Page 34 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
What…was that all about?
Ian’s heart raced a mile a minute. He was just as jumpy as everyone else, and he had to pat a shaking palm over his heart to make sure it was still in his chest. Okay, that had been random and jarring, but everyone seemed to be fine. Well, the bus was half in the ditch, but otherwise, they were fine.
The bus driver was visibly shaken as he stood and turned to face everyone. “I’m so sorry. It looks like a mechanical failure caused the crash. I can’t get the bus to start again, and we may have lost a tire or two when we went into the ditch. I can see one wheel off the rim through the mirrors.”
Well, shit.
Ian rubbed his forehead, resisting the urge to cry. It had been a long day at the group home with three kids sick, and he’d been out far later than anticipated. It was well after eight o’clock now, he was on the last bus going anywhere, and they were smack inbetween a small town and Minneapolis. He barely had a signal on his cell at this point.
Murphy, apparently, had decided to pay him a visit.
The pregnant woman in front of him called to the driver, “Can you get someone to come help us? I need to be home soon.”
The driver already had a phone to his ear, and he gave her a wave ofYeah yeah, I’m doing that already.
It was all well and good for people to be picked up, but it wouldn’t do Ian much good. He’d miss his connection and be stranded out here, outside of Minneapolis.
Saying that did not appeal was akin to saying Godzilla was a minor nuisance to Tokyo.
Ian looked down at his phone dubiously. What to do? He could call Mary, have her come get him, and spend the night at the group home. That meant getting up early to get back to his dorm, though. She might not even be able to come, what with three sick kids and Emma out of town for a funeral. He’d come out today to help her for a reason.
The thought whispered through his mind to call André.
André was at an event; Ian shouldn’t disturb him.
The thought came again, more insistent: call André.
“Everyone?” The driver did not look happy, his expression apologetic. “I’ve tried calling four people, but no one’s answering. It might take a while to get rescued. If you can call someone to get you, I’d do that.”
Many of the passengers grumbled upon hearing this. Most people out here couldn’t afford a car; they wouldn’t have anything more than a bike at hand. No one wanted to ride a bicycle in this rainy weather.
Ian looked down at his phone again. Over the past two months, André had proven that if Ian needed him, he’d be there. Right now, he needed him. If he trusted this man, it was about time he acted like it.
Determined, he pulled up André’s number and called it.
It rang twice before André answered brightly, “Ian!Aww, you missed me after all.”
“I do miss you,” Ian agreed, and he could hear André suck in a startled breath. He had to say so more often. It was sad that André was surprised to hear him say it. “I could also use a rescue. Sorry, I know you’re at the party tonight—”
“The party is nowhere near as important as you are. What’s wrong?”
“I was heading back to campus from the group home when the bus broke down. The driver can’t reach anyone to help us. Can you come pick me up?”
“Of course!Just give me a location. I’m coming now. Hang on.”
There were the muted sounds of music, people chattering, and then André’s voice speaking to someone.
“Dad, Ian’s in a situation. I need to go get him.”
“Is he hurt?” a male voice asked with genuine worry.
“The bus he’s on broke down. He’s stranded.”
“Oh, all right. Well, go to him, then. Wait, what about everyone else?The other passengers, I mean.”
André’s voice came through clearer once more. “Ian, what about the other passengers?Are they able to get home all right?”
“I think some of them can—they’re calling for pickups—but not others. Why?”
