“Don’t I always use my words, baby? Because if you want to talk about which of us has trouble using their words, I think earlier is a great place to start.”
My cheeks burn, and my stomach flutters wildly. He’s referring to telling me he loves me and me not saying it back. He didn’t give me much of a chance at first, but maybe because I still haven’t, it’s getting to him now.
Meaning: it’s a trap.
“You’re deflecting,” I say dryly.
“I’m utilizing my time management skills,” he argues. “Apologizing for all my wrongdoings is going to take a lot longer than you speaking three words.”
I scoff. “Then you better get started.”
He arches his brow, continuously glancing between me and the road. “Okay. Spread those pretty thighs for me, and I’ll start with funding your entire scholarship so you could attend your dream school.”
My mouth drops, and I’m stunned silent while I try to wrap my brain around the words. Then, adrenaline surges in my veins as I process what the fuck he just said.
The asshole better be lying.
As if reading my mind, he smirks. “Your grades were good, baby, but HCU was only going to cover some of your tuition.”
“You… Why the fuck would you do that?” I snap, my entire face catching fire.
I can’t discern if it’s because I’m mortified or pissed, but it’s fucking something, and it’s making me want to punch him in the goddamn nose. This whole time, I believed I earned that scholarship, only for it to be yet another manipulative tactic by Dread.
I should’ve fucking known. Even Barry was surprised when we found out I got a full ride. I expected to receive grants and scholarships to cover a portion of it, but certainly notallof it. My grades were really good, but I wasn’t even valedictorian, and HCU is a damn good school.
He shrugs a shoulder, his form completely relaxed. “When it came to you, I did a lot of things I didn’t understand. I told myself it was so you wouldn’t overwork yourself trying to pay for it, and I’d have more time to torture you.”
I sputter, swinging my eyes straight ahead as I try to process, my mouth hanging open.
“You got that one for free, but you’ll need to spread your legs for another.”
“Dread,” I growl with annoyance, swinging a glare back toward him. “This isn’t funny. I thought I earned that!”
“You did,” he says simply. “It was just through my wrath.”
“You…” I struggle for the words to convey just how badly he pisses me off. “You are so fucking infuriating, you know that? Like, I swear to God, Dread, you’re lucky I’m not crazy enough to grab the damn wheel and crash this car and take us both out.”
He chuckles devilishly, those dimples denting the tops of his cheeks, and when his eyes slide to mine, they’re glittering with mirth.
Because of course he finds this funny.
“Baby, you’d have to try a lot harder than that to crash us. I fear it’d be far too easy to keep your hands off the wheel. Both of them fit in one of mine just fine.”
I narrow my eyes, my frustration climbing into dangerous territory, the kind where I make really bad decisions just to prove him wrong.
He’s justsofucking arrogant, and I’m nearly vibrating with the need to make him eat his words.
I’m definitely humiliated I didn’t earn the scholarship myself, but I can’t deny the little seed of warmth sprouting deep in my stomach. If I’m being perfectly honest, I wouldn’t have been able to afford this school otherwise, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow, nor does it piss me off any less that my bully is the reason I got to attend my dream school.
I arch my brow. “You think I need my hands to make you crash?”
There it is again, that cocky little smirk.
“You gonna show me your pretty tits? I won’t say no if you think it’ll work.”
Glowering at him, I unbuckle my seat belt, and his stare stutters when he glances at the road. The passenger seat belt alarm beeps, and a slight crease forms between his brows.
He’s confused.
