Page 2 of Where Love Lies

“Mom!” Paige hollers from the car; she must hear me yelling.

“Stay there, Paige!” I shout with annoyance, knowing if she comes out and sees me upset, she’ll follow suit, and this will be an even bigger scene.

“Who’s that?” the guy asks. His body shifts to the right, trying to get a look at who I have in the passenger seat.

“My daughter…” I murmur, but then remember she’s hurt because of him. “Who is injured because of you!” I point at him with my index finger, wishing it would slice through him right now. His negligence resulted in hurting my child and ruining my car. It should be him bleeding, not her.

Stepping past me, he heads to my car.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask, but he ignores me and goes to the passenger side. I’m right behind him and ready to attack. He better not touch her!

“Let me see,” he speaks to Paige. She turns her face for him to see. “Yeah, that is a nasty cut. Let me grab something from the car to help with that.” Scooting past me, he jogs to his SUV.

“Is that who hit us?” Paige asks, looking out the window at him.

“Yeah…” I’m a bit lost at what to say to her about this man. Watching him rush back to us, he hands Paige a blue rag. It looks brand new.

“There ya go, just hold it on there. Apply pressure.” He’s bent over, hanging into the broken window to help her. He’s so attentive and calm but that rag isn’t going to cut it.

“Thank you, really, but I need to get her to the hospital to be checked out.”

“The ambulance must be held up somewhere,” he throws his hand out towards the backup traffic.

“Just my luck,” I mutter, the urge stinging my eyes.

“Well, your car definitely isn’t going anywhere. Let me take ya’ll to the hospital and I’ll get a tow truck out here—”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll take care of it.” I’ve been caring for Paige and me on my own, since I left Cam and I’ve become stronger and wiser for it. Some would even say stubborn. Cam is Paige’s father, and my ex-husband.

His chest rises with a hard inhale; he’s not pleased with my independence.

Silence falls between us, cars starting to honk impatiently, wanting us to move the wrecked cars off the highway, so they can pass.

He smiles, his chest silently shaking as if he’s laughing at me.

“What’s so funny, because this,” I point to my car and then Paige, “isn’t anything to laugh about!”

“Are you always like this?”

“Like what?”

“Refusing to let others help you when you clearly need it?”

“I don’t need your help!” I can feel my cheeks becoming hotter by the second, anger mounting inside me.

“Clearly,” he remarks with amusement. I’m so over this guys. I need to get him out of my face and take Paige to the hospital. Then get to the house and meet the movers. I go to my car and search for my phone to put in his information.

“Mom, can I get out?” Paige asks, sitting up in her seat. Her cheek still bleeding.

“No, there’s traffic everywhere, just sit tight for now.”

She groans and slumps back in her seat, in silent protest. I’ll deal with her later. I find my phone under my seat then walk back over to Mr. Ryan Phillippe, who can’t seem to take anything seriously.

“So, my name is Rain Adler,” I start, hoping to get him off the idea of taking us to the hospital.

“Rain, that’s a pretty name.” I still, our eyes locking again, and he’s being genuine. Shaking myself from staring too long , I clear my throat.

“My name is Heston Thayer. Let me take you to the hospital.” My hands drop to my sides. He just won’t give this up. First, he’s overly calm and then poking fun at me, and now, he’s being kind. I can’t make up my mind how to feel about him.

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