My headlights illuminated Ford’s car and I could see exhaust coming from the tailpipe, but the headlights and taillights weren’t on. I parked next to Ford’s sedan and slowly climbed out of my SUV. There was a light layer of snow on the side windows so I couldn’t see Ford through the glass. But it didn’t matter because the engine cut off and he got out just after I did.
I waited for him to speak or move, but he didn’t. He just stared at me. I’d installed some floodlights on both the house and the garage so they’d lit up as soon as I’d pulled up in my SUV. Ford’s expression looked haunted in the bright light and I wondered if he was caught up in some kind of nightmare from the night he’d nearly died out in these woods.
“Ford?” I said softly as I went around his car.
His eyes were on my chest, not my face.
“Ford?” I repeated, because his silence was starting to scare me. When I was just inches from him, he finally responded.
But only to lift his hand.
I didn’t move as he placed it square on my chest. I hadn’t put my coat back on since my SUV had been warm and the snug material would have irritated the wound on my arm. He held there for a long beat, then let out a choking sound.
“Oh thank you, God,” he whispered and then he was walking straight into me. His arms wrapped around me and I could feel the bite of his fingers as he clung to me. I automatically put one hand on the back of his neck and the other around his waist.
“Ford, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked as he began to sob.
“You’re really here. You’re okay,” he croaked. “I thought…” He shook his head. “They wouldn’t tell me anything when I called the station. The hospital in Greenville wouldn’t tell me anything when I called and when I went there, they wouldn’t let me see you. Then that nurse Jodi saw me and told me you weren’t even at that hospital and I thought that meant you hadn’t made it there…”
He was getting so worked up that I dropped a kiss to the top of his head and said, “Shhhh, take a few breaths for me, okay? I’m okay.”
Ford hugged me even harder but did as I said and took in a few breaths. It helped to calm him down, but he refused to release me when I tried loosening my grip on him. Snow was falling around us and the wind blowing through the tall, leafless trees above us made an eerie creaking sound. I was still reeling from the fact that he was there and so distraught.
It was a good minute before Ford eased his hold on me and stepped back. But he kept ahold of my arms as he said, “I tried to call you but it kept going to voicemail. I tried for hours.”
“A paramedic dropped my phone while I was being checked out at the scene.”
“You’re okay?” Ford asked as he began looking me over. His hands started patting my arms. I managed to grab the fingers of his right hand before he inadvertently touched my wound.
“I’m fine,” I said. I carefully placed his hand on my bicep so he could feel the bandage through my shirt. “The bullet just grazed me.”
Ford held his hand gently over the injury. He appeared to be fighting to control his emotions. “Why didn’t you call me?” he whispered. Then he looked up at me. “I was so scared, Cam. Why didn’t you call me?”
His question actually hurt and I took a step back, forcing him to let go of me. “Why would I have, Ford?” He opened his mouth to respond, but I interrupted him because I really didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Chances were, it would just rip me apart inside even more. “We’re not together. We’re not even friends. You made that pretty clear last week.”
“No, I… I…”
“What?” I asked him. I couldn’t help the anger that went through me. When he wouldn’t follow through on his thought, I shook my head and then went to my car to get my stuff. Ford didn’t move.
“Go home, Ford. I’m not going to be your Saturday night fuck and your Sunday morning confession.”
I strode past Ford and into the house, already deciding to fuck my rule about not drinking tonight. There was only so much shit a guy could take in one day.
But I didn’t manage to even make it to the kitchen before the door opened behind me. I came to a jarring halt and turned around. Ford looked nervous as he stood in the open doorway. Snow was getting into the house, but I didn’t really care about that and he didn’t seem to notice.