The Story of Us Read Online Free

road, but I didn’t want to distract the new arrival with my own situation. Amy, and to a lesser extent Caroline, were of more pressing importance just now. The crackling, crisp-crunching noise came again, this time accompanied by the brightest flare of a spark so far.
    I could only hope that whoever had just arrived had telephoned for help, because my phone was with Caroline’s in our bags in the boot of the car. And Amy’s… well, I guessed Amy wasn’t going to be able to tell us where her phone was for a little while.
Or ever.
    â€˜Shut up!’ I cried to that evil voice, not realising I’d said the words aloud at the precise moment that a face came into my field of vision. Someone was looking down at me from the edge of the bank.
    â€˜Hello there.’ The voice belonged to a man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, a man with dark wavy hair and a face whose calm expression belied the gravity of our situation. He
had
to be concerned and worried to have three wounded accident victims suddenly becoming his instant responsibility, but you’d never have known it from the tone of his voice, or the gentle smile he gave as his eyes darted over the car and me, quickly assessing the situation.
    â€˜Hi,’ I replied in response.
    He lifted his hand and raked a powerful flashlight beam over the car’s interior and then over me, from my head to my legs, which disappeared from view at about knee level behind the collapsed seat. He frowned a little when he saw the bleeding head wound, then a lot when he saw my legs.
    â€˜You’re hurt.’ It was a statement, not a question. I raised my hand to my forehead, all the while shaking my head in denial.
    â€˜It’s nothing. My friends? Have you called for help? One of them went through the windscreen. How is she? Is she okay? And Caroline… I think she’s in shock.’
    â€˜They’re okay,’ he said reassuringly, and I didn’t challenge the obvious lie. ‘Help’s on the way, it’ll be here soon and your friend… Caroline… is looking after the other girl—’
    â€˜Amy,’ I provided, knowing full well that Caroline was currently in no state to be looking after anyone. Why wasn’t he out there helping Amy?
    â€˜Please, just go back and take care of them,’ I urged, as I saw him assess the steep-sided bank and the angle of the car and realised what he was intending to do. ‘I’ll be fine here until someone else comes.’
    He smiled back at me as he swung himself down from the edge of the bank and landed lightly on the bonnet of the car. Nevertheless the mangled metal groaned loudly beneath his weight. It was hard to tell from this angle, but he looked tall, possibly well over six foot and broadly built.
    â€˜I don’t think so. I think we should try and get you out, right now. I’m Jack, by the way,’ he completed and it was only then that I heard the soft burr of an American accent.
    â€˜Emma,’ I replied automatically, and then for no good reason that I can possibly think of, I added, ‘I’m getting married in a fortnight.’
    â€˜Congratulations,’ he responded, winding Amy’s jacket around his hands to protect them.
    â€˜We were on my hen night.’
    He gave a small nod, his attention fixed on the windscreen. ‘Cover your eyes.’
    I looked up at him blankly. Perhaps Caroline wasn’t the only one in shock.
    â€˜I need to punch out the glass so I can climb in and help you out.’
    â€˜It’s no use, my legs are stuck behind the driver’s seat. I’ve tried, but I can’t get out.’
    Just then the entire dashboard was illuminated by a huge spark from the car’s damaged electrics. Jack’s forehead crumpled into a frown, but the gentling smile never left his face. ‘Let’s just see, shall we? Cover your eyes.’
    I did as he said, so can’t say exactly what he