The Sandman's Daughter

Ten

Ten

Cassie adjusted the messenger bag across her shoulders and let out the millionth sigh for the day. The chilly air stung her cheeks as she walked down the street, but the pain was refreshing. For the first time in forever, she didn't feel like she'd fall asleep any moment.

Too bad it took walking home in the freezing cold to wake her up. She glanced up at the sky and frowned. The ominous black clouds overhead didn't do anything to brighten her mood. She hoped she'd make it home before the rain started.

Would that really be too much to ask after everything else she'd been through?

She wished Sam had gotten out early as well. She'd love to be in her nice, warm car, drinking coffee and distracting each other from sleep. Even her mother would have been a welcome sight right then. But, no, her fate was to walk in the cold and rain because Mr. Rice was a nice guy.

Oh well, when it rains, it pours.

Cassie pulled her collar higher and trudged on, bitterly hoping every second that the clouds didn't burst around her.

"Hey, Cassie," a voice called to her over the roar of an engine.

She turned, startled by the sudden break in the silence.

Mike peered out the window of his ancient red pickup truck. He smiled softly as his eyes met hers. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

She shrugged, hugging her messenger bag against her, needing a shield between them. Heat rose in her cheeks and she wondered just how pathetic she looked out there in the cold. "Mr. Rice let us out early. The only choices I had was to stay and wait at school for Sam or walk home. I chose the lesser of two evils.

He chuckled. "I can't say I blame you." He glanced up at the sky through the windshield. "The sky seems to be in the same mood everyone else is in town. It's going to pour any minute."

Cassie looked up grudgingly. "Yeah, probably."

"You want a ride? You still have quite a way to go."

She looked at him in surprise. He knew where her house was? Why would the quarterback know why she lived? And why would he ever want to give her a ride home? He must not have done enough community service for the week. "It's okay. My house isn't really that much farther. I should make it before the rain starts."

Hopefully.

"Cassie," he said with an exasperated tone. "Get in the truck. Sam will never forgive me if I let you catch pneumonia."

Oh, well. If it was for Sam's sake how could she refuse? She opened the passenger door and slid in, the leather bench seat hugging her perfectly.

"Good," Mike said as she shut the door. "Now I don't have to worry about you in the pouring rain." He slid the truck in gear and pulled away from the curb.

Cassie glanced around the cab as they drove, taking in everything around her. Mike's school books sat precariously next to her on the seat, but other than that, the truck was spotless. A woodsy scent lingered in the air backed by a slight whiff of coconut. It was quintessential Mike at his finest.

She leaned back and wondered what it would be like to ride in his truck every day. Yeah, like that would ever happen. This was a once in a lifetime thing. She needed to enjoy it while it lasted.

"I just left the hospital," Mike said, startling her from her daydreams. "They're running out of beds."

She glanced over, shocked. She didn't realize it was that bad. "Really?"