Page 32 of Runaway Road (Runaway 1)

I followed his gaze.

“What happened to my car?” I shrieked, stepping inside.

Long scratches ran up the length of the red paint. They were thin and narrow, angry as they cut through the smooth surface. It wasn’t as bad as when I’d skidded into the guardrail, but it wasn’t good either. The trunk was covered in yellow. The paint dripped to the floor, puddling next to a tire.

My hands dove into my hair. “Oh my God.”

“Londyn, I can explain.” Brooks held out a hand.

“Yes. Please.” I nodded, unable to look away from the wreckage.

“Someone broke in last night and vandalized the place.”

I tore my eyes away from the Cadillac and took in the rest of the garage. The same yellow paint on my car had been splashed on one of the cinderblock walls. Tools were scattered across the floor. Tires that had been stacked against the far wall were strewn around. There was another car in the opposite bay but it looked unharmed.

“Who would do this?”

Brooks sighed, planting his fists on his hips. “I don’t know.”

“Take a guess.” This was a small town. He had to have some idea who would do this to me. And the narrowed look on his face said he definitely had an idea.

“Moira.”

His ex-wife? “Why?” Was this because she’d seen us sitting on that rock last night? “I’m no one. I’m leaving. Or I was until this.”

His lips pursed into a thin line. “She gets jealous. She knows I’ve got a thing for you.”

“Oh.” My anger flatlined. “You do?”

“Think that’s pretty obvious, don’t you?”

“But you didn’t kiss me last night.” He’d rejected my date.

“No, I didn’t.” He walked to the Cadillac, leaning against the scratched side panel. I couldn’t see the driver’s side, but I was guessing it hadn’t fared well either. “That was my mistake, and I regretted it all night long.”

I’d sulked for hours as I’d slowly packed up my suitcases last night, wishing things had ended differently. I guess I’d get that wish because there’d be no goodbye today.

“What about my car?”

“I’ll wash off the paint, but it’ll have to go back to the body shop for the scratches.”

I stepped closer, running my finger over a scratch. “Is that from a key?”

“Yeah,” he muttered.

“You don’t sound surprised.”

“No.” He blew out a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’ll pay to have it fixed, but it will take a while.”

“Ironic, isn’t it? If your ex is jealous, she should have just left me alone. I would have been gone.”

Brooks pushed off the car an

d strode my way. “I’m so sorry, Londyn.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“You’d be on your way if I had stayed away from you.”