“I think the word you’re looking for is exciting.”
“I’ll be right down,” I say before releasing the button and walking out of the apartment with my head spinning.
It has to be Casey. Other than Cole, it’s only my parents who know I’m here. But they don’t actually know where here is. I’ve never given them an address.
As the elevator descends, my confusion mixes with excitement. Convinced I’m about to come face-to-face with my friend, I rush out the moment the doors open with a smile.
But…she isn’t there.
It’s just Melvin, waiting for me with a smile that rivals mine.
“Hi,” I squeak, looking around for clues.
I feel like I’m being played here. But Melvin wouldn’t do that. He’s too sweet. Too genuine.
“Miss Price. How wonderful to see you.” He beams at me, and my suspicions rise even higher.
“What…what’s going on?”
“You have a delivery.”
“Yeah, you said…” I look around again, but there isn’t a box, or a bag, or anything. Just Melvin and the immaculate entrance to Cole’s fancy building.
“Oh, this is exciting,” he sings before rushing back to his station and revealing that he does, in fact, have a box.
Hesitantly, I take it from him and slide it from the protective sleeve.
“What the—” I blurt as I stare down at my first clue.
My hands tremble as I read the embossed writing on the top.
Range Rover.
My eyes jump, and I stare through the one-way glass to the parking spots outside.
“Oh no,” I say, placing the box down and backing away. “No, no, no.”
“Miss Price,” Melvin says softly, as if he’s talking to a terrified animal. “It’s a gift from Mr. Hansley.”
“I-I…I don’t want it. I don’tneedit.”
“He warned me you might say that.”
“Why is he making you do this?”
“He wanted to be here for it, but he didn’t want to wait until later. He wanted you to be able to use it today. Apparently, you need to go to the store.”
“I’m walking,” I argue, taking off toward the doors.
“Miss Price,” he calls after me.
“I’m sorry, Melvin. But I can’t accept this. I won’t accept this.”
I storm through the automatic doors, really wishing that I could throw them open and cause a scene, but despite the inferno erupting inside me, everything is calm and perfect.
I don’t look back—it wouldn’t matter if I did, thanks to the one-way glass—but I know Melvin is watching as I march down the sidewalk, past the shiny, new car waiting for me. I give it a death glare and keep going.
It’s not until I round the corner that the heat of his concerned stare begins to fade. I can’t say the same for the anger inside me, though. Cole bought me a car. What the actual hell?
