“Uh huh,” I said, but then I found his lips again and proved us both liars.
“Okay.”Seth forced himself to pull away.His body moved first, slowly creating space between us, until only our lips remained touching.And then finally, even that warmth was gone.
I blinked, slightly confused, and a little too cold thanks to the weather.
“Go,” he said.
“Right.”I tried to clear my mind as I slowly climbed into my car and turned it on.
Or at least tried.
It stuttered to life and then went silent.I frowned and tried again.The dashboard lit up briefly but my engine decided it didn’t want to work and my poor baby died.
Seth opened my door and leaned in, frowning.
“Try it again.”
I did.It stuttered.Went silent.
“Damn,” I said.“This car isn’t even close to being driven into a car grave yet.”
“Let me check under the hood.”
We got the hood popped open and then Seth disappeared in front of my car.I heard some thudding and tapping.
“Try,” he called out.
I did, only to receive the same results—my car too stubborn to come to life.
Seth came back around.“Well, you need to get to school.Hop in my truck, I’ll take you.”
“What about my car?”I asked.
“I have someone I can ask to come out and take a look.Hopefully, he can figure it out.If not, we’ll have it towed to a garage.”
“Not my car,” I whined as I climbed back out of the driver’s seat.
Seth grabbed my bag and we went over to his truck.
“It’ll be fine,” he said once he was pulling out of the driveway.My Chevrolet Impala looked so sad as we left.“I think Bryan should be free after school.He can bring you home.I’ll check in with my mechanic to see if he can come out while I’m at work.If not, I’ll take a look when I get home.”
“This sucks,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
Seth chuckled.“Right, what are you going to do without being able to drive yourself around like the independent woman you are.”
I sent him a glare.
He only continued to smile while I stewed.
He wasn’t wrong.I was used to being able to get myself around.It was a freedom I loved.As soon as I was sixteen, I got my permit, and I’d lived on the road ever since.Granted, I technically broke the rules because I didn’t have an adult with me when I drove around.At first, I was super cautious, making sure I didn’t break any laws.But once I realized how easy it was, I was able to relax and really enjoy the freedom of having a car.
It meant less time with Lindie.It meant finding more time to myself.It was my freedom.And not having a car felt all too much like that was being taken away from me.
When we pulled into the parking lot, the others were already there, waiting.
“Why does Candy Pop look like she swallowed a lemon?”Toby asked.
“Her car isn’t working,” Seth tattled on me.“She’s pouting.”
