Chapter 66
I spoke too soon. Something can ruin the moment.
And something very well does.
About ten minutes into our surreal sing–along session, the car starts to slow down, the music stops abruptly, and the screen and AC ter
off.
Nathan frowns. “Uh…”
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I don’t know.” He maneuvers the car to the side of the road, where it comes to a final stop.
He tries to restart the engine, but nothing happens.
“Shit,” he whispers.
“What’s happening?”
“I think the battery’s dead.”
My eyes widen. “Dead…like when a normal car runs out of gas?”
Nathan exhales slowly. “Yeah.”
I gape. “How?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. It was fully charged before leaving and that lasts at least three days with the speed and distance we drove. There must be something wrong with the battery.”
I sigh. “You couldn’t just drive a normal car that takes good old gas.”
Nathan chuckles slightly, leaning his head against the car seat. “I’m sorry about this, April.”
I shrug. “It’s not your fault. Can you call someone? Peter might not be too far ahead.”
Nathan releases another breath. “My phone is dead. I forgot my charger at home.”
I gape. “What is it with you and batteries?”
He sighs. “Can you call someone?”
I give him a sarcastic smile. “I would, but my phone is locked in a drawer somewhere in your mansion.”
Nathan grimaces. “Right.”
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Chapter 66
1 sigh. “So what now?”
Just then, a familiar navy blue Mercedes speeds past of 1 gape. “Was that for?”
Nathan nods. “Yeah. Dickhead.”
Not only is Lucas Ashford a sexual predator, but he also doesn’t care enough about his little brother to find out why the day is mysteriously parked at the side of the road.
I sigh. “I think I saw a payphone a couple of minutes back.”
Nathan raises a brow, and I shrug. “You have a better idea?”
He purses his lip. “Nope.”
I open my door. “Come on, then.”
As we climb out of the car, a low rumble makes me look up. Dark clouds are slowly gathering, and the temperature has dropped rest sa slightly.
I snort. “How amazing would it be if it rained?”
Nathan cocks his head to the side, his lip twitching. “Have you always been this sarcastic?”
I feel a blush climb up my face. I’m getting too comfortable around Nathan, and I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.
“Let’s go,” I answer instead, looking away from him. “I don’t want to be caught out here in the dark and the rain.
Nathan winces. “I’m really sorry about this, April.”
I shrug. “Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault.”
Despite my reassurance, as we walk, I can tell that Nathan still feels guilty. I wish he wouldn’t, though. I would rather walk all the way ba Lincoln Park, where the Ashford Estate is located, with Nathan than spend one second in a car with Lucas,
The walk is silent, except for the occasional rumble of thunder as it gets progressively darket.
I suddenly regret my white T–shirt and shorts, wishing I’d opted for something warmer.
I freeze when the first fat droplet of rain lands on the bridge of my nose.
Nathan and I exchange a wide–eyed glance.
“Maybe we should-” He’s interrupted as the rain starts to pour in a steady shower.
“Run,” I say, grabbing his hand without a thought.
Nathan and I run as fast as we can as the rain pelts us.
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Chapter Chapter 66
I sigh. “So what now?”
Just then, a familiar navy blue Mercedes speeds past us. I gape. “Was that Lucas?”
Nathan nods. “Yeah. Dickhead.”
Not only is Lucas Ashford a sexual predator, but he also doesn’t care enough about his little brother to find out why mysteriously parked at the side of the road.
I sigh. “I think I saw a payphone a couple of minutes back.”
Nathan raises a brow, and I shrug. “You have a better idea?”
He purses his lip. “Nope.”
I open my door. “Come on, then.”
As we climb out of the car, a low rumble makes me look up. Dark clouds are slowly gathering, and the temperature has dropped ever so slightly.
I snort. “How amazing would it be if it rained?”
Nathan cocks his head to the side, his lip twitching. “Have you always been this sarcastic?”
I feel a blush climb up my face. I’m getting too comfortable around Nathan, and I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.
“Let’s go,” I answer instead, looking away from him. “I don’t want to be caught out here in the dark and the rain.
Nathan winces. “I’m really sorry about this, April.”
I shrug. “Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault.”
Despite my reassurance, as we walk, I can tell that Nathan still feels guilty. I wish he wouldn’t, though. I would rather walk all the way to Lincoln Park, where the Ashford Estate is located, with Nathan than spend one second in a car with Lucas.
The walk is silent, except for the occasional rumble of thunder as it gets progressively darker.
I suddenly regret my white T–shirt and shorts, wishing I’d opted for something warmer.
I freeze when the first fat droplet of rain lands on the bridge of my nose.
Nathan and I exchange a wide–eyed glance,
“Maybe we should-” He’s interrupted as the rain starts to pour in a steady shower.
“Run,” I say, grabbing his hand without a thought.
Nathan and I run as fast as we can as the rain pelts us.
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Chapter 66
“God, April,” Nathan yells to be heard over the rain. “I’m really-
“If you say sorry one more time,” I yell back. “I’ll ditch you out here in the rain.”
Nathan clamps his mouth shut.
Finally, I see the small convenience store I’d spotted earlier with a payphone in front of it.
“There!” I yell, pointing. Although the store is closed, the lights out front are on, and when we reach it, I sigh in relief to see that the phone booth isn’t locked.
Nathan and I enter together to get out of the rain.
I exhale, leaning against the wall of the booth. Nathan mirrors my action at the other side of the booth opposite me. Both of us are dripping all over the floor. Nathan’s wet hair flops over his forehead and his clothes are soaked. I know I’m a mirror image.
Our eyes meet at the same time, and Nathan’s lips quirk just as mine pull up, and we let out a breath of laughter at the same time.
I run my hand through my damp hair, mentally adding ‘stuck in a phone booth with Nathan Ashford during the rain‘ to the list of things high school me would have never believed could happen.
Nathan’s eyes dip downwards, and his smile slowly slips off his face.
I follow his gaze–to my white shirt, which is now soaking wet, stuck to my body, and showing off my neon pink bra.
My eyes widen, but before I can do something ridiculous like run out of the phone booth, Nathan shrugs off his leather jacket.
“Here,” he says softly, handing it to me.
My face hot, I accept it. “Th–thanks.”
I slip into the jacket, feeling Nathan’s warmth still in it, and I try to inhale his scent as subtly as possible.
I nod towards the phone. There’s a stack of coins on it. “Who can you call?”
Nathan frowns. “I don’t know any numbers offhand.”
I gape. “No numbers?”
He shrugs, looking adorably sheepish. “Every contact I need is in my phone.”
“Ah, yes. The dead phone.”
Nathan’s lip twitches. “If only we could charge it with your sarcasm.”
“If my sarcasm could charge stuff, we’d be going our merry way in a fully charged Tesla,”
Nathan chuckles, and I smile, my toes curling at the fact that I have the ability to make Nathan Ashford laugh.
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Chapter 66
“Do you have any numbers offhand?“)
I think for a moment. “Only one that can be off help right now.”
Nathan waves to the phone. “Be my guest.”
I take the phone, insert the coin, and dial. After three rings, I hear a voice. “Hello?‘
I exhale, a smile spreading on my face at the sound of the familiar voice. “Hi, Lou. It’s April.”
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