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“Exactly,” Suzie said, ruffling Ava’s hair. “Now come on, let’s hit the mat.”

As the two of them walked out of the garage, I turned my attention back to the car, my mind still churning. I picked up the paint remover and grabbed a new brush. If I couldn’t show Ava I could be a hero fighting fires, then at least I could take her to Disney World. Just as long as I got these damn pinstripes done.

“Right,” I said. “Time to make some magic happen.”

Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the quiet afternoon. I looked up to see a car speeding toward the garage, black and purple and menacing. Going way too fast for Bluehaven Beach’s sleepy streets.

“Is tha—” I muttered, but my words were cut off by the sound of screeching tires and a thunderous crash.

Chapter 3

Lily

Adeer. An actual,living, breathing deer.

I was nearly at Ethan’s auto shop, ready to sell this ridiculous car and recoup some of the money I’d squandered on my useless fiancé, when a deer stepped right in front of me.

For a moment, time seemed to slow. The deer’s sleek form was bathed in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun as it turned its head to look at me.

“It’s a sign,” I whispered, despite myself.

Then, reality came crashing back. I shoved on the brakes, praying that the crappy car would respond in time.

What happened next was a blur of screeching of brakes and burning rubber. The car skidded and swerved as I fought to avoid flattening the majestic—but very stupid—animal.

I did avoid it. I know that much because I watched its fluffy white butt prance away from me as I careened off the road, before smashing through a wooden fence straight into the open garage door of McMoy’s Motors.

The impact was jarring. Shockwaves rippled through my body as the airbag deployed with a deafening bang. For a moment, I sat there, stunned and disoriented, ears ringing and heart pounding. A haze of white dust hung in the air.

Then, dazed, I muttered, “I didn’t know classic cars had airbags.”

I rubbed the dust off my glasses and tried to figure out what was what. The hood of my car was crushed up against the hood of another car. A red one, which my car had sliced up like sushi.

I’d crashed into it. First, a car-crash wedding. And now, an actual car crash.

With shaking hands, I fumbled for the door handle, stumbling out of the car on unsteady legs. My dress was somehow torn, and the once-black garment was now covered with white airbag powder. At least now it looked a little more like the kind of dress I might have chosen.

“Hello?” I called out.

For a second, a horrific thought entered my mind, and I looked under the car, but there was nobody there. Dazed, I blinked and tried to focus. The garage swam into view—a cavernous space filled with the acrid smell of oil and rubber. Tools hung neatly on pegboards, and half-finished projects lurked in shadowy corners. The crash had stirred up years of settled dust, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.

And then a shadow fell over me.

Startled, I looked up to see blazing bright blue eyes fixed on me.

Ethan McCoy.

All six-foot-two of him.

His mouth hung open, his expression one of complete astonishment.

“Oh god,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”

Ethan took a step toward me. His broad shoulders tensed, muscles rippling under his paint-streaked t-shirt. Calmly, he asked, “Lily? What happened? Are you all right?” His eyes raked up and down me, lingering for a moment on my dress. His gaze flicked back to the car. “Thank god I retrofitted that thing with airbags.”

I took a shaky breath, trying to compose myself. “I . . . I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I was coming here to sell my clown car back to you and then I swerved to avoid a deer . . .” I gestured helplessly at the wreckage around us.

Ethan’s gaze followed my hand. His sharp jawline clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek, as he took in the crumpled fender of Vlad’s car and the deep gash in the red car’s bonnet. Ethan was always hard to read. I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—anger, perhaps, or frustration—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a gentle understanding.