Page 86 of Raging Fires

No. He wasn’t going to make up a story. He’d just tell her he couldn’t tell her because he’d promised. She’d believe him if he told her the delay was unavoidable. And, seriously, they weren’t going to be more than maybe thirty minutes late.

He jumped into his car and started the engine, then grabbed his phone from the cup holder and swiped it. Damn, it was after 2. The notification screen came up: 3 voicemails. Nine texts from Kelli. His stomach tightened. He flipped to the texts:

1:04 Mom called. Caught an earlier flight. Pls come home.

1:05 Please! I’m freaking out! Text me!

1:08 Jake! Where are you!?! Call me.

1:09 Why aren’t you answering your phone? I need you.

1:12 Are you ok? Did something happen to Gran?

1:15 Where are you? I’m getting really worried now.

1:20 I called Gran and Asa. Nobody knows where you are. What’s going on?

1:25 WTF are you doing? You promised!!!

1:28 I’m leaving for the airport. If you aren’t lying bleeding somewhere, I am going to kill you!!!

2:10 Never mind. Don’t need you.

“Oh, crap.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Kelli screeched into the parking lot, too furious to be careful. She probably should have stayed at the motel to make sure her mother didn’t wake up and do anything horrible in public, but she couldn’t stand it. Let her embarrass herself. Let her reflect badly on Jake. Kelli was past caring.

She slammed on the brakes in front of their little house. Jake’s SUV was sitting there too. She knew he was all right because he’d sent her two phone calls and three texts in the last thirty minutes. She’d listened to the first one long enough to hear Jake say, “I’m sorry, Kell.” Then she’d erased it and got rid of all the others without opening them. She hadn’t been sure whether he’d be home, though. He could have still been out doing whatever the hell had been more important than her.

Kelli was glad he was home because she wanted to tear into somebody, and Jake was the perfect choice. She grabbed her keys and purse and jumped out of the car. As she walked swiftly toward the house, she jammed her keys back in her purse for fear she might throw them at Jake if they were still in her hand. Although she still might throw the whole damn purse at him.

The front door opened and Jake came out, “Kelli, babe, I’m sorry.”

“That’s what you’ve got to say for yourself? Babe, I’m sorry?” She stalked forward, and Jake wisely backed into the house. “How about ‘Babe, I lied to you?’ Or ‘Babe, I can’t be trusted.’ How about ‘Babe, I’ll let you down every damn time.’”

“I didn’t lie to you,” Jake protested. “I was going to be home on time. Hell, I was going to be home early.”

“Only you weren’t.”

“I didn’t know your mom was going to come in early. That’s not my fault.”

“Nothing’s ever your fault, Jake. You could have looked at your texts! You could have answered my phone calls.”

“I left my phone in the car.”

“Handy way to avoid them when you know you’re going to be late.”

“I didn’t plan to be late. I didn’t know it was going to take so long. She came in early. I’m not responsible for your mother’s change of plans. She’s a flake, which is not my fault.”

“She’s not a flake; she’s a drunk.” Pain twisted in Kelli’s chest. “She’s a stumbling, loud-mouthed, maudlin drunk. She came here to see me to apologize for being a drunk, only it was too upsetting so she started drinking.”

“Ah, Kell, I’m sorry.” Jake started toward her, reaching out.

“No!” Kelli raised her arm, pointing her forefinger at him. “Don’t you dare offer me sympathy. I don’t need it. I don’t need your hugs or your pats on the arm. I don’t need your lame apologies. I needed you two hours ago, Jake. I needed you when I had to haul my mother away from flirting with some very uncomfortable twenty-year-old guy at an airport bar. I needed you when I checked her into the motel and they said she didn’t actually have a reservation like she’d said so I had to make one on the spot before I dragged her up to her room.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Kelli. I hate that I didn’t think to take my phone in with me. I wouldn’t have done it if I’d had any idea she was going to show up an hour early.”