Chapter 1

"Uh, Mara? I'm just going to close the door, okay? The rain's blowing in, and it's freezing."

The woman speaking was Denise Harper, one of Evan's older coworkers. I knew her. Ever since Evan bought his car, she'd treated him like her private chauffeur.

I caught the door before she could shut it.

"Denise, please get a rideshare home tonight. My umbrella broke, and I don't feel well. I really need to get home."

She didn't move. Instead, she turned to Evan with an awkward look.

"Evan, um... you told me you'd take me home every time. You can't suddenly kick me out in weather like this. It's pouring."

Evan frowned. He got out of the car and held a new umbrella out to me.

"You know how bad traffic is around here on a normal day, and getting a ride in the rain is even harder. Be reasonable. Go back to your office for a little while, and I'll come get you after I drop them off."

I forced myself to stay calm.

"Evan, I've had bad period cramps all day, and now I'm soaked. I feel awful. I need you to take me home now."

His expression darkened. He tried to push the umbrella into my hand.

"Can't you hold out a little longer? Everyone in the car works with me. Making them get out now would look really bad."

I slapped his hand away.

"Then maybe you shouldn't have played the nice guy and offered half your office a ride. If you love driving people around so much, why don't you just go drive for Uber?"

I leaned toward the back seat.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't feel well tonight. Whoever lives farther away, please get home on your own. Evan can give you a ride another day."

Denise immediately called to the young woman in the front passenger seat.

"Kayla, why don't you and your friend head out on your own? The train station's just up the street, and if you're going downtown, the Red Line will take you straight there."

Kayla Brooks rolled her eyes, grabbed her friend's arm, and climbed out.

"Unbelievable. He's the one who pulled over and insisted on giving us a ride, and now that we're in, suddenly there's a problem?

"It's a beat-up car. What's he so full of himself about? Letting this person ride, kicking that person out. Who does he think he is? Come on, Holly. We'll take the train."

The front passenger seat was finally empty. I got in, one hand pressed to my stomach.

The spare towel Evan kept in the car was already soaked from Kayla using it, so I sat curled up in my seat, shivering in my wet clothes with my hair dripping.

Evan got back behind the wheel, his face grim.

Another woman in the back seat, one who looked vaguely familiar, spoke up timidly.

"Evan, my place is pretty far too. Why don't you just drop me off at the station up ahead? I can take the train home."

Evan stepped on the gas. "No. I said I'd take you home, so I will."

My hand tightened over my stomach, but I swallowed my irritation.

Fine. At least I had a seat and was out of the rain. If I got home late, so be it.

Evan glanced at me, clearly annoyed.

"Mara, I'm really disappointed in how you acted tonight. It's pouring. I gave a few coworkers a ride home on my way. What's wrong with that?

"Was it worth throwing a fit and kicking people out of the car?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. His coworkers were still sitting behind us, and I didn't want to fight with him in front of them.

But Evan didn't hold back at all. If anything, he was just getting started.

"When I first met you, you weren't like this. You were so kind back then, always ready to help people. When did you get so selfish?

"Remember that time an old man collapsed on the sidewalk? Everyone else was too scared to go near him, but you were the first one to run over and—"

"Shut up!"

I cut him off mid-rant.

"Turn right at the next intersection. Take me home first, and then you can drive those two wherever they need to go."

Evan ignored me and drove straight through the intersection.

I turned to glare at him, but his eyes stayed on the road.

"I'm taking Denise home first. Her kid's at home waiting for her."