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Twenty hts popped up in the distance A caravan of two single lights followed by a double traveled down the road toward her Two bikes and a car Toni straightened as they drew near and slowed

One of the bikes turned into Zach’s drivehile an SUV and the other motorcycle rode the extra few feet to her property Before her , she shot to her feet and started down the ay toward the vehicles

A man climbed off the bike and removed his helmet As he came into clearer view, Toni’s steps faltered She’d assumed it would be Zach But it wasn’t It was the really severe, uns man who hadn’t spoken but tords to her when Zach introduced them at the bonfire Rocket, if she recalled correctly

“Is Zach okay?” she asked No point in social pleasantries She wanted one thing from the man in front of her and it was to learn about Zach

“In the car” Rocket jerked a thumb in the direction of the car

Zach sat in the passenger seat, staring out the ith a vacant expression

“That didn’t answer my question” The temperature had dropped over the past few hours, and Toni now regretted the denim shorts and thin T-shirt that read Sunny with a Chance of Wine She crossed her ar soaze

Instead of talking, he focused on observing and seemed to see so much

“Shit day,” he said

Guess that was all she was gonna get out of Rocket Whoever was in the driver’s seat spoke to Zach and he blinked as if just realizing the car was no longer in motion With a nod for the driver, he opened the door and cli

“Is he drunk?” she asked without taking her eyes off the man whose blue eyes were devoid of their usual verve for life

“Nah, not really Just exhausted He needs to sleep He won’t hurt you”

“What? No I wasn’t worried about that I knoon’t I’m just concerned for him”