place.”

“Should you be driving? You seem off.”

“I’m fine.”

I felt her doubt come through the phone. “I’ll see you later,” I said. I couldn’t get into this now. I needed a little bit of time to process.

“Be careful,” she said before I hung up the phone.

I tossed the phone into the seat beside me as I drove onto the bridge. The view from the center was beautiful. Even in the pounding rain. The car pointed downward, going down toward the mainland as I left the island behind.

Like a movie, scenes of my time spent with Gavin played through my head. The intensity of his eyes when he looked at me just before climax. The way his hair fell over his forehead. The way he never wore a shirt and shoved entire snack cakes into his mouth. The way it felt to be wrapped up in his arms…

A great boom of thunder cracked just overhead and startled me. I jerked out of my daydream, the wheel following my sudden movement. I veered to the right sharply. My reflexes kicked in and pulled the steering wheel back to the left.

The back end of the Jetta fishtailed and fought for traction against the too-slippery road. My crappy tires didn’t find what they needed so my car began to spin.

The car catapulted across the road, and nothing I could do seemed to right it. I gave up steering and hit the brakes. The car locked up but didn’t stop; it kept sliding. Short white poles, connected with white chain, bordered the road, separating it from the grassy area that led to the sound.

My car hit one head on and flipped over it.

The last thing I remember feeling was the cold tendrils of ocean water rushing against my skin.

24

Talie

The sterile odor of rubbing alcohol burned my nostrils and I wrinkled my nose against it. Awareness slowly creeped in around me and everything was dark. Panic was like a shot of adrenaline as I wondered why I couldn’t see.

And then I realized my eyes were closed.

Duh.

I blinked, taking in the stark-white walls, the TV hanging from the wall, and the ugly curtain hanging open around the bed. Ugh, I was in the hospital.

I thought back to the last thing I remembered, and a sharp pain pierced my skull. I made a sound, thinking the doctor could have at least given me an Advil.

“Talie?” a familiar voice said from beside me. I opened my eyes again as the person hovered over me anxiously.

“Hey, Claire…”

She made a sound of relief and then smacked my leg.

“Ow!” I said without heat. “What was that for?”

“That was for almost dying!” She smacked me again. “And that was for scaring me to death!”

“I almost died?” I focused on her face. It was pale with dark smudges beneath her eyes. Her hair was messier than usual, and her shirt was on inside out.

“What’s wrong with your shirt?”

“I was in a hurry to get here.” She sniffed.

“How long have I been out?”

“About twenty-four hours.”

“And in those twenty-four hours you couldn’t go in the bathroom and fix it?”

She made a strangled sound and flung herself on top of me. “Thank God you’re okay!”

The breath hissed between my teeth. My entire body hurt. “My car,” I said, the memory of the accident coming back in hazy flashes.

“Is totaled.”

“I didn’t like it anyway.”

Claire laughed. “Me either.”

“What’s a girl gotta do to get some pain meds around here?”

Claire’s smile fell away and concern filled her face. “I’ll go get the doctor, tell him you’re awake.”

“Want me to just push the call button?”