Shrugging at Pax, I stood and followed, with everyone else trailing behind as we tromped to the front yard.
“Paxton, this baby”—he motioned to the long driveway, where a silver Audi S6 sat in the soft evening light—“is yours. The title’s in the glove box.”
With his mouth open, Paxton moved his gaze from the car, to my father, to me, then back to the vehicle. “Holy sh…crap. Are you serious? It’s really mine?”
“You earned it today by helping me out with the board. It’s gently used, but only a couple of years old and low mileage.”
Paxton reached out a hand and caressed the hood of the vehicle. He twisted around, and a humongous smile brightened his face. “I never believed I’d own a car, much less one this nice.” He moved his attention to my parents. “I don’t know what to say.”
Mom smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Just say you have your license,” Dad chuckled, stepping to the vehicle and opening the door. “Get inside, check it out.”
The scent of leather fanned from the car into the hot air.
“Yes sir.” Paxton slid his long frame into the seat and gripped the wheel, his face still sporting an enormous grin. “Got my hardship license a couple of years ago, back before Dad sold the car.” His smile dropped and he laid a palm on the dash, swiping his fingers against the surface.
“Daddy, can Paxton take me for a ride? Please?” Lana tugged on Dad’s hand.
He laughed. “Of course.”
Paxton looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “You wanna go, too?”
I nodded and headed to the passenger’s side door. By the time I reached it, he’d already leaned across the console and pushed it open.
“Be back by eight,” Mom called. “The girls shouldn’t be out too late.”
Lana grinned and hopped into the back seat.
After starting the motor, Paxton adjusted the mirrors and strapped on his seatbelt. “Everyone’s got their belt on?”
“Yep.” Lana waved to Mom and Dad through the window.
I snapped my seatbelt in place. “Time to get the hell out of here for a while.”
Even though I was a bit envious Paxton already had his license, I couldn’t deny it felt great knowing he had his own form of freedom.
Plus, maybe he can start driving us to school instead of Moira.
Chapter fifteen
Paxton Ross
“So,whereto,ladies?”The car still smelled new, and I breathed in the heady scent, completely in shock the vehicle was mine. I’d never dreamed I’d own a car, much less one so nice.
“Can we go get ice cream at that ice-cream truck at the park?” Lana gripped the edge of my seat as she leaned forward from the backseat.
“Sounds good to me.” I flipped the blinker and pointed us toward downtown. “What about you, Cotton Candy? You up for some dessert?”
“Yep.” She tapped the on-screen monitor, bringing up several satellite music channels, settling on a hard rock station. “We Don’t Have to Dance” by Andy Black blasted through the speakers and we sang along, drowning out the sound of Lana’s zombie-killing spree on her phone.
CC’s sweet scent permeated the air, mixing with the leather smell, pleasant and tempting. Her eyes shone with excitement or happiness, maybe both, as she smiled at me.
Ten minutes later, I pulled into the shady parking lot of the city park and got out, turning to give the car another glance, unable to hide the grin forming on my lips.
The Audi was sharp, shiny, and suave.So much more than I could’ve ever hoped for back in Louisiana.
Lana sprinted out of the back of the car, stuffing her phone into the pocket of her skort. She squinted toward the swings, which were filled with shouting children. “Hey, there’s Jodi. Can I go say hi?”
