“Holy shit!” Sam gasped before covering her mouth. “I was mostly joking about that creep from the gas station. Do you think he followed us?”
“I don’t know,” I said as a shadow moved past the window.
A bearded man with floppy hair walked up to the door. He looked around before knocking.
“Did you tell someone we’d be here?” Sam asked.
I shook my head. “I have no idea who that is.”
“Doesn’t look like the gas station guy,” Sam said.
The man stepped over to the window at the front of the house and peered in between the curtains. He knocked again before running his hands through his hair.
“We’re so dead,” Sam mumbled as she tried to sink down even further. “Tell Dott how much I love her, okay?”
“What makes you think I’m going to survive this?”
“Brunettes always live,” Sam said. “Redheads never make it.”
I tapped my index finger to my lips only seconds before the light turned toward the SUV. Sam’s eyes searched the interior. She picked up my empty bottle of water and clutched it in her shaking hand.
The bottle of water wasn’t going to help, but maybe the keys would. I gripped them tightly between my fingers. If I had to claw the stranger to fight for my life, I would. At least, I hoped I would.
I wasn’t a violent person. I didn’t even like squishing bugs.
The man knocked on the window, and we both screamed. Shock stretched his face as he took a quick step back.
“Go away!” Sam shouted. “We’re armed.”
“Whoa! I’m just here to check on Wanda Carter,” he said, keeping his distance. He slowly raised his hands. “I wanted to make sure she’s okay.”
Sam’s eyes flicked to meet mine. “This guy knew your mom?”
“Um,” I cleared my throat. “She recently passed away.”
His jaw stiffened. “I don’t know what the two of you are up to, but if you hurt her—”
“No,” I said, shaking my head, “she was my mom. She had a heart attack.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows dropped, and the muscles in his neck softened. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks,” I said.
He scratched the back of his neck. “She was a nice woman.”
“Again, thanks,” I said.
He looked to the left and then to the right before setting his eyes back on the SUV. “Are you two okay?”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Sam snapped.
The man’s lips curled on one side. “I don’t know. You’re hiding in an SUV for starters.”
“We’re fine,” Sam said.
“Do either of you need anything?” he asked, raising a brow.
Sam turned to me. “What is this guy’s deal? Can’t he take a hint?”
“Relax, Sam,” I said, studying the man outside the window. He seemed normal enough, but after what I’d gone through with Elijah, I knew what someone looked like didn’t mean a damn thing. “Well, the SUV won’t start.”
“Yeah.” The man’s head bobbed up and down. “And it’s not going to.”
“He did something to the car!” Sam hissed as she grabbed my hand and shook it.
The man took a step closer. “It would be easier to talk to you if I didn’t have to shout through the window.”
I reached for the handle, but before I could open the door, Sam launched herself across the counsel and grabbed my hand. Her perfect nails dug into my wrist.
“Are you nuts?” Sam asked.
“For what it’s worth, I’m not armed,” the guy said, clearly seeing Sam’s reaction. “Look, I’m just here to help, and if you don’t need it after what happened, that’s perfectly fine with me. I’ll just be on my way. Have a good night.”
I peeled Sam’s hands from me and opened the door. She pulled on my shirt, but I managed to get free without the fabric tearing.
“Hey, sorry about that. What do you mean after what happened?” I asked.
“The CME. It’s like a EMP ,” the man said, pointing to the sky. “That’s why your SUV won’t start. Nothing is going to start. The whole area seems to be without power.”
“My microwave nearly burned the house down,” I muttered.
Sam stepped out and stood next to me, crossing her arms like she was some kind of bodyguard. “My laptop shocked me.”
“Yeah, you can thank the solar storm for that,” the man said, reaching his hand toward me. “Erik Price. I live down the road a bit. Mowed your mom’s lawn whenever I was in town.”
“Melaney Carter,” I said, taking his rough hand in mine.
He gave my hand a firm squeeze and turned to Sam. “Erik Price.”
“I heard you. I’m standing right here,” Sam said, her brows skeptically squeezing together. She sighed and took his hand. “Sam.”
“Like Madonna?”
“Excuse me?” Sam said, unamused.
“No last name. Never mind.” Erik turned back to me. “If you want, you two can come to stay with me until this all gets figured out.”
Sam shifted her weight. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” Erik chuckled.
“Do you know when power might be restored?” I asked.
Erik inhaled deeply. “Wish I knew. Could be days, maybe even weeks.”
“Weeks?” Sam squealed. Her mouth dropped open as she turned to me. “Mel! I don’t have weeks. I need to get back to Dott.”
“Where are you two from?” Erik asked.
“Why are you so nosy?”
“All right,” Erik said, walking backward. His eyes were locked onto mine. “If you need anything, I’m just a quarter of a mile down the road. Blue house. Can’t miss it.”
I nodded, and Erik turned around. Sam’s hands were balled up into fists as she glared at his back.
“Oh! Erik! One more thing,” I
