"You said you wanted my help, right?"
I nod.
"I left class to help you. I need you to calm down, buckle your seatbelt, and let me help you."
As I reach for my seatbelt, he puts the car in reverse.
"Let's not jump to conclusions," he says as we leave the garage. "It could be a random prank. Did you leave your car unlocked?"
"Yeah, some prank," I scoff. "And I'm not sure."
"It's not human."
"How do you know?"
"I can see the fur."
My eyes widen, and he must know where my mind goes because he says, "The dog is fine. Nolan is home; you can call and ask him if it'll make you feel better."
I shake my head. "I'm not calling him."
He laughs a little. "You scared of Nolan?"
"No, I don't trust him. I don't like him; I don't like any of you."
"Yeah, okay, Ripley."
I rest my head against the open window frame, closing my eyes for the rest of the drive. It's unseasonably hot for late September—too hot to have the windows down while we're sitting in traffic; I can feel the sun burning my face, but the smell is worse.
About half an hour later, we pull into an auto shop in West Vancouver.
"Hey, baby." Dax taps my shoulder, thinking I had fallen asleep. "Let's go."
Sighing, I get out and follow him inside.
He walks up to the counter with my keys, addressing the man behind it by name while I linger near the back of the lobby with my arms crossed in front of my body, attempting to makemyself invisible. It doesn't work because after a few minutes of shooting the shit and laughing with car guy, Dax calls me over.
"Hey, Saige, come here a second, baby."
Baby? Did he just call me baby in public and summon me? I glare at him before quickly fixing my face and joining him.
"Saige, this is Michael. He's going to take care of your car for us, okay? You just need to sign a few papers."
Michael hands me the clipboard, and I sign the paperwork, handing it back to him just before Dax gives him his credit card.
"Jealous exes are the worst," Michael tells me. I give Dax the side-eye, and he throws his arm around my shoulders. "The two of you look good together, though." Michael's eyes roam over my body, lingering on my chest and then again on my thighs. "I'm sure she's worth it. I'll have this done in about an hour or so."
"Thanks, man."
He takes the keys and leaves Dax and me alone in the small office.
"You still haven't eaten, have you?" Dax asks.
"No…I was going to, but then this happened."
"Well, what do you want? Let's go get some lunch."
"I don't know; nothing really."
