“Everything okay?”
“Erm… yeah. Just trying to remember my insurance details,” I lied. With the amount of times I’d filled forms like this out for my mom, I knew the details inside and out. What I wasn’t sure of was whether the insurance policy still existed. Evan had said the surgeries Mom and I had undergone weren’t covered. I’d be surprised if he was keeping up the payments on them. I had no choice but to enter the details. Brody gave me the ranch address and put a note on the form to contact me there should they need to. I could only hope the insurance would cover my treatment. It wasn’t like I was in a position to pay the bill.
Fifteen minutes later and we were pulling out of the hospital parking lot. Mr. Parker and Brody sat up front, Mrs. Parker was sitting in the back next to me.
“How long have you been in Marble Falls, honey?” Mrs. Parker asked me as the truck sped out of the town and into open countryside.
“I arrived on the Greyhound bus the afternoon of the fire,” I told her with a small smile.
“And where is home, Quinn?” she asked kindly.
“Erm… Westwood, New Jersey.” My hands twisted nervously in my lap.
“And the stepfather you mentioned, sweetheart, won’t he be worried?”
I felt my body stiffen at the mention of Evan, silently scolding myself that I’d let it slip out about him. Pausing before I answered, I looked up to see Brody’s eyes on me through the mirror in his visor.
“Mom!” Brody exclaimed, his eyes still on me. “Stop with the twenty questions. Maybe Quinn doesn’t want to tell us her life story.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Ignore me. I don’t know when to be quiet,” she said apologetically, her hand reaching over to gently squeeze mine.
I pulled my eyes from Brody's and gave his mom a small smile before turning and looking out of the window, the green countryside rushing by. The rest of the journey passed by in silence and I felt awful that I’d created an atmosphere. I found myself looking to the front of the truck more than once, each time finding Brody’s eyes on me in the mirror. Feeling my cheeks flush, I was glad to see the signpost for the ranch and breathed a sigh of relief as Mr. Parker drove up the long driveway.
“Your house is beautiful, Mrs. Parker,” I gushed as we pulled up outside the ranch house.
“Thank you, honey, and please call me Claire. Mrs. Parker makes me sound so old!” I nodded, and she opened her door. “Come on, let’s get you settled in your room. Savannah and Josh are heading over soon so you can meet everyone.”
I swallowed nervously, my throat still scratchy from the fire. Brody had come around to my side and held the door open for me. “Thank you,” I told him as I climbed out of the truck, jumping as he closed the door behind me. As I turned I caught sight of the scorched remains of the stables and gasped. “Oh my God.” My eyes widened as I took in the total devastation left by the fire.
“I can’t believe you were in there,” Brody said quietly, coming to stand at my side.
“Neither can I,” I mumbled as a lump formed in my throat. “Thank you for getting me out. If you hadn’t found me…” I trailed off, a single tear tracking down my cheek as I realized how lucky I was to be alive.
“Hey,” he said gently, turning me to face him. “I did find you, and you’re safe here, Quinn.”
I nodded slowly, my eyes on the ground. I felt Brody’s fingers on my chin as he slowly lifted my face to look at him. “Quinn, I promise.” I nodded again giving him a small smile, hoping against hope he was right. His eyes held mine for a split second, before dropping to my lips. I thought he might lean in and kiss me, and my heart raced at the thought. The sound of a car door slamming broke whatever spell we were under and Brody’s fingers dropped from my face. “I better head inside and shower,” he mumbled, his eyes looking anywhere but at me. He turned away and walked toward the house.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and shook my head. Getting involved with Brody should be the last thing on my mind after what I’d been through the past week. I couldn’t get attached to anyone, I didn't plan on sticking around long enough for that. How could I when Evan might catch up with me? Pushing Evan to the back of my mind I followed Brody toward the house, still not believing I really did have a job and a place to stay.
Brody
“What the fuck was that?” I muttered to myself as I walked quickly back to the house and away from Quinn, not daring to glance back at her. She had me feeling things I didn’t understand, and it was freaking me out.
“Hey, Brody,” I heard a voice call out, dragging me from my thoughts. As I looked over to the front of the house, I saw Josh and Savannah heading up the porch steps.
“Hey,” I replied as I jogged toward them. “They let you out then?” I teased, pulling Josh into a hug.
“They wanted him to stay another night, but he refused,” Savannah said, exasperated.
“Baby, I’m fine,” Josh reassured her. “I just wanted to come home.” He snaked his arm around her waist, kissing her on the side of the head.
“You okay?” I asked Josh, concerned he’d discharged himself.
“I’m good. What about you? How’s the hand?” He gestured with his head to my bandaged hand.
“It’s just a scratch,” I told him, holding it up. “It’ll be fine in a few days.” Josh nodded, and I watched as his gaze went past me. “Is that the girl you pulled from the stables?”
Turning, I saw Quinn walking slowly toward us, her hands fiddling nervously with the hem of her t-shirt. I nodded. “Yeah, that’s her.” I made my way down the steps, stopping in front of her. “Come and meet Sav and Josh.” I took her hand and led her up onto the porch. “Guys, this is Quinn. Quinn, this is my sister, Savannah, and her boyfriend, Josh, who also happens to be my best friend.”