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Guy.
         “Ah,” Erik smirked. “I think I see what’s going on here. Paige, tell me if I’m close. Hailey brought you to this dive tonight and promptly left you on your own so that she could latch onto the hairiest man in the joint. And this must be none other than Guy’s latest bimbo.”
         “Hey-“
         “Why you-“
         “God,” Erik steamrolled over Hailey and Guys collective outrage, “No wonder you’re upset. Let’s go. I’m taking you home.” One hand cut the air in a slashing motion when Hailey opened her mouth to argue the decision. “Save it. Come on Paige, let’s get the hell out of here.” And without another word to the stunned trio behind them, he ushered her into the truck, climbed in beside her and hit the gas. Gravity propelled Paige to the back of the seat and one hand shot forward to clutch at the tan leather armrest.
         “Erik, don’t think I’m not grateful here, but… are we going to go ninety all the way back to town?”
         “No,” His foot eased on the accelerator. “That was for their benefit. In case they didn’t get that I’m pissed.”
         “I think you made your point.”
         “Hey it’s a guy thing.” He shrugged, maneuvering the slick streets with ease.
         “Thanks for that, by the way.” She sighed, resting her head against the back of the seat.
         “So how was my theory?”
         “The one where Guy rips out my heart and stomps on it and Hailey hops onto a trucker?” Paige quipped humorlessly, not bothering to mask the bitterness in her tone.
         “Yeah, that one.” His lips twitched.
         “Pretty much spot on.” She admitted, loosening her hold on the armrest and lightly fingering the miniscule sun creases in the thick leather.
         “I’m sorry.”
         “I’m glad you came to get me.”
         “I’ll always come after you sweetheart, you know that. Are you really okay?”
         “I think so,” S he attempted a smile.
         “I wanted to talk to you anyway.”
         “You did?”
         “Yeah,” Erik’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his eyes remaining straight ahead. “But that can wait. So what did that jerk say to you?”
         “I was sitting there watching him with...her.” She swallowed refusing to call his latest conquest by name, though certainly the girl, Tanya, couldn’t be faulted for dating Guy. “I ran out and he followed, helpfully pointing out that I broke up with him.”
         “That was nice of him.” Erik shook his head.
         “And then he threw it in my face that I had someone else.” She took a deep breath.
         “Where would he get an idea like that? Everyone knows you’ve been holed up in your room for weeks.”
         “Everyone knows?” She groaned, covering her face with her hands.
         “Well…”
         “Never mind, I don’t want to know.”
         “Why does he think you’ve got someone new?” Erik neatly redirected her thoughts.
         “I may have led him to believe that.” She hedged.
         “And how did you ‘maybe’ do that?”
         “I told him I was in love with someone else-that I’ve been seeing someone else.” She elaborated, her eyes swinging to the side when his brow furrowed.
         “Are you?”
         “No.”
         “Then why…” He slowed the truck.
         “It’s such a long story Erik.” She sighed and turned to gaze out at the black night beyond the window. “Actually no, it’s a sh ort but complicated story. I…” She faltered, needing to tell someone, desperate to finally dislodge the truth and bring it to light. Yet scared to voice what had become her terrifying reality. Erik seemed to sense her reluctance.
         “What is it Paige? You can tell me anything.”
         “I think I would rather talk about what you were about to say earlier.”
         “Forget it.