NovelEnglishThe rain outside was getting heavier, the sky growing darker and more oppressive by the minute. Aurora felt a
knot of unease twist in her stomach.
Stuck in the middle of nowhere, far from anything resembling civilization, she realized that if something
happened to her, there wouldn't be a soul around to know, let alone help.
She hovered her finger over her brother's number, debating whether to call him for help, when suddenly a pair of
headlights appeared up ahead, coming from the opposite direction.
On a normal day, one passing car wouldn't mean much. But out here, in this downpour, it could only mean one
thing: someone had cto help fix her car.
She'd been stranded here for what felt like hours, and not a single car had driven by until now.
Aurora squinted through the windshield, trying to make out who it was. As she watched, the car slowed, turned
around, and pulled up right next to hers.
Before she could even feel relieved, Craig's face suddenly appeared at her window, making her jump.
Seriously? She thought he said he'd send someone, not chimself.
Aurora instinctively reached for the door handle, but before she could open it, she realized Craig was leaning
against it from the outside.
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A moment later, she heard the trunk pop open, and Craig's voice called out from behind her, muffled by the rain.
"Stay in the car-it's pouring. No need to get soaked."
"You cby yourself?" Aurora glanced at his pickup truck. No sign of a second person.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure you can handle it alone? Lethelp. | can at least hold the umbrella or something."
She started to get out anyway, anxious to get the car fixed and back on the road- she had no interest in
spending more twith Craig than necessary. They'd barely been more than acquaintances before, and she'd
been fine with that.
"| said, stay put. I've got it," Craig's tone was curt, just as she remembered from before-never one for
explanations, and if you pushed, his patience wore thin real
fast.
Aurora pressed her lips together and shrugged. Fine. Let him do his thing. It's not like she was dying to hang out
in the rain with him anyway.
Luckily, Craig knew his way around cars-he'd driven big rigs for years, and changing a tire was second nature to
him.
Aurora let him work and turned her attention to her phone, texting with the gallery crew about the upcoming art
show.
A minute later, her phone rang. It was Quentin.
"Aurora, I've almost got the display layout finished for the show. I'll send you sphotos in a bit-take a look,
and if you're cool with it, I'll get the team to start hanging the pieces."
"Perfect, send them over and I'll check them out."
"By the way, where are you? It's absolutely pouring out there."
Quentin sounded genuinely
concerned. He might be a counset
years younger than Aurora, but in
the studio, he'd always looked out for her. sw
“I'm stuck on the highway, don't ask. Had a flat, but I'm getting the spare on now —should be good in a minute."
"You're by yourself? Did you get someone to chelp? | can drive out there if you need—seriously, it's pitch
black and nasty out."
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Aurora glanced in the rearview
mirror at Craig, who was still
wrestling with the jack. "No Wo
omeone's already here helping me
out. I'll be fine."
"Okay, but promiseyou'll text every hour so | know you're safe."
Aurora couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, Mom. | promise."
After hanging up, she looked up-and nearly jumped when she saw Craig looking
right at her through the rain-streaked window.
"Um... is there something you need?" she asked.
Craig arched an eyebrow. "So I'm just 'the guy fixing your car' now?"
She realized he must have overheard her conversation. She shrugged. "Aren't you?"
He shook his head, half amused, half exasperated, and turned back to the tire.
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