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nicholas_sparks_series

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NICHOLAS SPARKS
kudzu playing no favorites between the two. It was less a shortcut
than an attempt to avoid an endless series of stoplights. Light-
ning continued to strike, turning the clouds silver and illuminat-
ing the surroundings in otherworldly strobes. The rain and wind
intensified, the wipers barely keeping the windshield clear, but he
knew this road well. He eased into one of its many blind curves
before instinctively stomping on the brakes.
Up ahead, a car with storage racks across the roof was halfway
off the road at a cockeyed angle, its hazards flashing. The trunk
stood propped open to the elements. As the Camaro slowed,
Colin felt the rear fishtail slightly before the tires caught again.
He merged into the oncoming lane to give the car a wide berth,
thinking that the guy couldn’t have picked a worse time and
place to break down. Not only was the storm limiting visibility,
but drunks like the ones back at the diner would be setting out
for home right about now, and he could imagine one of them tak-
ing the corner too fast and plowing into the back of the car.
Not good, he thought. It was definitely an accident waiting to
happen, but at the same time, it wasn’t his business. It wasn’t his
job to rescue strangers, and he probably wouldn’t be much help
anyway. He understood the engine in his car, but only because
the Camaro was older than he was; modern engines had more
in common with computers. Besides, the driver had no doubt
already called for help.
As he rolled slowly past the stopped car, however, he noticed
the rear tire was flat and behind the trunk, a woman— soaked to
the bone in jeans and a short- sleeved blouse— was struggling to
remove the spare tire from its compartment. Lightning flashed, a
long series of flickering camera strobes that captured her mascara-
streaked distress. In that instant, he realized that her dark hair
and wide- set eyes reminded him of one of the girls in his classes,
and his shoulders slumped.
A girl? Why did it have to be a girl in trouble out here? For
all he knew, it was the girl in his class, and he couldn’t very well
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14
7/31/15
6:55:46 PM
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pretend he hadn’t noticed that she needed help. He really didn’t
need this right now, but what choice did he have?
With a sigh, he pulled over to the side of the road, leaving
some distance between her car and his. He turned on his haz-
ards and grabbed his jacket from the backseat. By then the rain
was coming down in sheets, instantly soaking him as he exited,
like the diagonal spray of an outdoor shower. Running a hand
through his hair, he took a deep breath and then started toward
her car, calculating how quickly he could change the tire and be
on the road again.
“Need a hand?” he called.
Surprising him, she didn’t say anything. Instead, staring at
him with stricken eyes, she let go of the tire and began slowly
backing away.
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