Collide Series Box Set

by J. C. Hannigan

  Finally, after the diner was locked up and the fill-in dish boy was sent off, I went to the parking lot to where Iain was waiting in his car. I climbed into the passenger side, closing it quickly behind me. Iain reached across the seat and gently grabbed my hand.

  "I think it's safe to say that I'm really looking forward to getting away next weekend," he said dryly.

  I bit my lip.

  "Do you think we should still go?" I asked, looking out the window. Iain hadn't started the car yet, and it was a little chilly.

  "Of course," Iain said. "Unless you don't want to?"

  "You know I want to." I gave him a look. "I'm just…I don't know. Worried."

  "Don't be. I'll protect you." Iain squeezed my hand before letting go to start the car.

  "Do you mind just taking me home?" I whispered, glancing out the window again. "I don't want to have to walk back later."

  "I could drive you later, if you want," Iain offered. "But if you want to go home, I'll take you."

  I thought about it for a nanosecond. Home to my cold bedroom and my overly in my face mother, and possibly the overly friendly Larry, or back to Iain's warm and comfortable place?

  "Only if you promise to make hot chocolate the real way." I gave him a half smile. "I'm still waiting to try that."

  He laughed richly, then turned serious. "Of course. But we also need to talk. About tonight, and earlier."

  I nodded as he gently put the car into drive and headed out of the diner. The drive to Iain's house was ridiculously short, almost pointless if it hadn't been for the whole "avoiding the public when together" thing. He pulled into his driveway and I pulled my hoodie up over my head. I always felt so exposed walking up to his house, and usually made sure my hair and face was blocked from anyone that happened to drive by. Kind of pointless, since I always wore the same leather jacket and shit kicker boots, but regardless, it made me feel a tiny bit better, like I was protecting Iain a little.

  Iain shook his head, smiling at me as he unlocked his front door. He stepped aside so I could walk in first.

  "You're cute," he said, watching me pull my hood down.

  I rolled my eyes. "You still owe me hot chocolate. Don't weasel your way out of it again."

  "I won't." He smiled, heading into the kitchen. I walked in as he was bending over to grab a pot from the lower cupboard. I admired the way his jeans fit snug to his body.

  "Do you like the view?" Iain joked, wiggling a bit.

  I laughed, rolling my eyes again. "Someone's egotistic," I remarked.

  "Someone's staring," he pointed out, straightening up and crossing over to the refrigerator to grab some cream. He filled the pot up halfway with it, then added the hot chocolate mix and stirred it before putting it on the burner. "It takes a little longer this way," he added.

  "That's okay." I sat down at the table, stretching a little to try to work the tension out of my back and shoulders. Iain watched me, quiet and thoughtful.

  "So…what were you and Jake doing in the halls?" he asked, leaning against the counter to keep a close eye on the hot chocolate.

  "Nothing. I was late for class and on my way, I literally ran into Jake and he told me some interesting stuff."

  "What kind of stuff?" Iain frowned.

  "Just the apparent town motto about the Coopers and how they aren't to be crossed. That they ran the girl who tried to press charges out of town. Tonight, when they came into the diner, all I could think about was Jake's warning. Then Danielle told me about her friend, Rachel. She was also raped by Andrew, and she ended up killing herself."

  "Rachel McGuire?" Iain asked. "I heard about her suicide. I didn't know her, or even that the two incidents were related."

  "Well, they are. She killed herself because of Andrew and what he did to her." I sighed.

  Iain opened his mouth to speak, but I pointed at the stove. The hot chocolate was almost bubbling over. "Shit."

  Iain quickly turned down the temperature and stirred it. Deeming it hot enough, he carefully poured it into two mugs and placed one in front of me. He sat down beside me and angled his chair toward me. He had a thoughtful look on his face.

  "Okay, so 'Don't cross the Coopers' is an actual saying in this town?" Iain shook his head, glaring down at his mug. "And nobody does anything about it?"

  "I don't know," I said. "Doesn't make any sense. I'm not from around here."

  "Me either." Iain ran a hand through his hair, mussing it. "I'm originally from the Ottawa area."

  "So, what does this mean?" I asked. "We haven't even brought the evidence to light, nor have any victims come forward to press charges, and I'm already getting visits at work." I tried to ignore the disgusting feeling in my stomach as I thought about Friday night's 'visit'. Attack would be more suitable.

  "It's probably a scare tactic," Iain said. "From Carl, anyway," he added, remembering Friday night just as vividly as I did. "Andrew seems to be a loose cannon."

  "What's the worst they can do? Try to run me out of town?" I asked, laughing without humor. "Oh no! Run me out of the town! I plan on leaving as soon as I graduate!"

  Iain smiled wryly at me. "You're not planning on staying?"

  "Hell no," I quickly said. "I mean, I want to stay for certain reasons," I gave him a pointed look, "but we couldn't suddenly become public when I graduate."

  "That's true." Iain sighed.

  "Let's not worry about all that right now," I said, wanting to ease the mood. I was tired of feeling anxious and wound up. "In fact, let's just wait and see what Jenna says. If she doesn't want to press charges, there isn't much more we can do other than keep the evidence I compiled until another girl comes forward."

  Iain nodded, sighing again. "I guess that's all we can do. But, Harlow, I really don't want you to become 'another' girl."

  "I know," I said softly, my voice wavering slightly. I didn't want that either.

  The next week passed by without any more weird incidents at the diner. I didn't see Andrew or Carl Cooper around town, and there also weren't any crazy parties going on. It was…quiet. Jenna continued to hang out with Tara and Callie during the day (although she often remarked about how she was tired of their antics), while I stuck to hanging out with Jake, Cory and Troy. Or I kept to myself. After school, I'd either be working or with Iain.

  On November fifteenth, Jenna and I skipped class again, this time to go to Sudbury for her ultrasound. When we parked the car, Jenna fished out huge bulky sunglasses and a hat to hide her hair. "I don't want to risk the chance of running into anyone," she explained when she caught me staring at her. I shrugged, trying to hide my smile.

  "Suit yourself," I said, realizing how ridiculous I must look taking the same precautions going into Iain's house. I pushed open the car door and stepped outside. It was cold out, but I still inhaled the fresh air deeply as we walked up to the hospital. It stung my lungs, but I wasn't looking forward to the sterile environment. I hated the smell and taste of hospitals. I always had, but it got worse after the accident.

  "When is your appointment?" I asked, trying to prevent my thoughts from drifting to the past as we stepped in through the revolving doors.

  "Five minutes." Jenna shrugged carelessly. She was trying to appear unworried, but I could tell how nervous she really was. I didn’t blame her. I couldn't imagine what it felt like.

  Occasionally, I thought about having babies. Not in an obsessive I need to get pregnant way, but in a curious way. Would I mess up my kids? Would I even want kids? I still didn't have the answers, but I know I definitely wouldn't want to be pregnant as the result of a rape.

  We followed the arrows that pointed to the X-ray and ultrasound department. It was relatively empty of people, so Jenna stepped up to the receptionist to sign in. I didn't know what else to do, so I grabbed a chair and picked up a magazine. My phone chimed in my coat pocket. I reached for it, seeing that I had one new text. It was from Iain.

  I miss you. All ready for tonight?

  I smiled, excited
that the day had finally come. As soon as I got back from Sudbury, Iain and I would be heading out to Niagara Falls. I'd packed my overnight bag a couple days ago, and brought it over to his house after work last night. He already had it in the trunk of his car.

  I'd been surprised at how little my mom questioned me about the trip. I told her I was heading down to Niagara Falls with some friends; she barely questioned me at all about which friends. I think she was excited to get an entire weekend alone with Larry. I shuddered at the thought, but to each his own. At least the weird meeting with Larry a month ago hadn't repeated itself. Probably because I was rarely home, and when I was they were already sleeping.

  I texted him back "Of course" and a little kiss emoticon, and put my phone back in my pocket as Jenna fell into the chair beside me. She was looking at me curiously.

  "Who were you texting?" she asked, shoving a flyaway hair back under her hat.

  "Oh…just…someone," I replied awkwardly. Jenna continued to look at me inquisitively with one eyebrow raised in disbelief.

  "Do you consider me a friend, Harlow?" she asked, almost timidly.

  "Yeah, I guess I do," I answered honestly. "I'm here with you now, aren't I?"

  She smiled weakly. "Thanks for that," she said. "I…I'm glad you're here."

  "Do you consider me a friend?" I asked, curious for her answer as well.

  "Yeah," she replied. "I mean, you're really nice to me and you haven't told anyone about…this. And you've been here for me the entire time, so yeah."

  "Well then, besties for life?" I joked. She rolled her eyes, but laughed.

  "Only if you tell me who you were texting," she pressed, looking hopeful. "Come on, distract me! I'm nervous!"

  I sighed dramatically. "Okay, I'm texting my…boyfriend."

  "You have a boyfriend?" Jenna looked surprised. "I thought you were single?" she asked, making reference to the first day of school. I cringed.

  "Yeah, well. I have one now."

  "Who? That Jake guy you're always with?"

  "You don't know him, he's from back home," I lied quickly and easily.

  Jenna smiled. "What's his name? Could I see a picture?" she asked. The old Jenna was popping through a little.

  "His name is…Ben," I said, thinking of the first name that popped into my head. Then I cursed myself, hoping it wasn't too obvious. "And I actually don't have a picture of him..."

  "How do you not have a picture of him? Everyone has Facebook these days!" Jenna scoffed.

  Before I had to think of another excuse, the radiologist appeared with a clip board. She was a petite woman with a warm smile. "Jenna?"

  "Please come in with me," Jenna whispered, looking panicked and ill.

  "She will have to wait until we are done with the initial testing," the radiologist said kindly. "I can come get her toward the end."

  Jenna looked at me, panic still enveloping her features.

  "It'll be okay," I said, patting her arm awkwardly. I wasn't used to touching her, but it was all I could think to do. She nodded, biting her lip, and stood up to follow the radiologist into the ultrasound room.

  When the door shut behind them, I got out my phone to check my texts. Iain had sent a few more texts in response to the lips I'd sent him, and they were leaning a bit on the steamy side. I felt my temperature rising just reading them, and somehow…that felt wrong while sitting in an ultrasound clinic. I almost laughed out loud.

  Oh, the things I want to do you…the first one read, followed quickly by one that said, I know you aren't really in a location that sets the mood…but… then he went on to describe the delectable things he wanted to do to me that weekend. By the time I finished reading them, I was definitely looking forward to the weekend in many more ways than I had been before. I couldn't help but smile as I texted my seductive responses with a little too much detail. I wanted him to be just as bothered. Try teaching class now, Iain, I thought with a mischievous look on my face.

  "Harlow Jones? You can come in now," the radiologist said some twenty minutes later. Startled, I fumbled with my phone and nearly dropped it. I shoved it quickly into my pocket and stood up, following her into the ultrasound room. Jenna was lying on the table, forcing herself to stare at the wall.

  "Alright," the radiologist said, turning the screen so we could both see. Jenna kept her eyes on the wall, determined not to look. A single tear ran down her cheek.

  I glanced at the radiologist, ready to tell her not to bother, when my eyes went to the screen.

  "This is the baby. See that? That's the baby's heartbeat. You're about twelve weeks pregnant. Your estimated due date is May thirtieth." The radiologist said all this with a gentle smile on her face.

  Jenna struggled to keep her gaze averted, but she lost the battle and looked at the image on the screen. I thought it looked like a tiny peanut. I couldn't tell what Jenna thought. "Oh," she simply said, a waterfall of tears streaming down her face. "It looks so real."

  "It is real," the radiologist said gently. She printed off some pictures and handed them to Jenna.

  "I don't want…" Jenna trailed off, unable to tear her gaze from the pictures. The radiologist gave her an understanding smile as she gently wiped off the ultrasound gel.

  Jenna asked me to drive since she was too shaky. "You have your license, right?"

  I nodded as she tossed me the keys, climbing into the passenger side. She didn't say anything the entire way home, and I felt it was the wrong time to press about the whole charges thing. I hadn't even told her that the Coopers had shown up at my work the next day.

  She dropped me off at the diner after I told her I had to work. That was a little lie, but I did need to walk to Iain's and the diner was close to his place.

  "Jenna, if you need me there when you tell them, I'll be there," I told her. She nodded at me, giving me a small, thankful smile.

  I watched her drive away before I started walking, pulling my hoodie up over my head again. I kept an eye on my surroundings, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

  Iain wasn't home from school yet, so I unlocked his door using the spare key he'd given me the night before. He knew I'd likely beat him there.

  I didn't have to wait very long. Iain came in some ten minutes later when I was walking from the kitchen to the living room. He tossed his briefcase on the floor and walked over to me, gently grabbing my face with his hands and kissing me with a burning passion that had obviously been growing all day. He nibbled on my lip and I moaned, leaning against him, begging him to take me.

  He laughed into my mouth, trailing kisses along my neck to my ear. "That's for turning me on so much I had to sit behind my desk for a solid thirty minutes."

  "Oh, I bet it was a solid thirty minutes," I retorted, pushing him away with a smile. He laughed back, pressing against me so I'd feel just how solid it had been. My humorous mood evaporated as I was filled with a burning need. He saw the change in my eyes and instantly brought his mouth down to mine again, kissing me intently while his arms roamed my body over my clothes.

  "There's no way I can make that drive until I've satisfied your craving," Iain said, scooping me up in his arms and carrying me up the stairs toward his bedroom.

  "My craving?" I asked, lowering my eyelashes.

  "Mine too," he assured me, dropping me gently onto the bed and crawling slowly over top of me, kissing me.

  * * *

  "Well, we're going to be a little later getting to the hotel now," Iain joked, backing out of his driveway. It was nearly six o’clock. "We'll miss our reservations at that fancy restaurant and have to grab something along the way, but I'd say that was more than worth it."

  "I agree." I smirked, reaching across the seat to touch his inner thigh.

  "Do you ever want to get there?" Iain joked, gently removing my hand while he drove toward the highway.

  "Eh, I'll have you anywhere, Mr. Bentley." I winked. Then I remembered telling Jenna about him—vaguely. Frowning, I grabbed a strand of my hair t
o twist. "So Jenna asked who I was texting today."

  "What'd you tell her?" Iain asked as he merged onto the highway with skill and ease.

  "I told her I was talking to my boyfriend. Ben." I smiled weakly.

  "Ben?" Iain asked, laughing. "I get it—Bentley, right?"

  "I just hope she doesn't get it," I said this with concern.

  "I think she's a little wrapped up in her own life right now," Iain assured me, taking my hand and holding it in my lap. "Besides, lots of guys are named Ben."

  "Yeah…" I sighed, looking out the window. Iain's reassurance had brought on thoughts about Jenna's current predicament.

  "Where are you?" Iain asked gently, brushing the inside of my hand with his thumb.

  "I'm just thinking about all that…worrying. Wondering. The usual," I answered, shifting in my seat a little. "It'd be so much easier if I could talk to another girl who…got run out of town. To see what I'm up against."

  "That's a good idea," Iain nodded. "I could have my friend look into it."

  "Who's your friend?" I asked.

  "He's on the police squad, actually," Iain said, giving me a rueful smile. "Hates it there, hates how Cooper is a dirty cop and everyone covers him and his…offspring."

  "What's his name?" My curiosity was growing. I thought back to the officer with curly brown hair and green eyes, the one that had given me his card.

  "Mike Turner," Iain replied, confirming the name on the card.

  "I met him," I said, fishing the card out of my jacket pocket where I'd left it. "At the hospital, when I was giving my statement about what happened to Ryan."

  "Oh?" Iain looked almost relieved. "That's good. That's really good. He's one of the only cops in this town not on the Coopers' side, although he's very careful about revealing that."

  "Why?" I asked, looking at Iain, my eyebrows knitted together with confusion.

  "To protect himself," Iain answered honestly. "Trust me, Mike is very interested in exposing Carl Cooper. I'm sure he would know exactly who they ran out of town."

  "Oh, well. Makes sense I guess," I said, still frowning. I looked out the window at the scenery, barely seeing how gorgeous it was. We were in the Canadian Shield, and there were plenty of icicle waterfalls to look at in the rocks that lined either side of the highway. I couldn't see that though.