Page 2 of A Magnolia Move-In
“Naomi?” The voice was quiet and very much female.
“Yep.” Strange. She didn’t sound like a telemarketer.
“Oh.”
“Who’s this?”
“Never mind.”
The phone clicked off before I could get another word in. I sat up, catching my phone as it slid down my cheek. I stared at the screen. At the number. I didn’t recognize the area code. Who had called me?
Anger pulsed through my veins as I stood. I wasn’t going to sit around, waiting for Walker to show. I was going to go find him. I was going to tell him what I thought of all of this.
I wasn’t going to be manipulated or pushed around anymore.
I grabbed my purse and keys from the counter and headed out the back door. I crossed the backyard and threw open my car door. The heat clung to me, agitating my frustration even more.
I threw the car into reverse and pulled out of the driveway. It was hard to focus with how angry I was. Every aspect of the town around me only made me angrier.
Was that woman Walker’s new fling? Had he truly left me like that? After all I’d given him, he was just going to walk out on me?
He couldn’t even give me a cursory call to tell me we were done?
I paused at the stoplight, my blood boiling as I stared at the red glow. I’d put my life on hold for that man. I’d walked away from promotions that would have changed my life and advanced my career.
I wanted a family—he didn’t. He won.
I wanted a marriage—he didn’t. He won.
I allowed him to manipulate me into giving him everything while he sacrificed nothing. And it came down to this.
Cheating.
As soon as the light turned green, I gunned the engine. In a split second, the sound of metal crunching and glass shattering filled my ears. I didn’t have time to react before I was thrown against the airbag, and everything around me went black.
TWO
Naomi
The sound of crunching metal.
That was all I could remember.
I blinked as I stared up at the florescent lights above me. Right, I was in the hospital.
How had I not died?
I narrowed my eyes as I tried to remember what had happened. I was angry. I was looking for Walker. I was T-boned by a car.
I winced as the memory of searing pain shot through me.
I’d survived. I wasn’t dead. Although with the way I felt, I wished I had.
I tried to shift in my bed, but my entire body ached. I glanced down to see that my right leg was bandaged and raised. I couldn’t move it, so I must have done something to it. I thought I remembered a nurse saying something was broken, but I didn’t catch what part.
Tears stung my eyes as I blinked. I tried to move my head, but everything ached. I moved to touch my face and winced. I was pretty banged up. And that was only confirmed by the nurse who had walked into my room earlier and, at first glance, pulled back.
I must look like a mess.
