Warnings and Wildfires

  “Sully?”

  “Huh?” Only this girl could kiss me stupid.

  She closes her door and clicks her seatbelt into place. “Why didn’t you honk to let me know you were waiting?”

  I scowl at the question and steer away from the curb. “You were talking to your friends. It’s not a big deal.”

  “I know you have a million things to do. I really can take the bus.”

  “No.”

  She sighs.

  “Not with that asshole still on the loose. No way.”

  “All right.” She pulls her hair into a ponytail and slides the window down.

  “How was your day?”

  “Good. Great, actually. My professor’s really enthusiastic about my progress with the project. Impressed, actually.”

  I reach over and squeeze her leg. “That’s great. Proud of you.”

  She runs her fingers over the back of my hand. “I feel bad you’re driving me all over the place, but I like spending the extra time with you.”

  My hand’s still resting on her leg, and I twist my wrist, inviting her to twine her fingers with mine. “I like it too.”

  Her words almost stab a blade of guilt in my chest for the gift I’m about to give her.

  As I pull around the building into the parking lot, Aubrey leans forward, peering out the windshield. “Wow, who do all the trucks and motorcycles belong to?”

  “Jake has a few of his friends helping out.”

  “That’s sweet.” She points toward the back of the parking lot. “Why is there a car with a bow on it in your parking lot?”

  I crack a smile, guessing Jake’s the one who slapped the big silver bow on the front of the shiny red Jeep Renegade.

  “I don’t know.” I fake confusion. “Let’s check it out.”

  I park a few feet away from it and we climb out. She glances back and forth between the two vehicles. “It’s cute. Kinda looks like your Jeep had a baby.”

  “You think so?” I rub my hand over my chin like I’m deep in thought.

  She narrows her eyes at me. “Why are you being weird?”

  “Am I?”

  “Don’t you want to figure out who it belongs to?” she asks, walking over to the vehicle.

  I jog over, catching her around her middle and lifting her in the air. I kiss her cheek, shoulder, and finally, her neck. “I already know who it belongs to,” I whisper against her ear.

  “You do? Who?”

  I set her down and pull the keys out of my pocket. “You.”

  She blinks at stares. First at the keys, then at me. “I don’t…wait, what?”

  “You need a car. You’re adding more classes to your schedule next year.” My lips quirk. “Your social media manager job requires travel.”

  “Sully, I can’t accept such a huge gift from you.”

  “It’s not a gift. It’s a perk of your job.” I dangle the keys in front of her.

  She laughs. “My job can be done from a computer.”

  “Yeah, but your boss is a real prick who makes you run all these other errands.”

  Finally she snatches the keys out of my hands. “That’s not true.” She tilts her head. “You really bought this for me?”

  “Yup.” I point toward the road, in the direction of the car dealership a few blocks away. “Brought mine over for an oil change and this little beauty had just been turned in at the end of its lease. It reminded me of you.”

  “Because it’s tiny?” she jokes.

  “Because it’s your favorite color,” I correct. “I’ve been buying cars from Henry since I was a teenager. He worked out a deal for me.”

  She bites her lip and looks at the car again.

  “Come on.” I place my hand on the small of her back. “Let’s check it out.”

  She’s hesitant at first. Her voice trembles as she reaches up to kiss me. “This is the sweetest…thank you so much.”

  I cup her cheek and hold her for a longer kiss. “You’re welcome. Go on, get in.”

  She opens the door and slides into the seat. “It was leased? It doesn’t even feel broken-in.”

  “That’s why I jumped on it before Henry cleaned it up and put it out on the lot.”

  She runs her hands over the touchscreen in the middle and down the controls below it. “I guess I should tell Celia I don’t need a ride tonight.”

  “She already knows.”

  Her eyes widen. “What? How?”

  “She met me at the dealership before I signed the papers.”

  “Why?”

  “I wanted to make sure you’d like it.”

  “Sully.” She sighs. “That’s so sweet. I can’t believe she kept it a secret.”

  Me either. “Let’s take it out.”

  She peers up at me. “Will your shoulders even fit in here?”

  I snort and walk around to the passenger side and get in. “It’s surprisingly roomy.”

  “Where to?” she asks.

  “Wherever you want.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  I’ve driven it every day for about a week, but I’m still not used to my car. It’s so red and pretty. I can’t help smiling every time I see it. My bright, shiny reminder of how sweet and thoughtful Sully is.

  How lucky I am.

  After spending most of my weekend with Sully and Madison, I promised my sister I’d stop by the apartment to help her go through some boxes.

  Then we’re meeting Sully and the guys at their favorite bar for dinner.

  I pull into the spot closest to the sidewalk. Even though I haven’t heard anything from Darren since he sent his last letter, Sully still worries so, I text him that I’m here.

  Barking echoes through the courtyard and as I jog up the steps, I recognize Gambler’s bark. As rambunctious as the dog can be, he’s not usually noisy.

  Cautiously, I creep up the remaining stairs and look around before stopping at Ty’s door. Gambler barks even louder and there’s a rattling from inside the apartment, like he’s trying to escape his crate.

  Worried about the dog, I pull out my cell phone and call Ty.

  “What’s going on, Aubrey?”

  “Hey, I just stopped by to meet Celia and Gambler’s going nuts in your place.”

  “Shit. I’m at the station. Do you mind checking on him for me? The landlord’s already on my ass about having a pit bull. I don’t need a noise complaint too.”

  “Of course. I didn’t want to go into your apartment without telling you.” I walk over to Celia’s door and open it, reaching inside to grab Ty’s keys on the peg by the door.

  “I appreciate it, Aubrey.”

  “I’m going in now.”

  “I’ll stay on the phone with you.”

  “Hey, Gambler,” I call as I enter.

  He stops barking and sits up straight, tail whipping from side to side.

  “Are you okay, boy?”

  He whines in response.

  “Need to go out?”

  “Don’t, Aubrey,” Tyler says. “If he’s that worked up, I don’t want him dragging you down the stairs.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  “Is he okay?”

  I inspect the black metal bars of his crate before unlocking the door. Gambler falls into my arms, wiggling and wagging his tail. His big, pink tongue slurps the side of my face, making me giggle.

  “He seems fine. I’m sticking around for a while. I’ll bring him next door with me and keep an eye on him. If that’s okay with you?” I ask.

  He breathes out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I’m leaving here in a bit.”

  We hang up and I grab Gambler’s leash. He sits and waits while I clip it on. “Someone’s been going to obedience class,” I mutter, rubbing the top of his head. “So polite.”

  I lock Ty’s door and lead Gambler outside. He immediately heads for the stairs.

  “Easy, boy.”

  After a quick walk around the parking lot, we head upstairs. At my front door, he growls.

>   Did I leave it ajar when I grabbed Ty’s keys?

  A trickle of fear drips down my spine. I can’t remember closing the door. I was on the phone and distracted, so I probably didn’t pull it shut.

  Gambler growls again and scratches his paw against the door, pushing it open even wider.

  Nothing looks out of place. Then again, I haven’t been here in a few days.

  My phone vibrates, startling me. Heart hammering, I answer. “What?”

  “Rude much?” Celia laughs. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m at the apartment.”

  “That’s why I called. I’m running late.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m not sure. Gambler was barking like crazy when I got here. I called Ty and I’m bringing him over to our place for a while.”

  “He did that last night, too,” she says. “Ty’s been working a lot. Figured poor G was just wound up. Ty took him on a run this morning, so he should’ve been tired.”

  I close the door behind me, dropping Gambler’s leash so he can run around the apartment. Laughing, I ask, “How do you know so much about Ty’s schedule, sis? Hmm? What have I missed around here lately?”

  She snorts. “Give it a rest, little Miss Matchmaker.” There’s yelling in the background and she groans. “Gotta go. See you in a bit.”

  Laughing to myself, I wander into the kitchen and grab a glass of water and a couple biscuits we keep for Gambler.

  I find him stationed outside my closed bedroom door.

  “Yup, that’s my room, boy.”

  He glances over and whines.

  “Want a cookie?” I wave the treats in his face, but he ignores them.

  “Your loss.” I return to the living room and pull out my laptop, setting it up on the coffee table. Plopping down on the floor, I pat the carpet next to me. “Come here, boy.”

  He chuffs, but trots over, sitting right up against my side. I wrap one arm around him and pet his chest. “Such a good boy,” I mutter along with a bunch of other cutesy doggy compliments. “Want your cookies?”

  While he munches on the treats, I log into the gym’s YouTube account.

  “Holy shit!” I squeal, startling Gambler.

  We’ve finally reached a hundred-thousand subscribers. I send Sully a text, not that he pays attention to the numbers the way I do. But it’s a big deal, so I want to share it with him.

  Good job! He writes back.

  As if the subscribers are there because of me instead of the sweaty, shirtless workout videos of Sully, Jake, and their friends.

  Giddy with excitement, I scroll through some of the comments on the most recent video, answering questions and pointing people toward our website for more information.

  Thump.

  Gambler’s ears perk up. He hasn’t stopped staring at the hallway since he sat down and now it’s starting to creep me out.

  “It’s okay, boy. Chill, you’re making me nervous.”

  He whips his head around and licks my chin a few times before returning to staring at the hallway.

  “Yuck,” I mutter, swiping at my face, “I love you, but the slobbering has to stop.”

  Tickticktick.

  My gaze shoots down the hallway.

  What the hell is that?

  Gambler growls low in his throat, the fur down his back stands straight up.

  “Easy, boy,” I whisper, pulling myself to my feet. “Stay,” I order.

  He rolls his doggy eyes my way as if he’s saying, “You’re not the boss of me.”

  I creep toward the hallway and find my bedroom door open a crack.

  There’s no way Gambler opened the door earlier. I glance back at him. Right?

  “Did you do that?”

  At this point, I’m talking to the dog to keep myself calm.

  Blood pumping like crazy, I press my hand against my bedroom door and push it wide open.

  The knob thuds against the wall and the door gently swings back toward me.

  Everything seems fine. I’m still creeped out.

  Maybe Gambler and I should go wait outside for Celia.

  Liking that idea better and better, I turn to go back to the living room.

  Time to grab Gambler’s leash, and my purse. I’ll go park my butt somewhere that doesn’t make me jump every five seconds.

  A whispering-shuffle behind me is the only warning before my hair is yanked. Hard.

  I stumble, the hold on my hair the only thing keeping me on my feet. A sharp scream of surprise and outrage bursts out of me. It’s such a shock to my system, my mind blanks. Forgetting all the maneuvers I’ve learned from Sully, I reach back, digging my nails into flesh. My attacker gives my hair a vicious twist and I let out another yelp.

  Gambler barks and his galloping paws thud over the carpet. I’m spun and shoved toward my bed and the door slams shut.

  Gambler’s heavy body hits the thin door with a jarring thump. His paws scratch furiously over the cheap particle board. Whines and barks echo through the apartment.

  Breathing heavy, Darren engages the lock and backs away from the door.

  My gaze shoots to the lock.

  A quick twist of the knob and Gambler will take care of the problem for me.

  The bed dips as Darren sits next to me. Instinct has me jerk away, but he yanks me back by my hair.

  Stupid ponytail.

  “I didn’t know you had a dog, Aubrey,” he whispers against my ear. And, ew, is he sniffing my hair?

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I whisper.

  He tightens his hold on my hair and a prickle of pain trails against the side of my neck. Warm wetness spills over my skin.

  He cut me!

  “I’m looking forward to us getting reacquainted.”

  “You’re out of your mind. After what you did to my boyfriend’s gym, the police are still investigating you.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t have warned him that he’s still a suspect, but I’m desperate to say anything to convince him to release me.

  Instead, he backhands me hard across the face. My head snaps sideways. Sharp, stinging, ear-ringing pain explodes in my head and I fall to the side.

  Stop. Think.

  I can’t.

  This isn’t like anything I’ve trained for.

  “I’m your boyfriend. Me, Aubrey. Six years I’ve been waiting for you. We were going to get married.”

  “I was sixteen!”

  “You were having my baby,” he whispers. “We were going to be a family.”

  “What?”

  Oh, Jesus. The stupid pregnancy test that prompted the unraveling of our affair.

  “What did you do? Did you kill our baby?” he asks.

  “I was never pregnant. It was a false-positive.”

  He goes stock still, sucking in a deep breath. “You ruined my life because you couldn’t read a simple test?”

  Wow. I don’t even know where to start with that nonsense.

  Outside the bedroom, Gambler frantically attacks the door.

  Cheap door. Cheap lock. It’s only a matter of time before he opens it.

  I hope he goes for Darren’s throat.

  “I read it fine. It was wrong. It happens sometimes,” I grumble, pissed at myself for bothering to explain. “You seem to forget I was a sixteen-year-old student, and you were my twenty-eight-year-old teacher,” I say with more force in my voice.

  “Age is just a number. You loved it.”

  Good God, he really has no remorse.

  Instead of guilt and sadness. This time anger bubbles through my veins. Maybe back then I was willing, but I sure as hell am not now. I haven’t written to him or contacted him in over six years.

  A “normal” guy would’ve gotten released from prison and moved on with his life, not sought out his victim to pick up where they left off.

  “Thanks to you, I can’t teach anymore,” Darren says in a matter-of-fact tone. If he’s expecting an apology, he’s o
ut of luck. I’m fresh out of any sympathy for him. “But I’ll figure out a way to provide for you and our family.”

  It seems the crazy train is moving full steam ahead.

  The door rattles again and Darren stares at it. Enough is enough. I use the distraction to center myself before lashing out with my right foot.

  It’s a kick I’ve worked on a lot with Sully. Darren’s leg is a smaller target than the heavyweight bag Sully has me practice on, but my foot connects with a solid crack to his knee.

  Darren shrieks and grabs his leg. “Bitch!”

  I shove myself off the bed, diving for the door. Darren reaches for me, hand grazing the back of my shirt, but I shake him off.

  Movement in my peripheral vision has me throwing myself at the door, but I fall short and Darren lands on my back.

  For a second I can’t draw in any air. The shock of hitting the floor with one-hundred and fifty pounds of psychotic baggage on my back steals my breath.

  While my brain processes the situation, my fingers claw into the carpet, desperately trying to drag my body out from underneath Darren.

  “Not so fast.” His fingers circle my wrist and yank it behind my back. My other hand remains trapped under my body. I squirm and struggle to free myself and he wrenches my arm harder. “Behave!”

  “Fuck you. Get off me!”

  “Shh.” The back of his hand brushes the side of my face. “You’re going to come with me and we’ll start our new life together.”

  “Um, no.” I struggle, gaining a precious inch of ground.

  “You’ll remember how good things were, Aubrey. We need time to get to know each other again.”

  “I gotta tell you, Darren, if you’re trying to woo me, this really isn’t the way.”

  “There’s the spark I remember,” he says in his smug-condescending-teacher way that used to fill me with shame. Ugh. Now, it just pisses me off.

  I flip and squirm my way onto my back.

  “That’s it,” he says.

  He can think I’m acquiescing if he wants, but from working with Sully, I’ve learned this position gives me more leverage. I may be tiny, but my legs are pretty damn strong. Even better, Darren’s focused on the door. I pull my knees up, then kick out as hard as I can, hitting him square in the chest.

  I’m rewarded with a sharp whoosh of air shooting out of him as he falls backward. No time to gloat, instead I scramble to my hands and knees. I grab for the knob and twist hard. Gambler rockets into the room, snarling and barking.