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Holding Ben’s police-issued ‘personal belongings’ plastic bag, Hunter followed his friend out of the police station. Sunlight was long gone, replaced by empty office buildings alight in the dark sky. “I feel like I’m in a movie, being your ‘one phone call’ guy.” Hunter’s warm breath trailed away, riding the chilly October breeze.

His gait slow and stiff, Ben winced, threading his plaster cast through the right arm of his torn hoodie. “I couldn’t call Riley and get her upset. It was her last day at Sephora.” Hand free, he wriggled his fingers and sucked in a sharp breath. “Owwwff!” Docs said to move my fingers, keep the blood flowing, but the pain is sharp as fuck. “She’s going to be so pissed. I told her I was working in your office.”

“She’ll get over it.”

“I lied to her, Hunter.”

“Yeah, well…I’m sure she’ll calm down when she hears what happened. You’re lucky, man. The charge was dropped, and more importantly, you’re alive! Could’ve been much worse, bro.”

Wrong. It can’t get much worse. Ben wearily looked at his left hand, dirty with ink from being fingerprinted.

Hunter peeked at Ben’s stuff, his helmet, messenger bag—all the broken remnants of the crash. “I nearly shit myself waiting to see if the cops believed me. I mean, how was I supposed to know the frame came from a stolen bike? We’re both innocent. Thank fuck they didn’t press charges. I tell ya, that’s the last time I go to the dump for parts.”

“Thanks for telling the police today was a one-off.”

“Well, it wasn’t a lie.” Hunter nodded at Ben’s cast. “You won’t be riding for a good month with that thing. If you want, I can still put a call in to my buddy this weekend, but you’re not gonna look great in the interview, if you know what I mean…”

Shoulders stooped and eyes glued to the ground, Ben gnawed his bottom lip. Worry creased his brow, making him look even more tired and racked with pain.

Hunter frowned. “Cheer up, though, dude. You escaped jail—that’s a good thing.”

Ben looked up and stared into the darkness. “Could you text Riley for me? My phone’s dead.”

“Uh, sure.” Hunter wrestled his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans, the time 11:16 P.M. “Don’t be mad, bro, but she texted earlier and I didn’t reply. I didn’t know what to say.”

Fuck, Hunter! You could’ve just said I was busy. She’s going to be out of her mind with worry.

Hunter grimaced, taking in Ben’s frown. “What should I say now?”

“Just…say my phone died and we’re out—not having drinks! I still can’t drink. Just say we’re grabbing a bite, discussing work shit, and I’ll be there soon.” Ben gasped in discomfort and held his stomach, dreading what was to come.

Fifty-Nine

Leaning against her windowsill, Riley’s fingers absentmindedly rolled and unrolled the hem of her sweatshirt. “I left three voicemails. I thought, He’s just busy, he’ll call back later, but you never did—not even when I finished work. You always call me when I’m walking home. Always! So, I texted Hunter, and he didn’t answer either. Ben, I was freaking out.”

Broken wrist throbbing with each heavy beat of his heart, Ben bowed his head and shifted on the loveseat, searching for a comfortable position to rest his bruised and broken body. “I’m so sorry. I would’ve called, but they took away my phone on the street.”

“I even went looking for you. I went to Hunter’s, the Red Lion. I didn’t want to upset Mom, so I called Casey. He said he’d keep looking while I called hospitals. I thought something happened with your liver.”

I’ve really fucked up. “You have every right to be angry. I would be.”

“Then Hunter texted me—finally! I could breathe again.” She shook her head, a soft smile fighting through her frown. “Oh, Ben…” She sat down, wrapping her arm loosely around his shoulders, careful not to bump his cast or squeeze him tightly. “I’m still annoyed, but I’m so relieved you’re okay.” Her body relaxed, holding him close.

Ben released a tight breath. I don’t deserve her sympathy.

Her fingers skimmed his cast. “This must hurt like hell.” A pained expression pinched her face.

“It’s uncomfortable…the cast feels tight. I think my wrist is swelling.”

She sighed. “What was the rush? The surgeon said you could start cycling in the gym. He didn’t give you the green light to go full-on super courier!”

Ben chewed his thumbnail. “But he also said to listen to my body. If I felt strong enough…it was worth a shot—”

“Yeah, a shot that almost got you killed.”

“But it didn’t.”