“PLEASE, BETTY, NOT NOW,” I begged, as my car exhaled one last broken wheeze and chugged to a stop at the side of the road. As if she hadn’t made her point clear enough, she emphasized her protest to life with a loud and resounding bang.
“No, no, no,” I groaned as I tried to restart the engine.
This day was going from bad to worse. Jeremy still wasn’t answering my calls, and I was running late for the party because I had foolishly waited at home for my mom to call. As usual, something came up, and she had to cancel. I didn’t need my car breaking down on top of everything.
It was dark and below freezing outside, and if the car refused to start again, I knew I wouldn’t last five minutes without the heater on. I had no choice but to get Betty going, so I kept trying to convince her to give life another chance. “I promise I’ll be nicer to you, Betty. I’ll use that wax you like next time I wash you. I’ll give you a nice oil change and check your tire pressure. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I’ll do whatever you want. Just please start.”
Betty chose not to respond, and the engine continued to click. She’d always been a temperamental old thing, but I had a feeling she was on her last legs. The move to Minnesota might have finally finished her off.
I tried restarting her a couple more times before I gave in. It was clear Betty wasn’t going anywhere fast, so I tried calling Mia. There was no answer. I also tried Jeremy, but unsurprisingly, he didn’t pick up either. I even asked ChatGPT what to do, but the AI app simply answered by explaining there were various reasons a car wouldn’t start and advised I consult a mechanic.
I swore and jumped from the car to check under the hood. This wasn’t the first time Betty had conked out on me, and I’d always managed to get her going again somehow. Surely, she didn’t need to see a mechanic. She was just being difficult. A frigid gust of wind slammed into me as I emerged from the vehicle, and I had to suppress a shiver. The person who named Sunshine Hills must have had a sick sense of humor. There was only one hill, and I was beginning to forget what the sun looked like.
I blew into my frozen hands and jumped up and down on the spot to stay warm as I stared at Betty’s engine. I wasn’t sure why I thought this might help because I knew absolutely nothing about how cars worked. But I was desperate. I wasn’t far from the party, but I didn’t want to leave Betty out here in the cold.
I considered calling my uncle for help but immediately rejected the idea. He thought Mia and I were meeting some friends to see a movie tonight. But here I was, on the outskirts of town, about as far from the movie theater as you could get. He would freak if he knew Mia and I were going to a party with no parental supervision. And if I called him for help, he’d find out the truth, and we’d both be grounded for the rest of the year. Luke was taking his position as my temporary guardian far too seriously. He really needn’t worry. It wasn’t like my mom would care.
I turned on the flashlight on my phone and held it over the car engine. The light did little to help the situation. I couldn’t see anything smoking or hissing, and there were no obvious chunks of metal hanging at awkward angles. The engine looked very much like I imagined an engine should, and Betty’s mystery illness remained as inexplicable as it had been before.
“Crap. Crap. Crap.” I slammed Betty’s hood back down. “I thought we were friends,” I yelled at her. “How could you do this to me?” To make sure she fully understood my disappointment in her, I swung my foot at one of Betty’s wheels.
I swore again as the kick connected with the tire and my toes collided against the tip of my boot. I hopped backward from the car on one foot, only to slip on the icy ground. My breath caught as my feet flew out from beneath me, and I landed in a heap on the side of the road, snow flying up around me.
Luckily, the thick blanket of snow that covered the sidewalk slightly softened my landing. I didn’t immediately move to get up. Instead, I stared up at the dark, cloudy sky overhead and started to laugh. This day couldn’t get any worse. I hadn’t even wanted to go to the party, and now I’d be lucky if I was ever allowed out of the house again.
“Are you okay?”
A face appeared above me, blocking my view of the sky above. I was wrong. Apparently, my night could get worse. Because it seemed the most beautiful guy I’d ever laid eyes on had just witnessed me yell at my car, kick it, and fall over in the snow. He was peering down at me like he thought I’d lost my mind. He might have been right. I definitely wasn’t far off.
His forehead crinkled as he waited for me to respond, and I realized I recognized that forehead. I recognized those eyes. Reed Darling was standing over me, and I suddenly wished the snow I’d landed in would bury me whole.
Despite the fact he’d overheard me calling him a pig only a few hours earlier, his expression didn’t brighten or flare with any kind of recognition. He didn’t remember me. It was hardly surprising. Guys like him didn’t notice girls like me. And I was totally fine with that.
“Well?” He tilted his head as he searched my eyes for an answer. He was probably concerned I’d hit my head too hard. I wondered if perhaps I had. I wasn’t feeling particularly lucid right now. This all felt like a bad dream.
“I’m fine,” I said, climbing to my feet as quickly as I could. From the way my head began to spin, I suspected I’d been a little too quick.
“Are you sure?” Reed continued. “Because I just saw you yelling at your car and kicking it…”
“Yeah, well, she had it coming,” I muttered.
My stomach dipped as I lifted my head to peer up at him. Reed cast an imposing figure from a distance, but up close, he was overwhelming. I often wondered what they fed the kids around here because there were lot of big guys in Sunshine Hills. Reed somehow made the others look puny. If I didn’t know he was my age, I would have guessed he was at least in college. There was also something intense about the way he held himself. A kind of cocky self-assurance you only encountered in people who always got their way.
I tried to keep my expression as neutral as possible as I looked into his eyes. It was pretty much my standard reaction whenever I encountered someone this gorgeous. I made myself seem so disinterested in the person that they either thought I’d lost a few brain cells or that I despised them. And Reed was so attractive I must have been looking at him like he was pure evil. If the rumors Mia had shared were anything to go by, then maybe he was.
I probably should have slowly backed away. I was alone on a dark street with a broken-down car. Not a great time to bump into a guy who clearly had some anger issues. I could even see the scar on his neck Mia said he’d received in a fight. I didn’t move a muscle though and was surprised to find I didn’t feel all that nervous around him.
“Can I ask why she had it coming, exactly?” He smirked, crossing his arms over his wide chest.
I looked him up and down. There was sweat glistening on his forehead, and his cheeks were flushed. He was wearing exercise gear, and his breath was slightly labored, so I assumed he was out running when he saw my glorious fall onto the sidewalk. Rumors and reputation aside, there was clearly something wrong with him. Anyone who voluntarily went for a run after playing such an intense game of hockey couldn’t be normal. Why was he even still talking to me? I’d gotten up from my fall, and I was fine. Perhaps he had a morbid sense of curiosity.
“Why did she have it coming?” I let out a short but slightly manic laugh that must have made him regret asking the question. “Because I’m having a really bad day and she quit on me in my hour of need.”
I probably should have stopped there, but the words kept tumbling out. “She had it coming because my boyfriend, my mom, and my cousin won’t answer my calls. And I can’t call my uncle because I’m not supposed to be out here tonight. Hell, I’m not supposed to be in this freezing, miserable place at all. But here I am, alone, stuck on the side of the road, stuck for my senior year. Just stuck, and there’s no one here I can turn to. So, yeah, I kicked my sweet old car, and if she ever starts again, I will profusely apologize, but until then, as far as I’m concerned, she had it coming.”
I took in a deep breath as I finished my rant. My frustrations had boiled over and spilled out, but it wasn’t just because of tonight. A breakdown like this had been coming ever since my mom dropped me off and left. I just hadn’t expected it to take place in a snowdrift in front of the state’s most notorious hockey player.
“I’m here,” he said, catching me off guard.
“What?”
“You said you’ve got no one here to turn to.” He shrugged, held out his arms, and looked himself up and down. “Well, I’m here.”
I frowned at him because I had no idea why he was still here. He’d stumbled on me abusing my car and then watched as I unloaded my emotional baggage into the cold night air. Not to mention that I could still feel snow caked in my disheveled hair, so I must have looked just as unhinged as I sounded. He was here though, and he was smiling like I amused him rather than worried him.
“And, lucky for you, I am,” he continued. “I think I can help.”
“You can help?”
“Yeah, with the car. I know a guy.”
“You know a guy,” I repeated, trying to keep the suspicion subtle in my voice.
“Well, I live with a guy. My dad owns a garage. He’s closed on Saturday nights unless there’s an emergency, but I can call him and ask him to tow your car back to his shop.”
I shook my head. What were the chances I’d break down just as a guy whose dad owned a garage ran past? A part of me felt like my bad luck for the day was finally turning around. But then I remembered Mia’s warnings about this guy and wondered instead if the worst was yet to come.
“Uh, that’s okay,” I stuttered. “I’ve already interrupted your run. I don’t want to bother you anymore. I’m sure I can find someone on Google.”
“Not on a Saturday night in Sunshine Hills.” He chuckled. “There’s only one garage near here: my dad’s.”
My frown deepened as I looked between Reed and my phone. I wasn’t sure if I should believe him. But what reason would he have to lie?
“You don’t trust me, do you?” he asked.
“I mean, you’re just some guy I met on the side of the road, and my mom really ingrained the whole stranger-danger thing into me as a kid.” If I was honest though, my mom probably would prefer it if I was talking to a creepy stranger rather than a jock with a bad reputation.
“Well, you’ve been talking to just some guy for a while now,” he replied. “Maybe your sense of stranger danger isn’t quite as ingrained as you think.”
“Or maybe my getaway car is broken…” I nodded in Betty’s direction.
“Right.” He released a breathy laugh. “Well, I’m Reed Darling. Now the stranger has a name.”
“You could still be a danger, Reed Darling.”
“I promise I’m not a danger to you.”
That didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous at all. Mia certainly thought he was. I kept waiting for some sense of self-preservation to kick in. To feel my sixth sense twinge and tell me to back away from the guy. Apparently, mine was faulty. Not once since we started talking had I felt threatened.
“So, will you let me help you?” he asked.
I hesitated. I needed the help, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted it from a cocky star athlete who apparently just got out of juvie. For all I knew, he was going to steal my car and strip it for parts. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t pay someone to take Betty off my hands.
I’d paused for a fraction too long, and Reed took advantage of the opportunity to pull out his phone and lift it to his ear.
‘I didn’t agree, you know…”
But he raised one finger, indicating for me to wait as he listened to the phone ring. As I suspected, he wasn’t someone who took no for an answer. The way he’d disregarded my protest might have pissed me off if I hadn’t been quite so cold and my car not quite so dead.
“Hey, Dad.” Reed’s voice softened a little as he spoke, and his expression became less rigid. “I know it’s Saturday night, but my friend’s car has broken down. Any chance you can take it to the shop?” He paused as he waited for a response. “Don’t worry, I’m sure she won’t even notice.” Reed paused again. “Okay, great.” He then gave his dad the address before he hung up and turned to me. “He’s on his way. He can drop it at the garage, but he won’t be able to look at it until Monday. Is that okay?”
“Yes.” I released a long breath, and all the tension I’d been holding went with it. Now that he’d called his dad, I realized I’d been crazy to even consider turning down his help. Reed Darling might be dangerous, but it appeared he wasn’t all bad. “Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. It was just a phone call.”
It was much more than just a phone call to me. I’d been this close to giving up and calling Luke for help. Mia would have never let me hear the end of it if I’d gotten both of us in trouble. She should be thanking Reed too.
“Also, my dad told me to ask you not to judge him,” he continued.
“Why would I judge him?”
“You’ll see.” Reed’s eyes creased at the corners like he was struggling to contain a laugh. “I didn’t catch your name…”
“I didn’t give it. Apparently, I’m the only one who’s concerned about stranger danger.”
He laughed. It was deep and pleasant, and it made me wonder how anyone who made such a comforting sound could be as bad as Mia made him out to be.
“You got me there,” he said. “So…”
“Violet,” I replied. “But all my friends call me Vi.”
“Am I your friend, Violet?”
His voice was friendly, but I swallowed because he was looking at me so intently I struggled to meet his gaze. “Well, if you’re not pranking me with the tow truck thing, I think we can be friends.”
“Good to know.”
As we stood there waiting, I wondered how he wasn’t freezing. His athletic wear was molded to his firm body, and he must have felt the cold despite the fact he’d been running. What was he even doing out here? Surely, he had to be exhausted after the game he played earlier today.
Before I could pluck up the courage to ask him, he put the question to me.
“So, what were you doing out here all alone?”
“Just on my way to a party. What about you? Do you usually go running in the freezing cold on Saturday nights?”
“Only when my damsel-in-distress radar goes off.”
“Oh, and I suppose that makes you Prince Charming?”
“Sorry, princess, but I’m definitely no prince.” Reed flashed me a mischievous grin, which I almost instinctively returned. I managed to resist and rolled my eyes instead. It almost felt like Reed was flirting with me, but, then again, he probably flirted with every girl he found stranded on the side of the road.
“You know, if I was your boyfriend, I’d answer your calls and I’d drive you to parties.”
This time, I definitely didn’t feel the urge to smile at him. Instead, my cheeks flushed as I remembered how I’d spilled all my personal problems to him just a few minutes earlier. I didn’t want to dive any deeper into why my boyfriend appeared to be dodging my calls. I still hadn’t heard from Jeremy since I’d missed his game, and I was trying my best to ignore that depressing fact.
“I can drive myself.”
Reed smirked as he eyed my stranded car and the Violet-shaped hole in the snow behind me. “Are you sure about that?” He stepped slightly closer as a set of headlights appeared up ahead. “Because it looks like your car had other plans.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond as the tow truck finally arrived. The driver jumped out, and I had to suppress a laugh when I caught sight of him. He was dressed in a giant lobster costume.
He was a large guy, built just like his son, with the same deep blue eyes and dark hair, although his was dusted with specks of grey. When he saw the smile on my lips, his expression dimmed.
“I thought you were going to tell her not to laugh, Reed.”
Reed was failing to withhold his smile too. “She’s laughing at a joke I told, Dad. Not at your glorious lobsterness.”
“You cracking a joke? I guess there’s a first for everything.” His dad grunted before walking over to me. “I’m Danny,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Violet,” I replied. “I’m sorry for dragging you out here on a Saturday night.”
“The shop’s on the way to my party,” he said. “And it’s no problem. I won’t be able to take a look at your car until Monday though.”
“Reed already told me. And that’s totally fine.”
“Okay, well, let’s hook her up. And we better pray I don’t ruin my costume, or Reed’s mom will kill me.”
Once Betty was safely connected to the truck, Danny offered to give me a ride home. It was remarkably kind of him, considering everything he’d already done, but I wasn’t ready to face my uncle just yet. Besides, I was still hoping I’d see Jeremy at the party so I could finally talk to him, and I knew I could catch a ride back with Mia.
“Thanks, but I’m headed to a friend’s place near here,” I said. “I can make my own way there.”
“I’ll walk you.” Reed spoke with such confidence I didn’t know how to say no. I was still surprised he’d stuck around this long and wasn’t planning to bail as soon as his dad left. Now he was offering to escort me to the party? He might not be a prince, but apparently, he could be a little charming when he wanted to. Unless, of course, he had some ulterior motive.
“Well, I’ll leave you kids to it,” Danny said before handing me his card. “Come to the garage Monday, and I’ll let you know what’s wrong with old Betty here.”
“Thanks.” I gave him a smile. “Do you need payment now for the tow?”
He waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. First tow’s free for one of Reed’s friends.” He winked, making me blush, before he headed back to the front of his truck and squeezed his way into the cab, which could barely fit his large red lobster suit.
“That was really kind of your dad,” I said to Reed as we watched him drive off. “And you.”
“Guess it’s lucky we’re friends,” he said.
“Guess so,” I agreed with a smile.
“So, where are we headed?”
I told him the address but then added, “You really don’t have to walk me.”
“It’s not far,” he replied. “And it’s on my way.” He waved his hand, gesturing for me to go ahead, and the two of us walked side by side as we made our way to the party.
I was sure he had better things to be doing with his Saturday night, but I appreciated his company all the same. I didn’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t come along when he had, and I was unbelievably grateful he’d called his dad to help.
“So, you go to Sunshine Hills Prep?” he asked.
My brow creased as I wondered how he knew that. He must have seen my confusion because he quickly explained. “You said you were in senior year, and I haven’t seen you around my school.”
“Ah.” I nodded. “Yeah, I go to Sunshine.”
Given the age and failing health of my car, he was probably wondering how it was possible I went to such an esteemed and expensive school. Betty definitely looked out of place in the Sunshine Prep parking lot. I was certainly the only kid there driving a car older than them. The only reason I was able to go to the school was because my uncle was a teacher there, and my tuition was heavily discounted. There was no way my mom could afford it otherwise.
Reed didn’t question my car though. “I’m at Ransom High,” he said. He watched me closely as he waited for my response, as if he was expecting me to judge him for it. I hadn’t grown up here, so I didn’t share the same prejudice against Ransom that most of my peers held.
“I know.” I nodded at the Devils logo that was prominently displayed on his top.
He glanced down at his chest and frowned. “I’m surprised you’re still talking to me then.”
“Why?”
“People from Sunshine Hills and Ransom don’t generally play nice.”
“Well, I’m not from Sunshine Hills or Ransom.”
He glanced at me with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “No, I didn’t think you were.”
“What gave me away?”
He laughed. “It might have something to do with the fact that you’re wearing about ten coats and you’re still shivering.”
“I wish I was wearing ten coats,” I muttered.
“So, where are you from?” he continued. “And how did you end up in this freezing, miserable place?”
I cringed as he once again referenced my deranged rant. “I’m from California. My mom ditched me here for the year to live with my uncle. He teaches at Sunshine Prep.”
“Ditched you?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “She got offered her dream job in London and couldn’t turn it down. So here I am.”
“Stuck,” he said, his voice low, almost like he was talking to himself, but then he looked across at me. “I’m sorry, that sucks.”
“It’s okay,” I replied. “I understand why she had to go. Sort of.”
I didn’t know why I was sharing all this with Reed. A boy I’d just met who, at first glance, seemed to be exactly the kind of guy I did my best to avoid. Before I could dwell on my uncertainty, I heard music drifting toward us from up ahead, and I realized we were almost at the party. As we drew closer, I could see people milling in the front yard, despite the cold, and the party appeared to be in full swing. A few of them shot curious looks in our direction as we reached the front gate, but it was dark enough they probably couldn’t make us out clearly.
“This is me,” I said. “Thanks again for tonight. You really came to my rescue.”
“Like I said, my damsel-in-distress radar was pinging.”
I hesitated because I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to Reed. Mia had made it sound so simple: Reed Darling was trouble. However, after our brief but eventful encounter, I felt like he might be a little more complicated than that. He was like a good puzzle, and I didn’t want to put it aside until I’d figured it out.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked. “I know it’s a Sunshine party, but the girl hosting it is really nice. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind…”
Reed smiled softly and slowly shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Besides, I’m still in my running gear.”
It was hard not to feel disappointed. Even more so when he leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “But you have a good night, Sunshine. I hope I proved to you not all hockey players are pigs.”
My eyes widened as I realized he had remembered me after all. I caught the briefest whiff of his cologne, and then he was off, jogging down the road into the night. I stood in a state of shock as I stared after him. There might have been rumors swirling about Reed Darling, but despite everything I’d heard about him, he didn’t seem to live up to his infamous reputation.
Not yet, at least.
