Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“It’s fine,” he says, trying to kick it over again, getting exactly the same result.
“NICK!”
“What?” he says, shrugging it off. “She’s an old truck. What do you expect me to do? I’ve been meaning to get her serviced for months.”
Panic soars through my chest. “This is so not happening.”
Nick scoffs, reclining his seat and making himself comfortable. “You better fucking believe it’s happening,” he says, bracing a deliciously muscled arm behind his head and flashing me the most panty-melting smirk I’ve ever seen. “Get comfortable, B. There’s no cell service out here. And unless someone just happens to drive by and rescue our asses, we’re stuck until someone back home notices we’re gone. Unless you fancy a walk, of course? But it’ll be a long one, and I can’t guarantee that you’ll make it home before the frostbite sets in.”
Fuck.
This day just keeps getting better.
11
NICK
Okay, so I may be acting chill about this whole situation, but inside, I’m fucking panicking. It's not the prospect of freezing to death on the side of the road that scares me, it’s the fact that I’m stuck in a confined space with Blair Wilder, and my only option of escape is to dig myself a grave right next to my mother’s and fall straight into it.
For some reason, the whole walking back to Blushing option doesn’t seem very appealing. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good workout, love it even more when it has everything to do with two bodies getting sweaty together, but walking through the snow on the side of an icy road, getting cold, numb feet just isn’t for me. I’d rather grill Blair and figure out when the hell she expects to get her ass back to New York so we can both move past the agony of having to face each other once again.
“Why the hell didn’t you keep up with your servicing?” Blair demands, looking at me as though I planned this. I mean, sure, it isn’t ideal, but being forced into a confined space might just be what we need.
“Have you seen the truck? It’s a million years old. If I take it into the shop, I’ll come out broke. Besides, I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t fix,” I tell her. But the truth is, I should have traded it in for a new model years ago, but the truck holds too many sentimental memories. Hell, it’s the truck Blair and I lost our virginity in. It wasn’t romantic in the least and looking back, we were both fumbling without a fucking clue, but it meant everything to both of us. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Then what the hell are you waiting for? Go out there and fix it.”
“I’ll get right on that,” I mutter. “Shall I just pull the tools out of my ass or would you like me to pull them out of yours?”
Blair harrumphs, and I stifle a laugh, having to wipe my hand over my face to hide the smirk lingering on my lips. She didn’t seem to approve of the last one I flashed her. “You don’t need to be an ass about it,” she mutters, crossing her arms over her chest and studiously staring out the window as the heat quickly drains from the truck.
“Who’s the one being an ass here? I gave you our options. You’re free to walk if you want. It’s not like I’m holding you hostage.”
Blair groans, clearly frustrated. “I can’t . . . I can’t be here with you. It’s too much.”
Her words are like a slap in the face, and I physically draw back. “Wow. Thanks.”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. It came out all wrong. I just . . . being around you . . . it’s hard. Being in this town is hard, but being stuck in your truck with you looking at me like I’m the bane of your existence is killing me.”
“Nobody said it was supposed to be easy.”
Blair side-eyes me, knowing that’s a bullshit line, but I mean, it’s all the same. “Besides, you know I get snappy in the cold.”
I scoff. “You never could handle it.”
“I can too.”
“Right, I’ll just wait here while you show me how well you can handle it.”
“Arghhhhh,” she groans, starting to shiver. “You’re still the most frustrating human being on the planet.”
And she’s still the most gorgeous one, but you don’t see me screaming it at her.
Her frustration gets the best of her, and she opens the truck door before dropping out onto the snow-covered gravel. “What the fuck are you doing?” I demand, psychically assaulted by the rush of freezing air that crashes through the open door.
Blair leaves the truck door open and starts pacing through the gravel. “Moving,” she says, her teeth chattering. “I’m going to get hypothermia if I just sit there for hours on end.”