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real soon, though. And it’s gonna take them a couple days to get an adjuster out here to look at your car. Maybe more with the holiday.”
    “Days?” Nate’s heart sank.
    “Yeah. Where y’all on your way to?”
    Cassie explained as Nate sank into one of the waiting chairs. He hardly heard a word until Cass plunked down beside him. Her hand found its way to rest inside his, and he looked up to find her smiling at him. “Hey. It’s okay.”
    “It’s not.” He shook his head. “It’s really, really not.”
    Then she did something he never expected her to. Lifting their hands, she brought the back of his to her lips. Pressed a firm kiss to the knuckles. “It will be,” she said.
    The very familiarity of it hurt. This was how their friendship worked. He’d held them together in the aftermath of the crash, but as soon as his reserves were gone, she stepped up. She gave it back to him.
    “You’re amazing.”
    She was.
    As he sat there and as Sherry filed her nails, Cassie got on the phone, navigating through what sounded like one menu after another until she finally reached a person. He watched her face as she went through the whole saga again before mumbling a long series of uh-huh s and okay s. She looked up and into his eyes toward the end, and then she said thank you and goodbye .
    She slapped his thigh and stood. “The good news?”
    “Yeah?” God, he could use some of that.
    “They won’t be able to get an adjuster out here for a few days. But we can get a rental car, and it’s all covered.”
    “That’s good news?”
    “It could be worse.” With that, she turned to Sherry, who had begun pointedly packing her purse. “It’s too late for us to get a car tonight. Is there a motel somewhere close by?”
    Sherry snapped her gum. “About two exits up is your best bet.”
    Nate’s heart sank. “Don’t suppose there’s a cab company around here?”
    “Nah. But me and Hank are heading home. You’re only a few miles out of the way. You’ll hitch a ride with us.”
    “We couldn’t—” Cassie started, but Nate was beyond that.
    “Sherry,” he said, exhausted. “You are a wonderful human being.”
    Sherry’s mouth turned up into a smile. “Oh, I like this one.” She looked at Cassie with a wink. “Gorgeous and polite. You better hang on to him.”
    Did Cassie’s voice rise? “Oh, we’re not—”
    “Don’t worry,” Nate interrupted again, winding his arm around her waist. It still felt right. “I’m not letting go. Not for anything.”
     
     
    “Here you go.” With a thunk , Hank lowered the gate on the back of a truck that looked like it had seen more wear and tear than even Cassie’s old wreck had, right up until this afternoon.
    Cassie balked, seething at Nate beneath her breath. “You have got to be kidding me.”
    Nate wasn’t hearing it. As Hank tossed the first of their bags into the bed of the truck, Nate held out his hand to Cassie to help her climb on up. “It’ll be fine.”
    Misinterpreting her anxiety, Hank reassured them, “It’s been under the car park out back all day. Ain’t wet in there or anything.”
    Cassie glared at Nate, but after only a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed his hand and clambered into the bed. Nate tossed their other bag up to her before following. With a nod of thanks, he thumped the side of the truck. Hank raised the gate and locked it into place. As he disappeared toward the front, Nate scooted over to where Cassie was braced against the rear windows of the cab, trepidation written on every inch of her.
    She’d been so strong for him when he’d given into the lure of hopelessness back at the shop. It was his turn to be the steady one again.
    Flashing her his most winsome grin, he threw his arm over the side of the bed. “Come on. Don’t tell me you never did this when you were a kid.”
    “No.” She grimaced, her tone dripping sarcasm. “We rode in cars. Cars with seatbelts.”
    The door of the cab slammed shut and the