Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Hadley

A few days after our movie night the awful sound of metal colliding jarred me awake. I could feel a slight rumble on the floor. My heart beat terribly as I clutched my chest and picked up Eli just as he started crying. I rubbed his cheek and rushed into Lucy’s room, only to remember she went to sleep with me the night before. I ran back and found her sleeping peacefully.

What was that? I knew what it sounded like…like a bad collision outside. What if it was the apartment though? Worriedly, I ran out the door with Eli and peeked over the ledge. My heart fell to the bottom. “Oh, no, no, no, no!” I screamed.

A rusty white truck hit not only my car but a few others. But mine seemed to have taken the brunt of the damage—sandwiched between two other vehicles. Around me tenants were cussing and running out while I stood numbly in place. It took me a minute to snap out of it and rush down the stairs. Before I reached the bottom step, I recognized Elijah’s heated voice and saw that he’d grabbed some guy by the shoulder.

It dawned on me. The guy that hit our vehicles was trying to run. If he was willing to leave the truck behind, he likely had no insurance and tags or the truck didn’t belong to him. I knew that some shady people lived in these apartments.

Eli wasn’t crying, but the angry voices and commotion made him search around frantically as he clung to my shirt with his mouth set in a little pout.

“Elijah,” I called out, and his head swiveled around as he gestured for the younger boy to sit down with someone who must have been his mom since she was smacking the crap out of him. Recognition crept over me as I watched. That was one of the little brats that whistled at me most days. He was the driver? He didn’t even have his license. He wasn’t old enough to have one.

I bounced Eli as Elijah stopped in front of us. “Has anyone called the cops yet?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yeah. The kid’s on something and tried to run. The little fucker doesn’t even look like he’s old enough to be driving.”

“He’s not.” My lips trembled.

Elijah rubbed my shoulder. “It’ll be okay.”

His gentle words cracked the dam. Through tears, I whispered, “Do you think they even have insurance? I’m still paying on my car.”

“Hadley.” He tipped up my chin. “Relax. Jesus Christ woman, are you always this way? How do you take care of two tiny humans like it’s a cake walk yet freak out over something that isn’t even your fault?”

“This and that are entirely different.” I wiped my eyes. He couldn’t understand. My car didn’t look drivable and that meant I was without a vehicle. Just when I thought I was doing good this happened. It was okay to be heartbroken and upset about it. “I need to go get Lucy. I don’t like her being in the apartment alone.”

“Just go inside, and I’ll come get you when the cops arrive.” He turned and gently shoved me toward the stairs.

“Why? This has nothing to do with you.”

“Fuck if it doesn’t.” His harsh words were oddly soothing. “Go on.”

I stopped protesting after that. I really didn’t want to keep Eli out there when he seemed scared, and Lucy was inside alone.

Forty-five minutes later, Elijah and a cop came up to the apartment. The officer took my information and said the report would be ready in a few days. I felt slightly embarrassed that Elijah asked the cop to come to me, but I was nervous having someone handle something for me. For a second, I wondered if that was how it felt to be in a relationship where someone took care of you. Someone you could rely on without even asking. I never had this feeling with Scott. And Elijah’s not even my boyfriend.

Eli fell back to sleep seconds after Elijah and the cop left. I was about to call Mom and Dad to let them know what happened. One of them would need to come get us in a few hours and take me to work. It amazed me that I hadn’t already. Normally, I’d call Dad. Even though I could fix my own tire or handle a lot of situations, I always called him, if only to complain. But Elijah’s sturdy presence had strangely been enough.

There was a knock on the door before I could. Frowning, I looked through the peephole and found Elijah on the other side. “Elijah? Is there something else?”

“I think you’ll need new car seats.” He stepped inside. Still confused, I shut the door behind him. “The vehicle’s totaled, Had. I don’t need someone to come out and give an estimate to know.”

He gave me a nickname. It was oddly endearing. But hearing about my car and the seats sucked.

I sighed. “Yeah. I already knew I’d have to get new ones. Any time a vehicle’s been in an accident, you have to get rid of them. My parents have some in theirs”

He glanced down at his watch. “What time do you have to be at work?”

“I normally leave a little after six.”

“I’ll take you.”

“No, my dad will,” I blurted out, not wanting to burden Elijah anymore that morning. “Besides, you don’t have seats for Eli and Lucy.”

He nodded, a slight frown on his face. Why did he seem disappointed? “Then, I’ll pick you up after work and take you to get some new ones.”

“There’s no point in getting any right now, especially since I’m without a vehicle.”

“It’s needed,” he said plainly, heading toward the door. “So, I can take you guys where you have to go.”

My eyes became as huge as saucers. My crazy, stupid heart fluttered. I didn’t ask it to. I definitely didn’t want it throbbing for Elijah—who was too good to be true. Friend Elijah was perfect enough. I needed no more reasons to feel warm toward him.

“Fudge, no, Elijah. I can’t ask you to do that.” I smiled, leaned forward, and placed my hand on his chest. I couldn’t help myself. “You’re a lot nicer than you let on.” When Elijah gave me a dark stare, I pulled my hand away. “Thanks. You’re a butthole, but a very nice one.”

His upper lip twitched. “Even with them asleep, you still won’t say ass?”

“Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not. Just interesting.” There was a hmm in his tone. “Makes one curious as to how exactly does one make you slip and say something bad.”

My face was on fire. I was firetruck red. My eyes sought the floor instantly.

“What time do I pick you up?”

I groaned. “Once you get something in your head, there’s no stopping you is there?”

“Glad you know.”

“Seven.” I threw my hand up. “Your shop doesn’t close until eight.”

“I can work around that. I won’t schedule any appointments too late from now on.” From now on?

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“It means I’m taking you to get some car seats tomorrow, and we’ll pick up Lucy and Eli from your parents afterward. Problem solved.”

“Not that part,” I grumbled. “The from now on part.”

“What’s not to get? I’ll be chauffeuring your ass around until you get a new ride.”

“They won’t fit in your truck,” I argued.

That only made him laugh. “Baby, have you seen the back seat of my truck?

Baby? Baby?

No, I hadn’t but I was suddenly very curious.