When Drake spots me, he turns in our direction and gives me that cocky smile from the night before. “Hey, baby,” Drake says and hands me the flowers he was carrying, then leans in close and kisses my cheek.
“These are beautiful. Thank you, Drake.” I smile and inhale the scent of the sweet flowers.
Drake introduces me to his friend Chase who hasn’t stopped staring at Tori since they walked up. I recognize him from the beach yesterday, but what’s weird is Tori hasn’t said a word, even when he asks for her name she stares at him blankly. I have no idea what is going on, but this is very unlike her.
“Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to call you today. There was a five-car pile-up on Route 278 early this morning, and I was called in to assist.”
I should know better, it’s what we do, but I feel better now that he’s told me why he’s been silent. “Yeah, we heard about the accident when we first got on shift. Those in the accident were transported here.”
“How are they doing?” Chase asks.
“Most of them are doing fine. They just needed to be checked by a doctor and have been sent home. I know there is an older couple that are both in critical condition in ICU. It would be terrible if one of them made it, and the other didn’t.”
“If it were me in that situation, I wouldn’t be able to go on without her.”
As soon as the words are out of his mouth, I know I would do anything to be the her, he’s talking about. Maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me or the soft timbre of his voice as he speaks to me as if no one is around. A shiver runs down my back as I picture us spending the rest of our years together only for us to be torn apart at the end. I wouldn’t want to go on without him either.
“Sweet Summer. What time do you get off tonight?”
“Twelve-thirty.”
“I want you to call me when you get home to let me know you got in safe and are all locked up.”
“By the time I get home, it won’t be until after one.” I hedge, not comfortable about waking him up. “I’ll just send you a-”
“If you’re about to tell me you’ll text me, you can shut that shit down now. I don’t care how late it is, just call me. I need to know you are home and safe, and I need to hear from you before I fall asleep.”
I can’t really argue with that, now can I?
By the time I make it home and pull into my spot in the parking garage, it’s well past one and creeping up on two. The thing I love most about this apartment community is the security it offers. I get in at crazy times, and I feel secure knowing I’m safe. I ended up staying a little late checking in on the older couple before I left. Thank god they are doing better. My phone lights up in my purse, and I notice I have several texts and a missed call from Drake. I roll my eyes and get out of my car and head to my apartment.
When I turn down my hallway, Drake is standing by my door looking ready to kill.
Four
Drake
As soon as I see her walking down her hallway, I can breathe easy again. I know it’s crazy and I’m an asshole for showing up at her place in the middle of the night, but I couldn’t sleep until I knew she was safe. I don’t know what it is about this woman and my instinctual need to protect her from the world. Except that I do. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on her that she is mine.
There are so many terrible things I have seen growing up in the city. Hell, my sister, Addison, was almost killed by a stalker a few years ago. Thank god her now husband Crews came along and took care of that fucking creep. Crews is a scary mother fucker that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy but is a complete teddy bear when it comes to my little sister and their daughter.
“Hi,” she says softly as she inserts her already out key into the lock. It pleases me that she is safety conscious.
“Hi,” I respond.
“You coming in?” she asks over her shoulder. I push off the wall and follow her inside, closing and locking the door behind me. I watch her set her bag down then kick off her shoes.
“You’re late,” I throw out, no longer worried for her, but still pissed that she didn’t answer my messages. I’m only used to worrying about my sister, and these days she doesn’t need that.