Her Destiny (Reverie #2)(32)
“Shit’s changed, Rev,” he says, his voice sounding downright…dire. Sometimes I miss my cocky, jerkwad brother. Only because I miss how carefree he used to be. Now the weight of the world is always on his shoulders. “You know this better than anyone.”
“I’m not worried,” I say, waving my hand. “The weather keeps lying anyway. None of the storms that have come through have amounted to much.”
“The sky is pretty damn dark,” Evan points out, his attention going to Nick. “Don’t drive like a total jackass. Think of my sister.”
“I’m always thinking of your sister,” Nick says with complete sincerity.
My heart swells at his words. “Stop trying to scare him,” I chastise Evan.
“He’s not trying to scare me,” Nick reassures me, resting his hand over mine. “He’s just worried about you.”
They are all worried about me and I both appreciate their concern and want them to knock it off. Fine, I’ve acted like a simpering baby most of my life, but how can I grow and spread my wings if they’re constantly trying to hold me back?
“We’ll be fine.” I smile brightly but it feels oddly false. “Everything will be just fine.”
Chapter Twenty
Two p.m., longest day ever
The tension in the air of my truck cab is thick. Reverie and I have hardly spoken since we left her apartment and at first, I figured she was just worried about the weather.
Because Evan was right, it’s for shit. The moment we pulled onto the freeway the skies opened up and dumped rain on us. So heavy it became hard to see and traffic slowed to a crawl. Probably safer but frustrating as hell.
We’ve been on the road for almost two hours and we’re almost there, thank Christ. I’m anxious, feeling antsy after concentrating on the road for so long, and I’m dying to get out and stretch my legs.
Her silence is starting to freak me out. Is she having regrets? What if she doesn’t tell the cops the truth after all? Not that I think she’d come all this way just to screw me over but…
I don’t know. After dealing with Krista for so long it’s hard for me to wrap my brain around a girl wanting to actually help me, I guess.
We kissed when I came back from making the breakfast run but other than that, there’s been no real affection happening between us. She’s sitting in her seat and I’m sitting in mine and the space between us feels long. Like miles, oceans, galaxies long. She’s got her arms crossed in front of her and her face averted as she stares out the window, her gaze locked on the ocean as we pass by it.
The water is gray and swirling, capped white and turbulent. The storm is stirring everything up including my thoughts and I can hardly f**king stand it.
“Are you mad at me?” I finally ask, unable to take it anymore.
She turns to look at me, her arms still crossed in front of her chest, her expression incredulous. Relief trickles through my veins but I’m cautious until I hear her answer. “Why would you ask that?”
I shrug, feeling stupid for asking. “You’ve hardly talked to me.”
“You’ve hardly talked to me,” she returns.
A frustrated chuckle escapes me. “Driving in this shit weather is doing a number on me I guess.”
“And knowing I have to talk to the police and answer their questions is making me nervous,” she says softly. “It has nothing to do with you. I’m not mad at you.” She pauses. “Are you mad at me?”
“Hell, no,” I say vehemently. “I’m grateful you’re doing this for me.”
“I’m not doing anything but telling the truth.” Another pause, this one longer before she says, “Why did you not let me see you when I came by the jail?”
I withhold the frustrated sigh that wants to stream out of me. “I…I didn’t want you to see me like that.”
“Like what? Like an innocent man being held against his will?”
“Now you’re just being dramatic,” I retort but damn it, her words stick with me because she’s right.
“No, I’m really not. Your refusing to see me broke my heart, Nick. I thought…I thought you hated me or that you were mad at me when I didn’t do anything. I—I don’t know, it was all so crazy around then and I didn’t understand what was happening.”
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again until you finally get it. I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want the cops to find out you were with me because of who you are, Reverie. You’re the daughter of a famous televangelist. They would’ve splashed my scandal all over the news and dragged you along with me.”
“But at least you wouldn’t have been a suspect any longer,” she says.
“Yeah, but your reputation would’ve been ruined.”
“My reputation was already ruined because of what my parents did. No one wants to talk to the Hales unless they can find out some juicy gossip. My mom spoke to the media at first because she was trying so hard to portray herself as the victim but after realizing all they were doing was vilifying her, she gave up.” Reverie shakes her head. “You tried to protect me for nothing, Nick. I hope you realize that.”
“Am I supposed to feel bad about that?” I ask, chancing a glance in her direction to find her studying me.