“I’m just not surprised, that’s all.” He shrugged and went to sip the coffee.
“And why’s that?” I picked up the cherry from my shake by the stem.
“It’s just that Amelia is kind of a prissy name, kind of what I’d expect a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes to have. The kind of girl who can’t drive a stick. The kind of girl that would try to tease the guy sitting across from her by seductively sucking the whipped cream off the cherry from her shake.”
When he said that, I bit down on the cherry and jerked it free of the stem in annoyance. His smirk flared again and did something to my insides I didn’t like or want to contemplate. I blamed it on the car accident. Maybe I had hit my head.
“OK, first of all, I’m not trying to seduce you. Don’t be gross.” I held my chin up. “I’m simply trying to enjoy the one part of my day that hasn’t totally sucked, alright? And two: maybe we shouldn’t point out the stereotypes attached to names here. I mean, when I hear the name Oliver, I picture someone who plays chess, pushes his glasses up his nose, and likes to eat all-natural. You don’t fit that stereotype, so why assume I fit yours?”
He snorted at my description, but didn’t get to shoot back at me because one of the old men in the restaurant started talking loudly.
“Turn that up,” the old man said.
We both turned toward the counter to see one of the waitresses reaching for the TV’s volume.
“I’m Tony Morello, and I’m live on the scene here in Pierce County after a local property owner reported finding two wrecked vehicles left abandoned on his property. Both vehicles have significant damage and are likely total losses. That isn’t the strangest part, though. Both vehicles are without drivers. Uponcloser investigation, it was discovered that both vehicles had been reported as stolen. As of now, police have no leads.”
Oliver looked over at me with a wide grin. “You stole that car?”
I licked the whipped cream from my lip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He let out a deep laugh. “Well,Crash… I guess you were right about the stereotypes our names carry because none of the Amelias I know would steal a car.”
“Say it a little louder, why don’t you?” I looked around to make sure nobody was listening. My cheeks heated.
He rolled his green eyes and snorted. “Nobody is paying us any attention.”
“I wish they’d hurry with the food. We need to get out of here.” I bounced my legs nervously and glanced at the kitchen. Of course, Alex would report it stolen. Doubt he even remembered he never picked me up, but he was worried about the damn car. He likely didn’t bother filing a report about me being gone.
“Why?” Oliver asked.
I looked over at him like he’d grown a second head.
“Why? Because our mess is now all over TV. People will be looking for two people on foot. And we just showed up here, minutes before that was broadcast, soaked like we’ve been walking a while. People around here do know how to add two and two.”
He waved his hand through the air. “You worry too much. Don’t look so guilty, and people won’t think you’re guilty. You look cute and sweet. Act that way, and you’d get away with murder if you wanted. Maybe even be a serial killer who leaves bodies out in the field.”
I felt my face warm at his calling me cute. My heart started to race, and the butterflies in my stomach came alive. Then Iremembered the little promise I’d made myself, and the bruised and battered bitch inside of me set fire to those damn butterflies and squeezed my heart until it slowed.
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, needing to change the subject.
“I don’t know about you, but I plan on eating my food and then going to that motel next door and getting a room for the night.”
I frowned at him. “Are you insane? We can’t stay in the same town where we’re being hunted by the police.”
He snorted and shook his head. “You worry too much. If anyone should be worried, it should be me. Besides, I saidIwas staying there. I didn’t say anything about you.”
“I’m not the only thief here. Whose car did you steal?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, stone-faced.
“What’s the matter? You can ask me all the questions you want, but I can’t do the same? That’s a little one-sided, don’t you think? Also, I am staying with you. We’re both fugitives.” I gulped on the word, my stomach twisting.
“I’m not being one-sided. I can’t tell you whose car it was because I don’t know. I don’t steal cars to get even with people who piss me off, unlike someone I know. I steal cars to sell. Do you even know how much that car was worth before you came along?”
I could only focus on the jab he took at me. “Screw you. You don’t know me. Don’t even sit there and act as if you do.”
He sipped his coffee with amusement on his stupidly handsome face. “I know enough, and what I don’t know, I’m smart enough to piece together.”
