Page 25 of Take My Heart
‘No. I offered. Nick, I know you don’t trust people after living in New York, but I’m telling you, she’s not crazy. She was just trying to get away for a few days and ended up stuck in a blizzard.’
‘Just be careful, okay? She might seem nice, but you never know what people are hiding.’
‘Yeah, got it,’ I say. Sometimes it’s better to go along with him than try to argue with him.
‘I’ll text you when I send the contract back and we can go over the changes.’
‘Okay, thanks.’ I end the call.
As I’m leaving my room, I notice the door to Kate’s room is closed. I walk up to it and hear her quietly crying. I wonder why she ran away after leaving her wedding. Wouldn’t she want to be with her family at a time like this? Or her friends?
I go to the living room and see the TV is still on. There’s a basketball game playing so I grab a beer from the fridge and take a seat in the recliner.
As I’m watching the game, I keep thinking about Kate crying in her room. I should leave her alone. I don’t know this girl. I don’t know her story. Like Nick said, maybe she’s crazy. Standing on the highway in a blizzard wearing a wedding dress definitely seems crazy.
‘Shit,’ I say, rubbing my jaw. My gut’s telling me to go knock on her door and ask if I can help, but my head is telling me to leave her alone. I’m more of a go-by-my-gut type of guy so I take a swig of my beer and get up from the chair.
I walk down to her room and knock on the door. ‘Kate?’
She was crying but stops suddenly and says in a fake cheery voice, ‘Yeah?’
‘I was just wondering if you want to come watch the game with me.’
‘Thanks, but I’m not really a basketball fan.’
‘You don’t have to be a fan. It’s just something to do.’
‘I think I’ll just take a nap.’
‘Okay.’ I turn to leave, then hear the door open.
‘Brody?’
I turn back and see Kate standing there, her eyes red from crying. ‘Yeah?’
‘Could I use your phone? Mine’s dead and I don’t have my charger.’
‘You can use mine. It’s in the kitchen.’
‘Yeah, I saw it. It won’t work with my phone. I just need to call my parents and let them know I’m okay.’
I take my phone from my pocket and unlock it. Nick wouldtell me not to trust her with my phone, but really, what’s she going to do? Look through my photos? My texts? I don’t care. I have nothing to hide.
‘Thanks,’ she says, taking my phone. ‘I’ll make it quick.’
‘No rush. Take all the time you need.’
She nervously looks at the phone as she shuts the door. She must not get along with her parents. Or maybe she made up the parent thing and is really calling her fiancé. Maybe she regrets leaving her wedding and is calling to get back together with him. I hope not. He sounds like an ass.
Why am I even thinking about this? I don’t care what she does. I don’t even know her.
‘Mom, it’s me,’ I hear Kate say as I stand outside her door. ‘No, my phone died and I don’t have a charger. That’s why I haven’t called. I didn’t make it to the cabin. The storm got really bad and the car went in a ditch.’ She listens. ‘Mom, I’m fine. I’m not hurt. A guy was driving by and picked me up.’ It’s quiet, then Kate says, ‘No, Mom, he’s not going to kill me.’
I smile as she says it. I can’t believe Kate thought I was dangerous, but if her mom thought that too, I guess it makes sense Kate thinks the same way.
‘I’m staying at his house,’ Kate says. ‘Just until the storm passes.’ She sighs. ‘Yes, I’ll lock my door. Mom, he’s not going to kill me. He seems like a nice guy.’ Kate sighs again. ‘Mom, please don’t make me talk about this. I’m not ready. I need more time.’ She pauses. ‘Yes, I know Cam’s a great guy. He’s just not great for me.’
Feeling like I shouldn’t be listening in, I go back to the living room to watch the game. Sports usually take my mind off shit, but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about Kate. It sounds like her momstill wants Kate to marry that guy, even if he doesn’t make her happy. I’m glad my family’s not like that. My parents have always told me to do what I want. They never pressured my brothers and me to take over the orchard, or even work there. Mom pressures me to find a girl to settle down with, but that’s only because she wants grandkids. But now that Nick’s engaged and Sawyer’s living with Gina, Mom hasn’t been on my case about finding a girl.
