“GET THE FUCK
OUT OF THE CAR!” I yell frantically, trying to pull the door handle, but
failing miserably. As my fist pounds against the window, I can feel my heart
beating wildly—thump, thump, thump—and
hear the fire roaring in my ears.
Her beautiful
eyes are wide with terror as she tugs on her seatbelt, only to confirm that it
won’t budge one single fucking centimeter. Pounding on the window, I’m
screaming at her, begging her, pleading beyond reproach, but it’s as if she
doesn’t hear me. She keeps shaking her head, the expression on her face one of
defeat. Like she’s accepted her fate—that the flames will destroy her—and
somehow, she’s at peace with it. And there's not a fucking thing I can do to save
her.
Turning to look
at the wreckage around us, I know I’m racing against time and it won’t be long
before the semi cab’s engine blows high into the sky. My brain is screaming at
me to run away, to find safety, but then I look back into the car. Her hand
presses against the glass, her fingers spreading, and she looks at me, tears
filling her eyes. I press my hand to the window, covering hers, and in that
instant, the world around us stops. Our eyes lock, knowing we may be the last
thing each other sees, and for a split second, there’s recognition in her eyes.
There’s a familiarity here, as if I’ve met her before, but I can’t place her.
I’m transfixed on her for a moment, trying to figure out how I know her.
I no longer
feel the heat on my back, the flames on my face. All I see is her. All I feel
is her. She’s someone important—I can feel it deep down in my soul, but I’m not
sure why. Without question, something inside me shifts, and I start pounding my
fist against the glass, knowing I need to get her out of there.
She bangs on
the window, our fists both working against the glass. Yet, instead of trying to
break it, she’s telling me to get out, to move away. Valuing her life over
mine, which really isn’t saying much.
A small sense
of victory washes over me when a crack finally appears in the glass. Motioning
for her to move away, I watch and wait as she leans into the passenger’s seat,
out of harm’s reach as I start hitting the crack. The sound of shattering glass
brings on sweet relief as I finally break through the fucking window, my
fingers fumbling as I dive into the car, barely registering the feel of glass
stabbing my torso as I lean in.
I try to
unbuckle her seatbelt, but it’s no use. The fucking thing won’t dislodge, and I
start to panic the moment I hear her sobbing.
“Let me go.
It’s no use. Get out of here before you’re burned to ashes, too,” she sobs, her
voice wavering.
She refuses to
look at me, and in that moment, I don’t care about myself. I’d give my life for
this beautiful, familiar stranger. It’s a surprising thought because I’ve
always been a selfish asshole, but seeing her there, vulnerable and ready to
give up for me, I’m aware that, for once in my life, I can put someone else
first. And I goddamn fucking will.
Grabbing the
multi-tool from my belt, I thank the Lord my dad always made me carry one, even
if it is more for cracking beer than tool use. I flip the knife out and make
quick work of cutting through the material. Once she’s released, she falls
against my chest, and I sigh in deep relief. A loud pop interrupts the moment,
and she wraps her arms around my neck. With as much care as possible, I pull
her through the broken window, wincing as every single inch of shattered glass
pierces my skin.
“Oh my god. You
saved me,” she murmurs, and I watch as blood trickles down her forehead.
“I’m no savior,
baby. I usually destroy everything around me,” I admit, knowing she probably
won’t remember this interaction.
“That’s not
true. You could’ve left me to die, and you didn’t. You came back for me. No one
ever comes back for me,” she whispers, her voice trailing off as her head
starts to lull off to the side. The blood from her head wound continues to
trail down her face, and I mentally panic as she slowly falls into unconsciousness.
Looking up, I’m
straining to hear the distant sirens, begging beyond hope that help arrives in
time. I’m standing in the middle of the road with a beautiful woman in my arms,
and for once, I have no idea what to do.
Before I can
catch my bearings, I hear a high-pitched hiss, and moments later, my vision
explodes in flashes of yellow, orange, red, and blue. Somehow, I hold on to her
tight even as I’m thrown forward, my arms tightening around her as we fall to
the ground. Settling in on the side of the road, I roll to my side with her
still in my arms. Pain flows through me, but she’s the one I’m concerned about.
She’s the one I want to be safe. Me? I could die right now and no one could
care. But her? I’d never fucking forgive myself if I don’t keep her safe.
I feel the heat
at my back, and I hold her tighter, my body cocooning hers to keep the flames
at bay. Voices shout in the distance, but my vision turns blurry, and no matter
how hard I try to fight it, everything fades to black.
Chapter 1
Ari
Earlier That Day
“Breathe,
Ari,” my younger sister, Alyssa, says soothingly as she rubs my back.
Leaning
forward, I inhale deeply and hold my breath, allowing the air to fill my lungs.
A sense of calming washes over me and I close my eyes.
“That’s it.
You’re fine.”
Opening my eyes
to look up at her, I exhale slowly then steady myself. As I sit up straight, I
finally make my own decision—probably for the first time in my life. “I can’t
do this. No. I won’t do this,” I tell her emphatically, relief flooding through
me as realization takes over. Things never should’ve even gotten this far, and
I can’t believe how close I came to making the biggest mistake of my life.
What mistake is
that, you ask? Marrying Benjamin Cunningham the Fourth. Tomorrow is my wedding
day. Or, well, it’s supposed to be. Tomorrow. I’m supposed to plaster on a fake
smile and marry Benjamin—god forbid you call him Ben—the son of my father’s
business partner and my boyfriend of two years. The man I’m supposed to love.
Who I thought I did love. So why don’t I feel more distraught over my decision?
Why do I feel relief that I’ve decided not to pledge my undying love for this
man?
Probably because I don’t have undying love
for him.
The thought crosses my mind, and I
know it’s true. My feet have been growing increasingly colder the closer the
day has come and now I know why. Benjamin doesn’t love me and he confirmed that
fact just minutes ago when I overheard him telling his father that I’m nothing
more than a means to an end—his perfect little trophy wife. And once he secures
that ring on my dainty little finger, he’s going to start working on Dad to
become his successor. The Covingtons and the Cunninghams. The perfect
merger.
I should’ve
cried. I should’ve felt heartbroken. And maybe I will once the adrenaline wears
off. But in that split second, what I felt was instant relief. Because now I
understand what our relationship has been—a business transaction. Unfortunately
for Benjamin, this is one merger that isn’t going to happen, and the look on his
face when I told him so was priceless. Shock, humiliation, and even anger
flashed across his features before he steadied himself and dismissed me,
calling me a silly woman who simply hadn’t heard him right. With a kiss on the
cheek, he told me that he had a few things to do before the rehearsal and then
left like nothing was wrong. Fortunately, Alyssa was right there, and she
guided me back to her room, calling him all sorts of colorful terms that
would’ve had Great-Grandma Covington rolling over in her grave.
With renewed
resolve, I straighten my shoulders and stand up. Smoothing down my dress, I
grab my purse, holster it over my shoulder, and stroll towards the door. Alyssa
scurries after me but she doesn’t say a word as we ride in the elevator of the
hotel where the rehearsal dinner is being held. I don’t stop until I get to my
car. Glancing into the back seat, I see my luggage and am thankful I’ve already
packed for my honeymoon. This will make my getaway that much easier.
“Where will you
go?” Alyssa asks.
Sighing
heavily, I look up at her. I haven’t really thought that far in advance.
“Anywhere. Somewhere far away from Atlanta where our parents—and probably
his—can’t try and talk me into marrying him. I just need to get away. To
regroup. I know I shouldn’t ask this of you, but can you cover for me? You know
how William and Victoria have been waiting for this day to come, and now, it’s
just going to be one more disappointment for them.”
Now that I
think about it, Benjamin’s probably not the only one who viewed our impending
marriage as something less than love and more about the business. My father has
always lamented not having a male heir to take control of the company. Because,
apparently, if you have a vagina and two breasts, you’re incapable of doing so.
Now, I’m wondering if he had ulterior motives when he set Benjamin and me up on
a blind date two years ago. If I can’t be his successor, then why not his
reputable son-in-law?
The more I
think about it, the more it makes sense. William was all too willing to embrace
Benjamin, and he spared no wedding expense. Victoria, my illustrious mother,
agreed and has done everything she could to talk me into quitting my job and
becoming a housewife. In her words, my job is to keep the house clean, the children
fed, and my husband happy. In reality, what she meant was: hire a maid, hire a
cook, and turn a blind eye while my husband bangs his secretary.
Shuddering at
the thought, I realize that Benjamin did me a favor. I’m escaping an
unsatisfying future, and now that I’ve come this close to being a carbon copy
of my mother, I vow never to let anyone push me around again. If and when I do
marry, it will be for love. Not for duty, purpose, or business. No. I’ll never
let another man in unless I love him and he loves me. There is no way in hell I
will ever be anyone’s trophy wife.
Alyssa squeezes
my shoulder. “You got it, sis. I’ll handle things here. Just promise to call me
when you get where you’re going. And for the record, I’ve always thought you
were too good for Ben. I’m glad you see that now, too.”
Tears well up
in my eyes for the first time since making my decision. Not for my wedding, but
because I have no idea where to go. Benjamin—and William—talked me into taking
a leave of absence from my job as an accountant, something easy to do since my
father is my boss. I’m not due back to work for at least six months, and as
much as I’d been dreading the time off, I’m grateful now to have the escape. My
bank account will help me get by for a while, but for the first time in my
life, I have no idea what to do. After a life of trying to please my parents
and then Ben—and usually failing at both—I resolve that it’s time I live for
me. I just wish I hadn’t spent twenty-seven years being a pushover. I guess growing
a backbone late is better than never.
Looking back at
Alyssa, I muster up a smile. “I love you, too. And I appreciate it, Lyss. I’ll
call you as soon as I get settled.”
I slip into my
car just in time to see Benjamin running out of the hotel, his dad and mine
right behind him. Apparently, he’s decided that I wasn’t just blowing smoke,
but it’s too damn late. As I put the car in reverse, I roll down my windows and
blast the radio, finding it not all that ironic that Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me”
is blaring over my speakers. I have to laugh, knowing I’ll be doing no such
thing.
Just before I
peel out of the parking lot, I throw on my sunglasses and yell out to Benjamin.
“Sorry, Benny, but you’re going to have to find yourself another trophy wife!”
Using the nickname he loathes is probably childish, but I can’t help that final
parting shot.
His face looks
aghast and shock fills his eyes. Yeah, it’s finally getting through to him that
a kiss on the cheek doesn’t make everything better. Thank God I overheard, and
just in the nick of time.
My blood’s
pumping and I feel just like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride. But instead of
running away from a man who loves me unconditionally, I’m running from what
would have been a huge mistake. And running straight towards an unknown future.
When I get to
the highway, I’m not sure which direction I should take. At the last second, I
choose north.
I don’t know
where I’m going, but anywhere is better than here.
***
Bzzzz. Bzzzz.
The sound of my
phone vibrating has become almost commonplace. It’s been doing so for the last
four hours, and no matter how many times I hit ignore, Benjamin keeps calling.
As does William. And Victoria. The only one who’s leaving me in peace is
Alyssa, and I love her to pieces for it.
I know I
should’ve been strong enough to stay behind and face the music, but I couldn’t.
The truth is that I’ve never been the strong one. I’ve always been the yes girl,
and my resolve isn’t as strong as I’d like to think. No, putting as much
distance between me and my wedding is the best thing I can do right now, even
if it does make me a coward. I’d rather be a coward than wake up tomorrow
married to the furthest thing from the man of my dreams.
If I’d been
stronger, I never would’ve allowed my father to set me up on a blind date. I
never would’ve decided that complacency and security were enough in a
relationship, and I sure as hell never would’ve accepted the ridiculously
extravagant—and public—proposal last fall. Inhaling deeply, I decide that I’m
turning over a new leaf. I don’t know where I’m going, but somehow, along the
way, I’m going to find my own strength. And I won’t return home until I do. No
matter how long it takes.
Glancing down
at my phone, I see that the latest call is from Victoria, and I groan, knowing
there’s no way I’m speaking to her now. I throw my phone into my purse on the
passenger’s seat and then focus back on the road, looking out the windshield at
the beautiful mountains in Tennessee. It’s a gorgeous view, especially with the
setting sun, and I get distracted watching the sun dip between two rising
peaks. As I round a corner, I look ahead just in time to see a semi-truck
barreling into my lane, and before I can hit the brakes, I hear screams
sounding in my ear—my own screams—as the truck slams into the front end of my
car, sending it spinning.
My heart’s
racing and I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing this is it. This is the end. I steel
myself against my seat until the car comes to a complete stop. Silence fills
the air, and slowly, I open my eyes, one at a time, hopeful that I can make it
out of this alive. My windshield is cracked, and smoke’s filling the air, but
when I look down, I’m seemingly unscathed.
My chest heaves
as I try to unbuckle my seatbelt, but for some reason, it does nothing when I
press down on the button. Looking out the windshield, I see the semi-truck only
feet away, its engine already on fire. My thumb presses down on the release
button, but I can’t get it to dislodge. Panic starts to set in as my eyes race
from the seatbelt that’s holding me captive to the consuming fire that’s
growing with every second. I’m simultaneously cursing God and anyone else I can
think of while also praying for safety when I hear a loud bang on my window, my
prayers seemingly answered.
A muffled voice
shouts and I strain my ear to make out the words as I turn my gaze to the
driver’s side window. My heartbeat quickens when I see the handsome stranger
standing at my window. My eyes widen in shock when I realize he’s not a
stranger at all. Well, not really. We’ve met—only once—but his face is one I’d
never forget. And one I never thought I’d see again. In fact, I’m almost not
sure that he’s real.
I’m distracted
as he pounds on the glass, looking back and forth between me and the blazing
inferno. I go to open the door, but it won’t move—almost as if something in the
crash had knocked the mechanics off-kilter—and I have no way to escape. Panic
washes over his face, and I feel the same panic flowing through me. Tugging on
my seatbelt, I’m suddenly aware that it’s no use. Looking around, I see the
flames, and when I look back at his face, I see it in his eyes. It’s too late
for me. But it’s not too late for him.
I press my hand
to the window and hope my eyes are pleading enough to get him to save himself.
Instead of fleeing, his big hand comes to the window, covering my own.
“Get out!” I
scream at him, not even sure if he can hear me.
But it’s no
use. He pounds against the window, determination in his eyes. My eyes flick to
the semi-truck and I see the fire creeping closer. Panic surges in me and I
start banging on the window, frantic and desperate for him to get away.
A sob catches
in my throat when I see his elbow actually cause a crack in the window. Leaning
into the passenger’s seat, I cover myself as he hits it a few more times,
finally breaking free. After he pushes the glass away, he crawls into the car
and starts working on the seatbelt, but it still won’t budge.
A hissing
sounds fills my ears, and I know it’s just a matter of time before we blow sky
high. I try to push him out of the car, begging and pleading for him to save
himself, but he doesn’t. Somehow, someway, he cuts me free and pulls me into
his arms, slipping me out of the car just in the nick of time. As my arms wrap
around his neck, he holds me close and strides away from the burning vehicle.
His arms tighten around me, and he whispers sweet words in my ear, but they’re
indecipherable. Pain flows through my body, my head throbbing as warm blood
trickles down the side of my face. My eyelids feel heavy and I can no longer
keep them open.
Just as I’m
falling unconscious, the last thing I hear is, “I’m no savior.”
As darkness
takes over, the last thought I have is that it’s a lie. Because he most
certainly is mine.
