Chapter 8

I glanced out a window and noticed it was dark. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket to check the time, only to see it was after 9:30.

“You have work tomorrow,” I said. “I should probably get you home.”

Amantha glanced around, as though she hadn't noticed time slipping by either.

“Oh, wow. Yeah, we should probably go.”

I left a generous tip on the table, and we made our way to the front counter.

The server told us the total and Amantha pulled money out of her pocket and went to pay.

“No, no, no. Your money's no good here.” I slid my debit card across the counter. “Put both meals on here, please.”

The woman at the counter smiled. She ran my debit card and slid it and a receipt to me. “Sign here.”

I signed the receipt and took my copy and my card. “Thanks.”

“You're welcome. Have a great evening!”

Amantha and I headed toward the doors to the parking lot.

“I was kidding about you buying dinner,” she protested.

“I told you I was a gentleman.”

She snorted. “Paying for dinner doesn't make you a gentleman.”

I held each door open as she wheeled through.

Amantha steered over the wheelchair ramp off the sidewalk and toward my truck. Only a few cars remained in the parking lot.

“Then what does?”

“I'm not sure you can be redeemed at this point.”

I laughed. She was probably right.

She positioned her chair by the passenger door of my truck and locked the wheels. I opened the door then scooped her into my arms.

Amantha looked at me with appreciation in her eyes. “Despite the doubt, you are making points toward redemption.”

Her pink hair framed her face, and her pouty lips begged me to kiss her.

I shook my head. No, I couldn't. I had to keep her around.

A raindrop fell from the sky and hit her on the cheek. Amantha and I both glanced up. No stars shone through the clouds. Drops fell faster. Wow, they were cold.

I placed Amantha into the passenger seat before more rain fell on her.

“Seatbelt.” I pointed at her as I shut the door.

I folded her chair and put it into the backseat so it wouldn't get wet outside in the truck bed.

The rain fell harder as I jogged around to the driver's side. I climbed in the cab and shut the door behind me. I shivered and turned the truck on, immediately cranking up the hot air from the heater.

Cool air immediately blasted me.

“Holy shit!”

I turned the air off.

Softly, Amantha reminded me, “The truck has been sitting here awhile. It needs to warm up first.”

“I know. I just forgot. It's summer, I haven't used the heat in months.”

Goosebumps broke over my skin as I put on my seatbelt and checked that Amantha wore hers. The headlights automatically turned on. I switched on the windshield wipers, shifted the truck to drive, and headed out of the parking lot.

On the highway, I drove toward the airport. I tried to put being cold out of my mind.

“How do you manage your wheelchair and drive?” I asked.

The rain came down hard around us and beat on the surface of the truck.

“I can walk a little so I usually load my wheelchair into the trunk then hold onto the car to walk to the driver's seat. It's worked so far.”

What? I shook my head. “Oh, Hell no. Not in this rain. You'll get drenched or, even worse, you could fall. I'll take you home. Where do you live?”

“No, you don't have to take me home. I need my car to go to work in the morning.”

“I don't work tomorrow, I'll pick you up. What's your address?”

“Zion, you don't have to do that,” she protested.

“You can either give me your address or you can come home with me. Either way, I won't take you to that parking lot.”

I fiddled with the heat and turned it back on. Hot air finally blew into the cab. I sighed in relief.

Finally, Amantha gave me her address.

“Oh, I know those apartments,” I said. They weren't far away from where we were.

“Yeah. Luckily, I'm on the first floor. No stairs to worry about.”

I nodded. “That definitely worked out well. What time do you have to be at work in the morning?”

“I have to be there at 9. You really don't have to come get me. I can—”

I interrupted. “I'll be waiting outside your place at 8:30.”

I clicked on the turn signal and turned onto the road to her apartment building.

“Thank you for everything,” she said quietly.

“There's no need to thank me. And don't be shy. It doesn't suit you.”

Though I wasn't looking at her, I could feel her eyes on me.

“Okay.”

We pulled into the parking lot, which was well lit by outdoor lights.

“Which apartment is it?” I asked.

“2A. To the right.”

There was one parking space open along the sidewalk in front of her apartment. I pulled into it and shifted the truck to park.

“That door there?”

I pointed to a door set to the left under an alcove. A light burned brightly beside it and 2A was clearly visible.

“Yes,” she said.

“Okay. Stay where you are. I'll carry you in.”

She reached out and touched my arm.

I met her gaze.

“You don't have to do that. It's only a little water, and I'm not sweet enough to melt.”

I laughed. “That's cute. I'm still carrying you. Don't protest.”

I ducked out into the rain and closed my door. Quickly, I jogged around the truck. Water pooled on the pavement and sloshed with every move my feet made. It was freakin’ cold.

I opened the passenger door and scooped Amantha into my arms.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and I slammed the door shut. When the icy rain hit her, she squealed and buried her face against my chest. I held her tight and jogged to the alcove.

Out of the rain, I turned my attention to the door.

“Want to get your keys...” I asked before the door swung open and a man stood in the doorway.