Page 89 of Forsaken Hearts
Gary opened the cab and steadied her. “Easy.”
Summer stared up into the truck. Something inside her screamed this wasn’t right.
Vander wouldn’t know where she was.
The thought surfaced harder this time, cutting through the fog clouding her brain.
“I need to call him.”
“You can after you cool down.” Gary’s tone stayed patient. “You’re dehydrated.”
The word caught in her spinning thoughts.
Dehydrated.
Maybe.
Maybe that was all this was.
Her body felt heavy and distant as Gary helped her into the passenger seat. The cab smelled like coffee, motor oil and a staleness underneath.
“I think I’m gonna be sick.”
“You just need to cool off.” He shut the door firmly.
Panic fluttered harder beneath her ribs.
No. She needed Vander.
The thought pushed through the haze again, stronger now.
Need to tell Vander—
The driver’s side door opened.
Gary climbed inside and handed her the cup of lemonade. “Drink more. You’re more dehydrated than you realized.”
Summer’s fingers fumbled around the cup. Everything felt wrong. Slow. Heavy. Like her mind floated several seconds behind reality.
“I should call him,” she tried again.
“After you rest.”
His voice sounded farther away now.
Summer barely realized he’d helped guide her toward the sleeper compartment behind the seats until she found herself propped against the narrow mattress in dimmer light.
Fear clawed harder through the fog clouding her head.
This was wrong.
The lemonade coated her tongue sickly sweet as she swallowed several desperate gulps in an attempt to ease the awful dryness in her throat.
Then the truck engine roared to life, vibrating beneath her.
Panic slammed through her chest.
“No—”
