Chapter 5: Rain

Rhona lived four blocks from the highway, and I dropped her at her door before I called him.

Camille's sedan was already two cars behind us.

"Don't go home," Nathan said, when I told him. "Come to the Midtown tower and take the parking deck on Peachtree."

"She's right behind me."

"Good. Keep her there."

The rain started on the ramp, a sheet that turned every taillight into a smear of red.

I drove Rhona's old hatchback into the Trezevant deck with Camille's headlights in my mirror.

Nathan stood under a lamp on the third level, in his shirtsleeves, soaked to the skin.

He got in the passenger side and looked at the brass key I had set on the dash.

"Is that the box key?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Then we are not stopping anywhere she can see us."

He put his hand on my wheel and turned us down the service ramp instead.

The loading dock had a steel door that rolled up at the touch of his badge.

We went through it and out a back alley onto Spring Street while Camille's headlights circled the deck above.

By the time she found the exit, the rain had erased us.

He drove with one hand and did not say a word until the tower's underground garage.

Then he cut the engine, and the only sound was the water drumming on the roof.

"You did well tonight," he said.

"I've been scared for an hour."

"I know. You didn't show it."

"I'm showing it now."

He turned in the seat.

His white shirt was stuck to his chest, and his dark hair dripped into his gray eyes.

I looked at him, and I made a decision I had been avoiding since the lobby.

My doctor had cleared me three days ago, at the six-week visit.

I had not told anyone, and I had not wanted anyone.

I wanted him.

"Nathan," I said.

"Yes."

"You said you'd stand close and look bored."

"I did."

"You were not bored once."

"No," he said. "I was thinking about you the whole time. I'd like to stop pretending that I wasn't."

His voice was low and level.

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