Page 25 of Made for Wilde
I nod, leaning back against the refrigerator. "Yeah. Eight years."
"And?"
"And what?"
"There's more to this story or you wouldn't look like you want to punch something." She tilts her head. "What else happened?"
I run a hand through my hair. "Charlotte was there."
"Charlotte. Jason's daughter Charlotte?"
"Yeah. She moved here for beauty school. Works at The Summit." I push away from the fridge, restless. "She's all grown up now."
Dana watches me carefully, a knowing look crossing her face. "All grown up and beautiful, I'm guessing."
I meet her eyes. "Yeah."
"Ah." She picks up her tea again, a small smile playing at her lips. "Well. That's complicated."
"Fucking tell me about it."
She takes a sip, studying me over the rim. "I’m sure you’ll figure it out."
I grab my jacket from the back of the chair. "You heading home?"
"Yeah. Just need to finish this first." She gestures at her mug.
I nod toward the windows where rain lashes against the glass. “You should probably get going soon. This storm is going to get nasty.”
Dana laughs. "Koda, I live ten minutes away. And I drove in Boston winters for five years. I think I can handle a little mountain storm."
"It's turning to ice."
"Then I'll drive slow." She waves me off. "Go on. Get out of here before the mountain roads get worse. That's a hell of a lot more dangerous than my ten-minute drive."
She's right. I pull on my jacket.
"Be careful anyway," I mutter.
"Always am. You too, big brother."
I head for the exit, walking through the empty gym. The rain sounds even louder out in the main space, hammering against the high windows like it's trying to get in.
By the time I push through the front doors, the temperature has dropped noticeably. The rain is starting to feel more like sleet, stinging against my face as I jog across the parking lot to my truck.
I throw my bag in the back seat and climb behind the wheel, slamming the door against the storm. Water drips from my hair down the back of my neck. I crank the engine and turn the heat on full blast, letting it run for a minute while I catch my breath.
The windshield is already fogging up. I flip on the defrost and pull out my phone to check the weather radar one more time before I head up the mountain.
A text notification lights up the screen.
Charlotte.
My chest tightens. I unlock the phone.
Charlotte:Hi Koda. I'm so sorry to bother you, but my car won't start and I'm stuck at the beauty school. Is there any chance you could give me a ride home? I completely understand if you can't with the storm.
I stare at her message and read it twice.
