Impacted (Conflicted Encounters #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that’s what was in my driveway one morning," I said bitterly.  
    "Well, you got lucky," he said, distracted with buttons and moving the seat. "This is one bad ass car, even for an import."
    "Well, knock yourself out," I waved my hand in the air dismissively. I never really cared about the car, let alone how fast it could go or how much it had cost. I had been furious to find out my parents had gotten rid of my old car and replaced it with this. It didn't matter how much everyone gawked at it.  
    Ryder pushed the start button and the engine roared to life. He backed out of the parking lot a little too fast and made it to the main highway. My stomach churned as we neared the familiar stretch of road. I knew Ryder knew it as well because I saw his body tense as the deadly turn came into view. I held my breath as the car slowed and the maple came into view.  
    Ryder drove slightly onto the soft shoulder and stopped the car, but he didn't put it in park. I closed my eyes and said some silent words to Carter. I still thought of him everyday. I visited his grave on his birthday last month. After saying my peace, I turned and nodded slightly to Ryder. Slowly pulling away, neither of us said a word about the silent exchange. Word weren't needed between us at that moment.
    The drive was made in comfortable silence. I gave him directions when needed, and I didn't shout when he went too fast on the highway. Several times, I knew he was just testing the power of the car, passing cars and weaving quickly in and out of traffic. He wore a slight smile while he did it, so I couldn't bring myself to reprimand him and make him stop or slow down. Besides, despite our complicated status, I trusted him enough to know he wouldn't let me get hurt. Too bad he wasn't there when I walked to my car yesterday.  
    My feet were resting on the dash to keep my ankle elevated. Ryder almost looked like he was going to scold me before he saw my glare. It was my car and I would scuff up all the leather I wanted. I couldn't care less how it looked inside. Expensive leather and high-end technology in a car didn't matter to me.  
    As the scenery flew by outside, I ran through a mental list of the items I would need to gather. I needed my computer to keep up with the little little things I would need to pass on for work. I would book a hotel before I left and decided to just bring all the clothes and shoes I owned. That was all I had in the apartment anyway.  
    I took in Ryder's profile as he drove. He was concentrated, but calm. His face showed some slight stubble, and I remembered what it felt like to run my hands along the roughness. Underneath his concrete shell hid the hurt I caused him. I knew I blew my chance and it sickened me. Could everything we had, something I was so sure that could withstand anything thrown our way, was it really gone?  
    My heart hurt when I thought of never kissing him again. I forced my eyes shut to keep the tears in when I realized that, after the wedding, I would be forced with a very similar situation as months before. I was going to have to leave, and this time, I wasn't sure that Ryder would want me to stay.  
    I felt so alone. I was always alone, especially the last six months, but the feeling sank in. Now that I pulled my head out of my ass, I could clearly see how utterly alone I was. Ryder may be sitting beside me, but it wasn't the Ryder that loved me in this car. I’d scared that one off. Scarlett would always be my friend, but I couldn't go to her with what I was going through now. She had her own life to start; the last thing she needed was more drama between her brother and me.  
    Scarlett had the biggest heart and she would cry with me, hold me, and comfort me if I needed it. She would lecture her brother and pull Logan and Caleb in for some top-secret matchmaking operation. She would selflessly push herself aside to see Ryder and I happy. I wouldn't let her do that. If I learned anything in the past year,