Chapter 18
Maya's POV:
I hung up the 911 call and let out a breath. The honking behind us wouldn't stop—three, four cars piling up, drivers leaning on their horns like that would fix the crumpled metal blocking the lane.
I stood beside the car, staring at the dented bumper.
What now?
A voice came from behind me. "What happened?"
I knew that voice.
I turned around slowly. Adam stood a few feet away, his gray-green eyes moving from my face to the wreck, then back to me. He wore a dark polo shirt, hands in his pockets, shoulders broad enough to block out the streetlight behind him.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
"I—" My throat closed up. I cleared it and tried again. "A car came out of nowhere. Hit my side."
His gaze sharpened. "Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm fine. Amy's fine."
He looked past me, toward the car. Through the window, I could see Amy's wide eyes staring back at us. Her small hands gripped the edge of her car seat.
Adam moved toward the car without asking.
"Wait—" I stepped forward, but he was already opening the back door.
"Hey." His voice softened. He crouched down beside the car seat, one hand resting on the edge of the door. "You okay, sweetheart?"
Amy blinked at him. Then she nodded, her little fingers loosening their grip.
Adam's expression didn't change, but something in his posture relaxed. "Good. You're very brave."
He reached up and brushed a strand of blonde hair out of her face. "Your aunt's going to move you to a safer car, okay? Just for a little bit."
"Okay."
I opened my mouth to protest—she's not going anywhere with you—but before I could say anything, Adam straightened up and looked at me.
"My car's right there." He nodded toward the sleek Aston Martin parked on the shoulder. "Let me take you both somewhere safe while you deal with this."
"I can handle it."
"I know you can." His tone was flat, matter-of-fact. "But you don't have to."
The honking got louder. Someone shouted something I couldn't make out.
I looked at Amy. She was watching me, waiting.
Fuck.
"Fine." I walked over and unbuckled her seat belt, lifting her out. She wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her face in my shoulder. "Just for a minute."
Adam's hand brushed my elbow as I carried her toward his car. I flinched but didn't pull away.
He opened the back door and stepped aside. I set Amy down in the seat, buckling her in carefully. She looked up at me, her eyes still a little too wide.
"It's okay, baby." I smoothed her hair back. "I'm right here."
Adam leaned in, adjusting the seat belt so it sat properly across her chest. His fingers were quick, precise. When he pulled back, he met my gaze for half a second before turning away.
"Get in." He opened the passenger door and gestured toward the seat.
I hesitated. "I need to—"
"I'll move your car." He was already walking toward the wreck before I could argue.
I stood there, watching him slide into the driver's seat of my Toyota like he'd done it a hundred times before. The engine turned over smoothly. He reversed carefully, pulling onto the shoulder a few feet behind his own car.
The traffic behind us started moving again, horns fading into the distance.
Adam walked back to his car and got in. He didn't say anything. Just turned the key and pulled onto the road, smooth and controlled.
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. His profile was sharp in the dim light—strong jaw, straight nose, mouth set in a line that gave nothing away.
Why does he have to look like that?
I looked away, staring out the windshield instead.
The silence stretched. Amy shifted in the back seat but didn't say anything.
Finally, Adam spoke. "Where do you live?"
I rattled off the address of a random apartment complex a few blocks from mine. "Oakwood Terrace."
He nodded and kept driving.
More silence.
"Where were you coming from?" he asked.
"The zoo."
"The zoo." He repeated it like he was testing the word.
"Yeah."
Another pause.
"Did she like it?"
I blinked. Is he really asking about Amy?
Before I could answer, Amy piped up from the back seat. "I loved it! The rabbits were my favorite. They were so fluffy."
"Rabbits." The corner of his mouth twitched. Just barely. "Good choice."
---
We pulled up to the apartment complex fifteen minutes later. Adam stopped the car near the entrance and shifted into park.
"Which building?" he asked.
"I can walk from here."
"Maya." His voice dropped. "Just tell me which building."
I clenched my jaw. "Building C. But I'm not going in. We'll wait here until you leave."
He stared at me for a long moment. Then he nodded. "Fine."
I unbuckled Amy and lifted her out of the car.
Adam got out too. He stood by the driver's side, hands in his pockets again, watching us.
"My car," I said. "I'll need to get it fixed. How do I—"
"I'll take care of it." He pulled out his phone. "Give me your number. I'll have someone deliver it once it's done."
I hesitated. Then I recited the digits, keeping my voice steady.
He typed them in without looking up.
After he finished, he didn't move. Just stood there, looking at me like he wanted to say something else.
I shifted Amy higher on my hip. "Thank you. For helping."
He turned and got back in the car without another word. The engine purred to life, and he pulled away.
I stood there for a minute, holding Amy, watching until his car disappeared around the corner.
Then I turned and walked back toward our real apartment. It was only a few blocks away.
---
Back at the apartment, I ran a warm bath for Amy. She bounced into the bathroom, already pulling off her socks.
"Can you wash yourself tonight, baby?" I tested the water temperature with my hand. "I'm right outside if you need me."
"I can do it!" She grinned and climbed into the tub, splashing water everywhere. "Mommy, can I use the strawberry soap?"
"Sure, sweetheart."
I left the door cracked open and walked back to the living room, sinking onto the couch.
I pulled out my phone.
One missed call. Unknown number. Only rang for five seconds.
Then a text below it: It's Adam. Save my number. Call if you need anything.