“But…”
“We’re getting off in a couple of stops,” he explains. “My car is at thepark anddrivethere. I didn’t want to get stuck in the weekend evening traffic.”
“But still,” I protest. “I can’t be out this late…”
I don’t want to tell him that even being in the hallways of my building late into the night is low key freaking me out. It’s okay during the hours when people leave for work, or when they come back. But in the dead of the night, I wouldn’t want to be out there. I have three locks on my door for a reason.
“Please don’t tell me that you have to work tomorrow,” he begs.
I am surprised at how concerned he is by all the hours I’ve been working.
“No, I have tomorrow off.” I give him a goofy grin. “I’m looking forward to sleeping in for a change.”
He looks like he’s ready to ask me more about it when the train comes to a stop.
“This is us!” He turns me around, and we exit the train with the rest of the crowd.
There isn’t much time to chat after that. We run up the stairs, and the parking area is right there, just as Alex said.
“There’s the car.” He points toward a black SUV, which I recognize as his vehicle. I don’t say much while we get in, then he starts driving us out of the city. Realizing that my left hand is still clenched around the red rose he gave me, I turn around andcarefully place it on the back seat, making a mental note that I need to grab it when he takes me back home.
The trip to the suburbs is a lot more relaxing than I was expecting. We talk with ease, he teases me, and I tease him back. Before I know it, he pulls into the driveway of a huge house.
“Whoa!” My jaw goes slack. “This is where they live?”
I’ve always known his friends had money, just like Alex, but I guess I never understood the magnitude of their wealth.
Alex watches me thoughtfully. It feels like a test. “Do you like it?”
“What’s not to like,” I shrug. It’s a stupid question.
I jump when someone appears from out of nowhere and knocks on the windshield. I suddenly find myself staring into the face of Alex’s friend, Kyle.
“Do you people not know how to read the time?” he yells loud enough for us to hear.
A snort of laughter escapes my lips, and I rush to slap a hand over my mouth. In the corner of my eye, I see Alex flipping Kyle off. Then, moving a lot slower than the situation warrants, he pops his door open and gets out of the car.
I remain frozen in my seat, unsure of what to do. When Alex opens the door on my side, I still don’t move.
“We need to get inside before Kyle passes out from hunger.” The smirk on his face just about melts me on the spot.
“Dude!” Kyle is like a cartoon, jumping around the car. “I told you seven on. The. Dot!” He enunciates each word as he points toward his wrist. “Do you know what time it is now? Almost eight freakin’ thirty!”
“Kyle!” The silhouette of a woman appears in the doorway of the main entrance to the house. “Come on, Hayden said you can have more shrimp!”
His eyes go wide, and he spins around without another thought to us. “Really?” He then presses a hand to his stomach. “I think I’ve developed an ulcer from lack of food!”
“Aww,” she gushes. “I’ll make sure to take care of you.”
I grab Alex’s outstretched hand and step out of the car.
“Welcome to the nuthouse,” he whispers into my ear. “I promise you that it won’t be as bad as it it looks. Kyle made a terrible first impression.”
I clench my fingers around his hand as he walks me toward the front door.
“I am fully prepared to throw you under the bus,” I inform him in the most casual tone.
He lets out an amused snort. “I have no doubt.”
