Connor nodded and backed out of the parking lot.
“Want something to eat before we go?” Connor asked.
Nathan shrugged. He wasn’t really that hungry, but Connor and food made a date at least every two hours. Nathan was convinced the guy had tapeworms. There was no other explanation for how he never worked out with the other guys, and yet he was lean and muscled despite the fact he ate half an elephant’s weight on a daily basis.
They hit the drive-through of their favorite local fast food joint, and Nathan listened while Connor ordered an obscene amount of food. Nathan got a coffee, thinking it couldn’t be worse than Connor’s earlier attempt. It wasn’t much better, but it was liquid caffeine.
“Julie’s salon isn’t far from here, is it?” Connor asked casually.
“No,” Nathan said tightly.
“Shopping center one block over, huh?”
Nathan turned to look at Connor, his eyes narrowed to slits. “Cut the crap, Connor. Unless you’re wanting to schedule a hair appointment, why the hell do you care where Julie’s salon is?”
“Or a massage,” Connor said innocently. “I guess I could always get my ear pierced like you and pussy boy Hudson.”
“Pussy boy Hudson would kick your ass and you know it,” Nathan said with a grin.
“Nah, he’s old and rusty.”
Nathan snorted. “And you aren’t? You’ve gotten soft since getting out.”
“Julie’s different,” Connor said, pulling the conversation back to her again. It was starting to annoy the shit out of Nathan.
“What do you mean, different?”
Connor shrugged. “You know what I mean. She’s… rounder, a little on the plump side. You usually date the tall, lean blonde types.”
Nathan stared at him agape. Plump? Was he trying to insinuate that Julie was fat?
Connor glanced over at him and cocked an eyebrow. “Why do you look so appalled, man?”
“What the hell are you trying to say?”
“Just that she’s not your usual type. She’s got hips, breasts.”
“She’s fucking perfect,” Nathan growled. “Ain’t a goddamn thing wrong with her.” Hips and breasts. Was Connor sitting there seriously criticizing Julie’s attributes? If he wasn’t driving, Nathan would kick his ass on the spot.
“I wasn’t badmouthing her, dude. Just citing the differences.”
“How about you don’t even fucking look at her, and you won’t have to worry about her differences.”
Connor chuckled and held up one hand in surrender.
“Hey, speak of the devil. Isn’t that her?”
Nathan blinked at the abrupt change in topic but looked in the direction of Connor’s attention. Sure enough, Julie’s sporty convertible darted into traffic from the on-ramp and surged ahead three cars.
Her hair blew behind her head, whipping in the wind like strands of silk. She handled the little car like a pro, and she obviously enjoyed the ride. There was a hint of daredevil in her as she weaved back and forth in the busy traffic.
“On second thought, I can see why you’re hot for her,” Connor murmured as he accelerated to keep up. “Something about a chick in a hot car.”
Nathan rolled his eyes. Julie could be driving a grandma car and Nathan would still be hot for her.
Ahead, Julie moved over to the far right lane and put her blinker on to exit. At that precise moment a truck came barreling up the on-ramp and T-boned the small car without ever coming close to yielding.
“Son of a bitch!” Nathan yelled.
Julie’s car spun crazily into traffic, and cars scattered across four lanes in an effort to avoid a collision. The asshole driving the truck never even slowed. He careened wildly around several cars, regained control and roared off.
Julie slammed into the far left concrete divider and came to a halt.
In a maneuver eerily reminiscent of Julie’s crazy skitter across the freeway, Connor roared over, executing a sharp U-turn and narrowly missing an eighteen-wheeler that had slowed when the accident occurred.
Nathan was out and running as soon as Connor came to a stop. Connor was already on the phone. Nathan’s only thought was to get to Julie.
The car was facing the wrong way and the battered passenger side rested against the concrete dividers. Julie’s head lolled to the side, blood dripping from a cut above her eye. So much for the goddamn airbags.
He glanced around and then to the steering wheel. It was the only thing she could have hit her head on. Thank God she’d worn her seatbelt.
“Julie? Julie, honey, can you hear me?”
A soft moan was her only response.
He touched her shoulder, too afraid to touch her anywhere else. He didn’t want to jostle her or have her move her neck unnecessarily. If she hit the steering wheel, she’d have a hell of a case of whiplash and who knows what kind of neck or back injuries.