“I’m still making calls. No one has any idea.”
Cullen sighed. “I know. Call me back when you remember.”
“You got it.”
Cullen took one more look around, turned off the light, and walked out. He was determined to find his woman, and then he was going to show her what happened when she ran from her daddy.
Chapter Fourteen
Hannah sat behind the bus driver with her bag clutched against her chest. She had no idea how terrifying a bus could be. There were all sorts of scary-looking people, and a few of the men tried to sit by her. Fortunately, the bus driver told them to leave her alone.
She second-guessed herself several times, thinking she overreacted and should have stayed and talked with Cullen.
She was excited to see her friend Kiera because she hadn’t seen her in years. They’d been in summer school together and had hit it off. They thought they’d be best friends forever, but her parents moved them before the next year of school started.
They’d talked on the phone, but the calls got fewer and farther apart as time went by.
It was eleven at night when they pulled into the bus depot. When she stepped off the bus, a shiver ran down her spine. There were overhead lights, but they were dim and just made the shadows look more menacing. It looked eerie to her, and everyone seemed subdued. Maybe her mind was just messing with her, or she was overly tired.
She looked around and then exhaled when she saw Kiera standing by her car and waving at her. Hannah ran to her, and they both laughed, cried, and hugged each other.
“God, I’ve missed you,” Kiera said. “I think about you all the time.”
“Me, too.”
“Girls.”
They turned to see the bus driver.
“I think you need to head out. This is not a good place for young women.”
“Thank you,” Hannah said. “And thank you for taking care of me on the bus.”
“Someone had to. You shouldn’t be alone, dear. You’re much too sweet, and there are a lot of animals in our world now.”
“We’ll be careful.”
“Good. Now, go on.”
Hannah got in the passenger side of Kiera’s car and waved at the bus driver one more time as they pulled out.
Hannah turned her attention to Kiera driving. “You know, I’ve tried to learn how to drive, and it’s impossible.”
“It was hard for me, too, but I didn’t have a choice. After my mom took off, it was just my dad and me, and he got sick. I had to take him to his appointments because there was no one else.”
“Where’s your mom?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. She wasn’t a very nice person.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Dad and I were better off without her until he got sick.”
“Where is he?”
“He died about a year ago.”
Hannah reached over and squeezed her arm. “I’m sorry. I hate that you were left alone.”