More than Distance

10

Suddenly, I just wanted to be back in my apartment. I would open a bottle of wine with my roommates Maddie and Becca and they’d make me feel a hundred times better. Coming to the beach had been a stupid idea. I should’ve gone straight home instead.

I turned the key in my ignition, but it made a few pathetic sounds and then died. Don’t do this to me. Not now. I tried again, with the same result. Okay, deep breaths. Maybe the third time was the charm?

Nope.

My head fell forward against the steering wheel. Seriously, universe? As if my night wasn’t bad enough already, now it threw this at me too? Was I being punished for something I’d done in a past life?

No, I refused to be beaten. I was the daughter of a mechanic and I’d grown up with a wrench in my hand and oil running through my veins. I could fix whatever was wrong with my car.

I popped the hood and checked the engine, but it was so dark out I couldn’t see much of anything. With my phone as a flashlight, I poked around as best I could, but I suspected the timing chain had snapped. I’d have to replace it, which meant there was nothing I could do out here. The car would have to be towed to my dad’s shop.

I slammed the hood shut and took stock of my situation. I was on a deserted road next to an empty beach and my car was dead. I didn’t even have my sweater because I’d left it at my parents’ house. I was truly screwed.

I pulled out my phone, but hesitated. I could call Dad—he had a small fleet of tow trucks available and would be happy to get me, but I didn’t want to talk to him or Mom. I was too upset with them. I considered calling my roommates, but then remembered their band had a show tonight. Great. I’d have to suck it up and ask my brother for help.

I called Daniel and told him what happened, then listened to him berate me for five minutes about going to the beach alone at night.

“Stay inside the car with the doors locked until help arrives. Call 911 if you see anything. Anything, okay?”

I sighed. “Yes. I’ll be fine though. Really.”

“Carla—”

“My phone’s dying. Gotta go.” It wasn’t dying, but I hung up before he could launch into another lecture.

I parked my butt against the hood of my Mustang and crossed my arms while I waited for Daniel to arrive. Getting in the car and locking the doors was probably good advice—not to mention it was getting really cold out here—but I stubbornly refused. I was tired of the way my brother always treated me like a fragile little child who needed someone to take care of her. Ever since I’d gotten cancer, Daniel had taken overprotective to extreme levels. It was bad enough having a mom who took me to the ER every time I got a papercut and a dad who wouldn’t let me date a boy without giving him a lot of not-so-subtle threats with a baseball bat. I didn’t need this kind of parenting from my older brother too.

After about five minutes my annoyance with my brother faded. I’d never been able to stay mad at anyone for long, and Daniel was just looking out for me, showing me he cared in his own annoying way. He was picking me up, after all. I couldn’t be too angry at him.

But when a black Ducati motorcycle pulled up, it wasn’t my brother who’d come to my rescue.

It was Ryan.

Five

Ryan

Carla did not look happy to see me.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, as soon as I took my helmet off. Despite her height, she looked small standing beside her car with her arms wrapped around herself. God, she was beautiful. I was overcome with relief knowing she was okay. What if I hadn’t gotten here so fast? What if something had happened to her?

I stormed over to her, suddenly furious that she had put herself in such a vulnerable position. “What the hell were you thinking? Coming out here by yourself in the middle the night?”

Her lips pressed into a tight line, but it didn’t make her any less stunning. “I already got this lecture from my brother. I don’t need another from you.”

“He has a point, you know. You shouldn’t come to places like this on your own. It’s not safe.”

“Since when do you care? You show up after six years and think you can tell me how to live my life?” She shook her head, her glorious curls bouncing. “You’re not my brother, Ryan.” Didn’t I know it. I couldn’t stop staring at the spot where her tank top strap had fallen down one arm, revealing a smooth, dark shoulder just begging for me to press my mouth against it. Nope, I definitely didn’t see myself as her brother.

“I don’t care. I’m only here as a favor to Daniel.” I forced my gaze away. To her car, to the ocean, to anything but her body. Jesus, the second we were alone together I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing her. This was exactly why I’d avoided her all these years.

“I’ve been perfectly safe here this entire time. I didn’t need you to show up and rescue me like some kind of white knight.” With that, she turned away from me and stalked toward the beach. Where was she going now? I stared after her as she reached down and plucked off her flip flops, temporarily paralyzed by the sight of those long legs under her shorts. She dropped her shoes on the curb before stepping into the sand and walking with purpose toward the dark water.