Fucking piece of shit.

Scott cursed and blamed himself for allowing Abi to go through that shit. That idiot was hell-bent on dragging her off somewhere and raping her. Scott should have left the diner from the minute they entered and saw the creep.

He wouldn’t have thought to follow her to the toilet, and he never thought she wouldn’t be safe.

What if he didn’t hear her scream?

What if she didn’t get the chance to scream?

And she called for him, too.

He’d moved without any thought when he’d heard her. The desperation in her cry told him she was in trouble.

He was just finishing up in the men’s room, washing the creep’s blood off him and cleaning himself. The police had come and taken the guy away. Scott knew the man would have to go to the hospital first for the broken nose, and whatever else was broken. The asshole deserved it. Scott had never known what drove men like that to force themselves on a woman, aside from being vile and truly despicable. He couldn’t see the point. It had to take a sick bastard to think that was the way to behave and to treat people.

He walked back out into the diner to look for Abi, but she wasn’t there. He found her outside standing by his car. He didn’t blame her for waiting there instead of inside the diner. When she saw him, she rushed over and ran into his arms. She’d been crying.

“Babydoll.”

He pulled back so he could see her, and he cupped her face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. I mean, I’m not completely okay, but I will be.”

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

She smiled and shook her head. “No, Margo needs us. I’m not hurt, just shaken up. Scott, thank you for rescuing me.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that.” He smirked.

“I do because I’m pretty certain I wouldn’t be here now if you hadn’t come along.” The worried look in her eyes angered him again.

“Well, you know I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.” He hoped she knew that and was grateful for the nod she gave him.

As if it was the most natural thing to do, he took her hand and walked back to the car with her where he sat her down. He started inspecting her, checking her head to see if she was cut or bruised or anything.

He noticed the look she gave him. Her green eyes clung to him, analyzing him. A glint of wonder flickered within them. But there was something else. Hurt.

And he knew that what happened just now wasn’t the reason for it. Her look was the same look she got while they spoke about the past, right before she rushed off to the ladies’ room. It wasn’t overly visible, but it was there no matter how much she masked it. That was what came with knowing her and knowing her reaction to different things.

The hurt was there because of him. He’d hurt her a lot and felt worse for it now.

“Abi, I think it’s best if I continue on to get Margo and I get you back to the hotel. You can see Margo when we get back. I’m sure that will be fine.”

She cast her eyes downward and then looked back at him and shook her head and smiled. “I have to go. She called me. That’s what we do. We’re always there for each other. I’m fine, seriously.”

He didn’t think he’d ever come across two people who were better friends than Margo and Abi.

“Okay, well I’ll get you to her. Just let me look at your arm.” He was just concerned that the creep had hurt her.

She chuckled and gazed at him. Her lashes swept down, and her generously curved lips parted. “Scott, I’m okay. Please stop fussing over me. I’m not used to it.” She was laughing, but, really, it wasn’t funny. She really should have had someone fuss over her.

He looked at her and took in her intoxicating beauty, her skin honey gold and flawless, made for loving. The sleek ends of her velvety chocolate brown hair lifted out against the gentle breeze, adding to her perfection.

“Today is different.” He nodded and smiled back at her.

“Aside from being one of those crazy days which I’d rather skip, it’s kind of no different to any other.” She raised her brows.

“No, no. It’s a different day. We weren’t together yesterday. Or the day before that. Or, even the week.”

She placed her hand on her chest, drawing his attention to her breasts. “Far be it from me to criticize my hero, but those days were definitely better.”

“Okay, let’s forget this whole diner incident.” He raised his shoulders and shrugged. “Let’s start over. Today is still wide open, and we’re together. We used to have fun, Abi.”

They did -- when he wasn’t being a complete dick.

“I struggle to remember those times.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll refresh your memory.” He winked at her and stood up.

When he looked back to her, he noticed she was smiling. At least she seemed okay.

They set off again and merged onto the highway following the route that would take them to Phoenix.

Abi seemed a lot more relaxed with him now. She was less rigid, and her wall of reserve was gone. An advert came on the radio about Apple’s latest iPhone, and she told Scott that her company was heavily involved with a lot of Apple’s advertising campaigns. She elaborated on the work she was currently doing and all the ideas she had.

He was impressed with the interest she showed and the way her eyes lit up as she delved into a deep conversation. He spoke, too, happy that they were talking and happy that they weren’t going to travel the rest of the way in silence.

They’d been listening mostly to throwback 90s music, but, like some joke of fate, that Cranberries song came on again.

He smiled to himself and looked over at her to see her blushing.

“Are you sure you don’t remember this song?” he asked more pointedly.

She was smiling now too. “Okay, I remember.” She took hold of the ends of her hair and tried not to look at him.

“Do you remember what we used to do to this song?” He’d always loved teasing her and wouldn’t pass up the chance to see her blush with embarrassment like she was now.

He knew she wasn’t the shy nineteen-year-old he’d met years ago and that a lot had happened since; they had both changed, but that wouldn’t stop him.

She turned to face him. “No.”

“Liar.” He shook his head and reached across to poke her stomach.

“Hey!” She protested, eyes wide with surprise but laughing at the same time.

“Don’t ‘hey’ me! And, if you lie again, I’ll come over there and tickle you to death.”

She laughed again, and he relished the sweet sound.

“You are too much, Mister.”

“Baby, I just expect you to be truthful.”

“Okay, I remember. Enough grilling already! Do you seriously expect me to talk about sex with you?”

“Yeah, why not?” He laughed at the horrified look on her face.

“I forgot how crazy you could be.”

“Is the lucky guy that great that you’d forget me?” This was his roundabout way of asking if she was seeing someone.

“What lucky guy?” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Your boyfriend.”

She inclined her head to the side and gave him a sarcastic look. “I’m not seeing anyone. This week.”

This week? “You see a different guy every week?”

“Sometimes.” She replied with a sultry look he didn’t like (because it wasn’t for him) and he couldn’t help but feel jealous, which he knew was ridiculous.

“How long has this been going on?”

She started to laugh but stopped when she saw the serious look he gave her.

“Look at you, Scott. I know you’re probably with a different woman every day. Don’t question me for dating a different guy every week.”

“I’m not with a different woman every day.” Maybe a few years back he was, but he definitely wasn’t now -- not since he started thinking about his life.

“Liar!” She threw back in the same tone he used with her.

“Baby, I’m not lying.”

“Okay, so who’s the lucky woman now? Who’s Scott’s girl?” she looked like she was humoring him.

“Scott’s girl?... I like that.”

He took his eyes off the road and ran his gaze over the perfect woman who sat next to him. The answer to that as simple.

“Who is it then? Was she amongst the groupies this morning?”

“Yeah, she was. I mean, she was there, alright, but not among the groupies as such.”

“Where was she?”

“She was standing on the balcony just ahead of me, looking on. You can’t miss her. Her beauty makes her stand out in a crowd, just like an angel. That’s Scott’s girl.” He smiled again at the slightly stunned look on her face as she realized he was talking about her.

He didn’t know why he just said that, but he was glad he did because it seemed to lighten the mood a little. I broke down the wall Abi had placed up earlier when she was barely talking to him.

“Oh,” was all she said, on the edge of a thoughtful breath. Then she looked ahead of them, out to the open road.

He stole another moment to watch her and take in the perfection of her body. She glanced across at him, knowing he was checking her out, but she didn’t protest like she had earlier.

She shuffled next to him as it had started to rain, and he closed the windows.

“Do you think we’ll get there in that time?” she asked glancing over to the GPS on his dashboard. It said that Phoenix was still seven and a half hours away.

“Hopefully. It’ll be after nightfall, though, and that’s if we make it through traffic.”

She smoothed her hair to the side so she could run her fingers through its smooth ends. He watched her twirl it around her thumb and then take out her phone. “I’m going to call Margo and see how she’s doing.”

“Cool.” He glanced over at her and then back to the road ahead to see the traffic building.

He just barely saw a hazard sign flash above them in bright yellow lights, stating that the road ahead was closed due to a massive collision.

“Oh, shit!” He swerved over to the other lane, following the car ahead of them. They’d just gotten out before they got stuck with the other cars that had sped into the traffic.

“The road’s closed.” Abi winced, raising her chin as she looked up at the sign too.

Scott reached forward and tapped the map on the GPS, trying to see where this route would lead them. “Dammit.” The whole area came up red with traffic, and the road he was hoping to take was closed, too, with the same collision warning. The collision had backed up the traffic and closed roads on the other routes.

“What do we do?” Abi asked.

“I don’t know. Just hang tight. Let’s see where we get to from this road.” He could already see what was going on, and it didn’t look good. Instead of heading down to where they wanted, they were now en route to Nevada.

The route from Nevada to Phoenix would be a long one -- longer than he anticipated.

Scott drove along until they hit the country roads. The cars ahead diverged off in the direction of more traffic, but Scott stayed on the country road, now driving without a plan.

“Call Margo, Abi. I think she’s going to be waiting for a while.”

* * *

“Margo, I don’t know when I’ll get to you. I’m with Scott.”

“You’re both coming?” despite the news of having to wait longer, Abi detected a note of excitement in her friend’s voice at the mention of her and Scott.

“Yes. He’s driving. Are you okay? Are you safe?” She couldn’t help but ask after what happened to her earlier.

She was still shaken up by it, but the feeling of terror was beginning to fade. Abi looked over at Scott and saw how worried he appeared to be.

“I’m okay, just eager,” Margo replied.

“Can you find a decent place to wait at the bus station?” Abi had been concerned enough as it was that it was going to be late when they got to Margo. Now she knew it was going to be later than the time she originally worried about. She also noticed a few missed calls from Gale.

“I think so. I don’t have anything left to steal, so I guess I’m okay in that respect -- unless I fall asleep and wake up in Colombia, captured by some drug lords who want to use me as a mule!” Margo chuckled, but there was an edge of worry in the laugh.

Abi couldn’t laugh -- that scenario wasn’t a total impossibility with the day they were having so far.

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. I really don’t know how long we’ll be, but we hope to get to you as quickly as we can.” She could see from the map that they were heading towards Nevada. She hoped they could divert at Carson City and get on a quicker route down south to where they wanted to be, but she couldn’t be sure now. It didn’t sit well that they were the only ones on this road and the area was starting to look like a set from of those films where people disappeared into the woods.

She loved trees and walking around in parks, but this was a little too much for her liking. They’d just hit the entrance to Eldorado National Forest, and, from what she saw, it was going to be a while before she’d stop seeing trees.

“Are you okay? Is it weird being with Scott?” Margo asked

“It is, but I’m fine.” ‘Weird’ wasn’t the word she’d use, and, honestly, she didn’t know what she’d quite describe this as.

Scott had shown more care and interest for her in the last three hours than he had during the majority of the time they’d spent as a couple. And not just that, she was starting to feel…

Well, that was it. She was starting to feel. And while that whole ‘Scott’s girl’ thing was super sweet, and she was completely grateful to him for saving her from that creep, Abi didn’t want to feel for him. It would break down the woman she’d worked so hard to create over the last few years. It had taken her a long time to rebuild and rebrand herself. Spending a few hours with Scott shouldn’t have any sort of impact on her, but how was she supposed to ignore a super gorgeous guy who compared her to an angel?

And then there was his openly sexual manner that he exuded so casually. And the way he looked at her. How had she forgotten about that? He was the kind of man who could just look at you, and you’d know exactly what he was thinking. Within minutes, he’d have you up against a wall, naked and wondering how the hell you got that way.

“We’ll talk when I see you,” Margo said. There was a smile in her voice. “He’s changed a lot, Abi, so at least he won’t get on your nerves.” Abi couldn’t dispute that. She’d definitely seen that he’d changed. The bad boy was still there, but that selfish and uncaring attitude was not. That was the thing that had broken them up. That was what came with the fame he gained and what had changed them

“Yeah, I sort of noticed. I’ll get him to call you in a while.”

Abi hung up and looked over to Scott.

“She alright?” he asked.

“She is. I think she sounded less panicked than earlier.”

“Good. We’re going to be a while, Abi. I have no idea when we’ll reach Phoenix, and we’re heading into the wilderness, it seems.”

As soon as he spoke, the car bumped over something. It jerked them both. A loud explosive sound rippled through the air and then another, and the car jerked up and down some more.

Abi shrieked as she saw smoke coming from the engine. There was a whistling sound. Scott pulled the car over to the side of the road and hit the steering wheel.

“Fuck! What the hell is this now!” he flared, jumping out of the car to have a look.

Abi got out, too, and looked over the damage. The front wheels were completely flat and ripped up. Whatever had done this appeared to have gotten to the engine, too. She looked over to the road and saw the culprit -- or, rather, culprits: n

ail traps with thick steel blades. The lethal kind people reported and cautioned cyclists about. She was under the impression that you’d most likely find them on a path -- not on the road.

It didn’t matter. There were a few of them scattered in the middle of the road. So, either someone put them there maliciously, which is exactly what Abi was thinking, or maybe they fell off the back of a truck. She’d never heard of anyone making these with any good intent, though, so she was going to lean towards her first instinct.

“Scott, look.” She pointed to the road.

He frowned and sighed the minute he saw them. “Shit. I bet one of them flew up into the engine.”

Abi looked at him as he leaned against the car in frustration. Then she looked around and wondered what else could go wrong.