The Other Side of Us - By Sarah Mayberry Page 0,17
right foot.
She didn’t say it, and neither did he, but he knew without a doubt that they were both thinking it.
“Once I saw the street I figured you might be in trouble.” He took a swallow and Scotch burned its way down his throat to his belly.
“Oh, right. I guess it’s flooded up there, too, huh?”
“You practically need a canoe.”
“I’ve never seen flooding like this before. And I’ve had this place nearly ten years.”
“My guess is the drains on the street are blocked. Mind you, when that much water comes down this quickly, most drainage systems freak out.”
She nodded, then looked into her drink. He wondered if she was as uncomfortable as he was, and if she was finding this conversation as stilted and yawn inducing.
A bead of water ran down her temple and onto the curve of her cheek. She lifted one side of the towel to rub at her hair. When she lowered it again her hair was sticking up in spiky tufts like a little kid’s and her scar was once again on display.
Oliver kept his gaze fixed on her face, determined not to make the same mistake twice.
“So, um, I guess the storm woke you, too, huh?”
“I guess. I heard water running and Mr. Smith was missing from outside my bedroom. I figured something must be up.” She lifted her drink to her mouth and he saw that she was trembling, the fine movement making the amber fluid shiver in the glass.
“Maybe you should sit down.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
She was pale and she was soaked and she was shaking. Patently not fine, despite her bravado.
“This is normal. I just need a few minutes, that’s all.”
“Why don’t you humor me and take them sitting down? Because if you keel over we’re both in big trouble, since what I know about first aid could fit on a postage stamp.”
“How about you humor me and trust that I know my own strength?” Mackenzie snapped.
He took an instinctive step backward, retreating from the anger in her suddenly fierce blue eyes. This was why he’d hesitated before following her into the house—for whatever reason, this woman and he were not destined to get on.
“Why don’t I go check on the situation outside?” He set down his glass and headed for the door, his mind on only one thing—escape.
“Oliver, wait,” Mackenzie said. “Please?”
There was a softness, a sincerity to her words that made him pause on the threshold.
“That was...out of line. Hugely out of line. I’m really sorry, okay?” she said as he faced her.
He nodded, very aware of his wet, cold clothes, keen to simply be gone now.
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I was in a car accident a year ago. A pretty bad one. I was in hospital for months, then rehab... I guess what I’m trying to say is that people telling me how I feel or what I can do or not do—or even if I’m okay or not—is a really hot button for me. When you’ve been a patient for months, regaining control of your body and your life is a precious, precious thing. That’s not an excuse, by the way, just an explanation. You came to my rescue when you didn’t have to, and I am so, so grateful for that. Can we rewind and erase the last sixty seconds?”
She scanned his face, clearly waiting for his response.
He didn’t doubt her sincerity, but he still wanted to be gone. He wasn’t up for negotiating with prickly, difficult personalities right now. He had enough crap in his own life to deal with.
“Sure. But I should probably still check on the storm.”
The words were barely out of his mouth before lightning flickered once again, closely followed by the clap of thunder.
She collected his glass and offered it to him. “At least finish this before you go. Never let it be said that I drove a man screaming into the night without letting him finish his drink first.”
“Actually, I’m not the biggest fan of Scotch.” He figured he might as well be honest, since he had nothing to lose.
She looked dismayed. “You should have said. Why didn’t you say?” Then she shook her head. “Don’t answer that—I know why. Because you’re a nice guy, and I’m a harpy.”
“You’re not a harpy.”
“Yeah, I am. A harpy with a horny dog and zero social skills.” She sank onto the arm of the sofa. “Believe it or not, before the accident I was actually not too bad to