Page 30 of Take My Heart
‘A tow truck can get it out. They’re used to digging cars out of ditches.’
‘Yeah, and damaging them in the process.’ I lean back against the wall. ‘Cam’s going to kill me. He loves that car. If it gets even a tiny scratch on it, he goes crazy.’
‘He’ll have to get over it. The roads are covered with ice. You couldn’t help it you went off the road. The guy should be happy you’re okay and didn’t get hurt.’
‘He wouldn’t even think about that,’ I say, my chest achingas I realize it’s true. If Cam found out about the car, he’d be more worried about the damages than about me.
‘You’re kidding, right? I mean, I know you left him, but he still cares about you and what happens to you.’
I shake my head, my gaze on the floor. ‘He doesn’t. I’m not sure he ever did.’
‘Then why the hell were you going to marry him?’
‘Because everyone said he was perfect for me. And I believed them.’
Brody gets up and brings his empty beer bottle to the kitchen. ‘Why were you listening to other people about who you should marry?’
‘I don’t know,’ I say, because I really don’t. I never even thought about it. Cam’s handsome and sophisticated and has a promising future. He’s everything my mom told me to look for in a guy, so when I found him, I assumed he was the one. My friends agreed.
‘Sounds like you made the right decision,’ Brody says. ‘Leaving your wedding before it was too late.’
I turn back to the window, watching the snow fall and wondering how this happened. How I got this far with Cam without realizing I didn’t really love him, and that he probably didn’t love me.
‘You want to go out there?’ Brody asks.
‘Out where?’ I turn around and see Brody right behind me, looking out the window. ‘In the snow?’
‘Yeah. I’ve got some sweats you could put on and an extra pair of boots. They’ll be huge on you, but I think you could make it work.’
‘Why would we go outside?’
He shrugs. ‘It’s something to do. And I like being out in the snow. Always have. When I was growing up, my brothers and I would spend all day outside when it snowed. Sledding, making snowmen, having snowball fights.’
‘Sounds fun. I’ve never done that.’
‘Done what?’ he asks, his gaze going from the snow back to me.
‘The stuff you just said. My mom didn’t want my sister and me getting our clothes wet in the snow or tracking it in the house. We stayed inside on snow days. I’d look through my mom’s fashion magazines and my sister would draw. She’s really good at drawing.’
Brody’s staring at me. ‘You never made a snowman? How is that possible? Everyone’s done that.’
‘I haven’t. I grew up in the city. Where would I build a snowman? We didn’t have a yard.’
Brody takes off, walking fast through the house.
‘Where are you going?’ I call out, but he’s in his room and doesn’t answer.
He returns holding a pair of gray sweatpants. He tosses them to me. ‘Put those on. I’ll go find a hat.’
‘Wait—what?’ I hold up the pants. They go up to my head. ‘Brody, there’s no way I can wear these. They’re too big.’
‘I’ll give you a belt.’ He comes back with a green knitted hat. ‘This should fit. My mom made it for one of my exes, but we broke up before I could give it to her.’
‘You want me to wear your ex-girlfriend’s hat?’
‘Why not? What difference does it make who it was for? All that matters is that it’ll keep your head warm.’
I put it on. ‘At least it fits. But there’s no way the pants will.’
