“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Oh come on. It’ll be fun.”
I cross my arms. “No, it won’t. People expect you to smile and talk. Those are the two things I hate the most.”
“Well… I kind of have to go—make an appearance anyway.”
I turn to face him. “No problem. I’ll take the train.”
He sighs. “Come with me. We’ll stay for thirty minutes tops.”
“Finn…”
“I promise. You can stand next to me and fake smile. I’ll do all the talking for you.”
“Nope.”
“What if I buy you dinner after?” he asks, using his crooked smile as a weapon.
“I eat alone, remember.”
“What if we eat in silence?” he asks.
Slowly, I turn my head to shoot him daggers. I don’t even have to answer him.
“What if we eat at two separate tables in the same restaurant?”
I shake my head. “I don’t believe for a second that you can’t find a more willing girl to hang out with you.”
He slides his fingers through his hair. “Maybe I don’t want to hang with just any girl.”
“You prefer girls who don’t like you?”
He laughs. “You like me and you know it.”
“No, I really don’t. I told you, you annoy me.”
He grins and places both hands on the wheel, tapping his fingers. “I’m good with that.”
“You’re weird. I tell you that you irritate me and it makes you happy?”
“I’d rather you have some feelings about me than none at all. I can work with annoyed.”
I stare at him for a half-second, trying to figure him out. “I’m sure there are a ton of people who can’t stand you. Maybe you’d like to offer them all rides as well?”
“While I would be absolutely fine driving more people, I have to say I’d rather have your undivided attention.”
I’m getting more and more uncomfortable with this conversation. I decide it’s fight or flight time. Noticing me pulling out my earbuds, he sighs loudly.
“Don’t put them in, I’ll zip it.”
“I just want to listen to music. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”
He snickers. “How about I turn on some ofmymusic?”
“I highly doubt we like the same stuff.”
Traffic slows to a stop and he turns his head to me. “All I’m asking for is a chance. Give me a chance to show you what I’m made of. I won’t disappoint you.”
