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onaipwolf

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“We’re here.”

A voice next to Hayley’s ear woke her up. “Huh?”

She looked up to see Brennan next to her face. She realized she had been nestled on his shoulder and sat up, her face turning a shade of crimson.

“Sorry about that. I must be tired.” Hayley pulled her hair back from her face and adjusted her shirt and jacket.

“No problem. Now where does your mom live?” Asked Brennan as he drove down the main street in Wilmur.

She hesitated in answering, her mind racing for an easy way out. “Oh, that’s ok. You can just drop me off at the gas station. I’ll call my mom from there.” She congratulated herself for coming up with such an easy and safe solution.

“Are you sure? It wouldn’t be any problem on my part.” Brennan gave her a look of concern.

“Oh, no. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ok.” Hayley breathed a sigh of relief.

Brennan drove down the main street, but it was already ten, and all businesses had closed for the evening, including the gas stations. He reached the end of the town and stopped, pulling into an empty gas station parking lot. Turning off the engine, he turned to look at her.

“Nothing’s open, and I don’t feel right just leaving you here all alone in the street. Are you sure you don’t want me to just take you to your mom’s?”

“It’s ok. I’ll just walk.” Hayley said as she opened the door and stepped out. She was hit with a blast of cold air. She breathed sharply in, as the bitter wind whipped around her head, throwing her hair into her face. She hadn’t realized the weather had gotten so bad.

“Theresa.” Brennan called to her as he unbuckled his seat belt and reached out his hand towards her. “Get back in the truck. It’s cold out there.”

Brennan grabbed hold of her left wrist just as she slipped out of her seat, her feet hitting the ground with a thud.

“Let go of me.” Hayley complained resisting his hold on her.

“Just let me take you there. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Brennan said, concern filling his voice.

“Let. Me. Go.” Hayley demanded, glaring at Brennan. Each word she spoke dripped with venom.

He stared at her for a moment, and then released his grip. “Fine.”

“Thank you.” Hayley stared at Brennan, her right hand gripping the door handle, the wind still blowing her hair. She felt a few flecks of snow bite into her face, sending a chilly shiver run down her spine. She wanted more than anything to get away from this man, to slam the door in his face and watch him drive off down the road, but something held her back. He really did have a good point. Where was she going to stay until morning, out here in the freezing cold?

She stepped up and sat back in her seat, shutting the door firmly behind her. “Ok, you’re right.”

Brennan looked at her surprised. “Ok.”

Hayley sighed. Now she knew God hated her. It was just as well, at least things were mutual. “Look. I’m sorry I was rude. Can we get going now?”

Brennan frowned slightly then sat back in his seat and turned the key in the ignition. “So how do we get there from here?”

“Oh, it’s not that far.” Hayley replied vaguely, trying to figure out a way out of this sticky situation.

The engine sputtered, and died. Brennan frowned, his hair falling into his face. He turned the key again, with the same results. “Come on, baby. Don’t do this to me.” He muttered under his breath.

“Does this happen a lot?” Hayley asked, concerned.

“Sometimes. Just when it’s cold.” Brennan tried to start the engine a few more times with no success. “Great. I think I’ve flooded the engine.”

“Is that bad?”

“Yes. Now it’s not gonna start for anything.”

“So your truck is broken?”

“No.”

Hayley could tell Brennan was getting annoyed with her questions, but she didn’t care. “So what’s wrong then?”

Brennan looked at her. “The engine is flooded. My truck is touchy, so it won’t start until it warms up outside.”

“So we’re stuck here?”

“Yes.”

Brennan and Hayley sat in the truck in silence, the sound of the wind blowing outside filling the air. After a few minutes of silence, Brennan spoke up. “So who’s the father?”

“No one.” Hayley replied off-handedly.  Unconsciously, she placed a hand on her stomach.

“Ah so you’re the Virgin Mary, then?” Said Brennan, a smile playing at his lips.

“No.” Hayley felt tired and was sick of his probing questions. “For your information, this is the result of a drunken one night stand. What do you think of that?”

She silently dared him to disapprove.

“Oh, I see.”

“You see what?” She was starting to get more annoyed.

“Nothing. Well, I’m going to get some shut eye.” Brennan shifted in his seat, leaning back on the driver’s side door. “Care to join me?”

Hayley looked at him with surprise. “Excuse me?”

“For warmth.” Brennan explained smiling again. Hayley realized he was certainly smiling a lot for someone who liked black. Weren’t they supposed to be moody, serious types?

“No thank you.” Hayley leaned back on her own door. Another chill ran through her, as her skin rested against the icy window.

“Come on, it’s only going to get colder. We’ll keep each other warm.”

She hesitated.

“I’ll let you share my nice warm coat.” Brennan replied pulling out a black leather coat from the back seat.

Hayley figured she was going to regret this, but was too freezing cold and tired to care. She slid across the seat and with Brennan’s help, leaned back with her head resting on his chest and shoulder. Brennan placed the coat over both of them. Then, much to Hayley’s surprise, he rested his arms on top of the coat, his hands lightly and respectfully wrapped over her waist.

Maybe he isn’t such a bad person after all. Thought Hayley as she drifted off to sleep.