Page 11 of Runaway Road (Runaway 1)

Hours passed. Stars lit up the midnight sky. Thousands of them hovered overhead, and like I’d done as a teenager, I wished on the brightest. Lost in their random pattern, I jumped when a flash of light caught my eye from the rearview mirror.

I sat up, spinning around as blinding headlights raced my way. I flew into action, turning on the Cadillac’s interior light before getting out. I hurried to stand by the hood, inching back until the guardrail brushed my calves. Then I waved my arms in the air like a lunatic as the other vehicle approached.

I squinted at their headlights, using one hand to shield my eyes as the other waved. The car didn’t slow. The hum of its engine seemed to grow louder. Did they not see me? Or were they going to pass me by?

My stomach dropped as the lights got closer and closer with no sign the vehicle was slowing. My arm was still raised in the air but I’d stopped waving.

They were going to keep driving. Asshole.

Given my luck today, that was about par for the course. I was ready to give them the finger too when tires squealed and the engine’s loud downshift filled the air.

“Thank you,” I breathed, dropping my hand.

A truck came to an abrupt stop right beside me, and the window lowered. My eyes were still filled with spots from the headlights, but I squinted hard, trying to make out the driver.

“Need some help?”

It was a woman’s voice. Thank you, stars. One of my wishes was to be rescued. Another was for my rescuer to be female.

I stepped closer to the truck. “I have a flat and am squished into the guardrail. It’s dark and I didn’t want to try and change it myself. And . . .” I sighed. “I don’t have a phone.”

“Damn.” She stretched the word across two syllables. Day-um. “Well, Summers is about ten miles up the road. Want a lift?”

Ten miles? I was glad I’d turned around. “Is there a tow truck in Summers? I’d rather not leave my car out here.”

“Cohen’s got a tow. Want me to call him?”

“Yes, please. Thank you so much.” My eyes were finally adjusting to the dark. As she took out her phone, the screen illuminated the cab briefly, and I was able to see her face.

The woman was likely in her late fifties, but with the dim light, it was hard to tell. The wrinkles around her eyes and mouth were slight. Her hair was either a light blond or gray. She pressed the phone to her ear and faced me, giving me a kind smile.

Of all the people in the world who might have stopped, I’d hit the jackpot. I stepped closer until I was standing right outside the open passenger window. The scent of lemon bars wafted from the truck and filled my nose.

My stomach rumbled. The chips I’d inhaled hours ago had long since burned away.

“Hey, Brooks.” She didn’t introduce herself to the person on the other end of the phone. “I’ve got a gal here who needs a tow. About ten miles north of town, a mile or so before you hit my place.”

Her place? So if I’d gone the other direction, I’d have landed myself at her house? Damn it. From now on, I was paying better attention to my surroundings as I drove. This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been trying to work myself out of a funk.

“Sure thing.” She hung up, setting her phone in the console. “He’s on his way.”

“Thank you.” Would it be weird to give her a hug?

“Want me to wait with you, sweetheart?”

My heart warmed. “No, you go ahead. Thank you.”

“It’s late. I’m on my way to the motel to deliver some lemon bars to my sister, Meggie. I bake when I can’t sleep and she works the evening and night shifts. You come on over after Brook

s gets you and that car to town. Stay the night in Summers.”

“I think I’ll do that. Thank you.”

“Good. My name’s Sally. And you are?”

“Londyn McCormack.”

“Fine meeting you, Londyn.” She lifted a hand. “See you soon.”