Chapter-1, part-1

THERE WERE WORSE THINGS THAN BEING STRANDED IN THE

middle of nowhere during a rainstorm.

For example, I could be running from a rabid bear intent on

mauling me into the next century. Or I could be tied to a chair in a

dark basement and forced to listen to Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” on

repeat until I’d rather gnaw off my arm than hear the song’s

eponymous phrase again.

But just because things could be worse didn’t mean they didn’t

suck.

Stop. Think positive thoughts.

“An Uber will show up…now. ” I stared at my phone, biting

back my frustration when the app reassured me it was “finding my

ride”, the way it had been for the past half hour.

Normally, I’d be less stressed about the situation because hey,

at least I had a working phone and a bus shelter to keep me

mostly dry from the pounding rain. But Josh’s farewell party was

starting in an hour, I had yet to pick up his surprise cake from the

bakery, and it would be dark soon. I may be a glass half full kinda

gal, but I wasn’t an idiot. No one—especially not a college girl with

zero fighting skills to speak of—wants to find herself alone in the

middle of nowhere after dark.

I

should’ve taken those self-defense classes with Jules like

she wanted.

I

mentally scrolled through my limited options. The bus that

stopped at this location didn’t run on the weekends, and most of

my friends didn’t own a car. Bridget had car service, but she was

at an embassy event until seven. Uber wasn’t working, and I

hadn’t seen a single car pass by since the rain started. Not that I

would hitchhike, anyway—I’ve watched horror movies, thank you

very much.

I only had one option left—one I really didn’t want to take—but

beggars couldn’t be choosers.

I pulled up the contact in my phone, said a silent prayer, and

pressed the call button.

One ring. Two rings. Three.

Come on, pick up. Or not. I wasn’t sure which would be worse

—getting murdered or dealing with my brother. Of course, there

was always the chance said brother would murder me himself for

putting myself in such a situation, but I’d deal with that later.

“What’s wrong?”

I scrunched my nose at his greeting. “Hello to you too, brother

dearest. What makes you think something is wrong?”

Josh snorted. “Uh, you called me. You never call unless you’re

in trouble.”

True. We preferred texting, and we lived next door to each

other—not my idea, by the way—so we rarely had to message at

all.

“I wouldn’t say I’m in trouble,” I hedged. “More like…stranded.

I’m not near public transport, and I can’t find an Uber.”

“Christ, Ava. Where are you?”

I told him.

“What the hell are you doing there? That’s an hour from

campus!”

“Don’t be dramatic. I had an engagement shoot, and it’s a

thirty-minute drive. Forty-five if there’s traffic.” Thunder boomed,

shaking the branches of nearby trees. I winced and shrank farther

back into the shelter, not that it did me much good. The rain

slanted sideways, splattering me with water droplets so heavy and

hard they stung when they hit my skin.

A rustling noise came from Josh’s end, followed by a soft

moan.

I paused, sure I’d heard wrong, but nope, there it was again.

Another moan.

My eyes widened in horror. “Are you having sex right now?” I

whisper-shouted, even though no one else was around.

The sandwich I’d scarfed down before I left for my shoot

threatened to make a reappearance. There was nothing—I repeat

nothing—grosser than listening to a relative while they’re mid

coitus. Just the thought made me gag.

“Technically, no.” Josh sounded unrepentant.

The word “technically” did a lot of heavy lifting there.

It didn’t take a genius to decipher Josh’s vague reply. He may

not be having intercourse, but something was going on, and I had

zero desire to find out what that “something” was.

“Josh Chen.”

“Hey, you’re the one who called me.” He must’ve covered his

phone with his hand, because his next words came through

muffled. I heard a soft, feminine laugh followed by a squeal, and I

wanted to bleach my ears, my eyes, my mind. “One of the guys

took my car to buy more ice,” Josh said, his voice clear again.

“But don’t worry, I got you. Drop a pin on your exact location and

keep your phone close. Do you still have the pepper spray I

bought for your birthday last year?”

“Yes. Thanks for that, by the way.” I’d wanted a new camera

bag, but Josh had bought me an eight-pack of pepper spray

instead. I’d never used any of it, which meant all eight bottles—

minus the one tucked in my purse—were sitting snug in the back

of my closet.

My sarcasm went over my brother’s head. For a straight-A pre

med student, he could be quite dense. “You’re welcome. Stay put,

and he’ll be there soon. We’ll talk about your complete lack of self

preservation later.”

“I’m self-preserved,” I protested. Was that the right word? “It’s

not my fault there are no Ub—wait, what do you mean ‘he’? Josh!”

Too late. He’d already hung up.

Figured the one time I wanted him to elaborate, he’d ditch me

for one of his bed buddies. I was surprised he hadn’t freaked out

more, considering Josh put the “over” in overprotective. Ever

since “The Incident,” he’d taken it upon himself to look after me

like he was my brother and bodyguard rolled into one. I didn’t

blame him—our childhood had been a hundred shades of messed

up, or so I’d been told—and I loved him to pieces, but his constant

worrying could be a bit much.

I sat sideways on the bench and hugged my bag to my side,

letting the cracked leather warm my skin while I waited for the

mysterious “he” to show up. It could be anyone. Josh had no

shortage of friends. He’d always been Mr. Popular—basketball

TO BE CONTINUE

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***