Chapter Eighteen

"This cannot be fucking happening," I mumbled to myself. As the engine of my Corolla stammered, and my speed dwindled, I tried my best to get to the side of the road cautiously. There were no houses in sight, and therefore no one to help me.

I slammed my head back into the chair, cursing myself for skipping out on a way overdue maintenance appointment just to save some money.

"Why did I have to be such a fucking cheapskate?"

It was twenty to nine, and I was about five minutes away from the bar.

"Just great."

I fished my phone out of my purse, scrolling through my contact list.

"Bella? Where the hell are you, honey?" I was glad to hear my mother's voice. Most times, she wouldn't even have heard her phone ring.

"Don't freak out, okay?" That was presumably not the best way to explain my car broke down in the middle of a creepy, slightly abandoned construction site of a new office building.

"What's wrong, Bella?" I had surely worried her now.

"Stop making a fuss, mom. Obviously, I'm fine, since I picked up my phone and called you."

"You're on your way, right? Don't flake out on your poor, old mother last minute, Isabella." Okay, less concerned, more suspicious. Good.

"Well, I was on my way. That was until my car acquired a mind of its own." I started.

"Oh, my God. I told you, you had to make an appointment at the shop. Cars aren't supposed to rumble like that."

"I know, mom. I know. I'm sorry, and now I for sure have learned my lesson. Could you maybe come pick me up, please? I'll call a tow truck in the morning and suffer the consequences." Mom sighed audibly into the phone.

"You don't need to do that, sweetie. Emmett would love to help you out. We'll take care of it. Now, text me your location and stay put."

Ten minutes and three cigarettes later, I noticed headlights driving up in my direction.

Ugh, finally.

It was too dark to see exactly who it was, but from the lack of bulging muscles everywhere, I could tell it definitely wasn't Emmett.

Suddenly, I noticed my mom's text. Seemed like I had accidentally turned my phone on silent mode.

Edward is picking you up.

All it took for my nerves to skyrocket was seeing his name light up on my screen.

Fuck, this was going to be awkward.