This is so damn hard.
As much as I’m falling in love with him, doubt is beginning to creep in.
How long can we keep this up? And when it blows up—because eventually it has to, we can’t hide our relationship forever—who’s going to crumble under the fallout? Bodi, me, or both of us. That’s what scares me. I can find a way on my own, but dragging Bodi down with me doesn’t feel like something you do to someone you love.
“Hey, Jayne.” West approaches me with a casual smile.
“Hi, West.”
“I hear that you’re anxious to learn how to drive.”
I blink, a little confused. I’m guessing Bodi mentioned it to him but I’m not sure why. Or what his point is, especially here in a room full of people who might be listening.
“I am,” I say cautiously. “I was going to find a local driving school, I just haven’t had a chance yet.”
“Well, my dad always told me, if you learn to drive on a stick, you’ll be able to drive anything.”
I have no idea why he’s telling me this but I still want to be polite. “I don’t… think I know anyone who owns a car with a manual transmission.”
“But you do.” He smiles. “I happen to have a five-speed classic Ferrari. And I’d be happy to let you drive it.”
My mouth falls open.
He’ll let me learn to drive on his Ferrari?
I’m so flabbergasted I can’t even respond for a few seconds.
“You don’t know how to drive?” Blaze has the audacity to join us, laughing. “Aren’t you, like, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-three, but I went to college in Manhattan,” I respond dryly. “So there was no opportunity. And Dad’s always been too busy to teach me.”
“I’ve been driving since I was fourteen!” Blaze says, a condescending tone to his voice.
“My momdiedwhen I was fourteen,” I say testily. “Driving was the last thing on my mind during that time.”
He has the grace to flush. “Oh, uh, wow. I, uh, didn’t know that. Sorry.” He turns when someone calls his name and takes off without a backward glance.
“Ignore him,” West says. “Anyway, if you want me to help you learn to drive, I’m happy to teach you. With the Ferrari, with my SUV, whatever.”
“That’s…are you sure?” I ask cautiously. “That’s a really expensive car. I wouldn’t want to ruin it or something.”
He waves a hand. “It’s just a car. And I’ll be with you.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “And so will Bodi.”
Despite the circumstances, I have the world’s best boyfriend.
“That’s a really sweet offer. Thank you. I’d love it.”
“Give me your number, and we’ll figure out when.” He pulls out his phone.
Just as we’re exchanging information, Lourdes approaches us.
“Your father and I are going out to eat with the team,” she says, frowning slightly. “Would you Uber home with Lindy and get her to bed?”
I open my mouth to protest, but there’s no point.
“Aw, you should bring Lindy,” West says. “I bet she loves pizza!”
Lourdes wrinkles her nose. “It’s past her bedtime as it is. And Jayne prefers her books and journals to socializing anyway, right?”
