Page 55 of Ride Long
I slid off the hood and opened the passenger sidedoor.
“Your ride is here,” I said, tapping theroof.
Sam got out of the car and sized Yvette up. Immediately, she combed her fingers through her knotty hair and wiped the back of her hand across hermouth.
I snorted, earning myself a glare from Sloane’s BFF. I could see why she intimidated other women. She was pretty and all, but she wasn’tSloane.
“Hey, I’m Yvette,” she said, smiling atSam.
Sam glanced at me, and Inodded.
“We’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” Yvette went on. “We can get to know one another in the car. Are you hungry? We can get something to go if youare.”
“Chaser already got me something,” Samreplied.
“Good. I’m glad his surly ass was thoughtful enough to feed you.” Yvette turned her attention to me. “You look after Sloane, okay? I’m holding you responsible if anything happens, you gotthat?”
“Sure,” Idrawled.
“Is he always like that?” she asked Sam as they walkedoff.
“Yep.” Sam gave me one last look, mouthing the wordsthankyou.
I waited until they were in the car and on the road before I turned away. The things people did for Sloane never failed to amaze me. Gasket, Yvette,me. But she deserved it, right? Look what she’d just done for Sam, a woman she’d known for a little under a month. It was always something with her. Passionate, reckless, and completely selfless. Sloane had a definite sense of right andwrong.
Gasket was right about one thing. Fortitude wasn’t for her. I wondered what would happen if she managed to take itover.
Shaking my head, I got back into the car, backed out of the space, and turned back the way I’d come. Back to Los Angeles andFortitude.
Back toSloane.
As the lights of Tulsa faded in the background, I thought about the things Sam had toldme.
Maybe it was love, afterall.
