The man in the truck holds down his horn, and as a torrent of insults is launched my way, I make a split decision.
“You aresofucking annoying!”
I fling open the car door and slam it shut behind me as hard as I can, almost ripping the seat belt out as I clip myself in. I can feel Lane’s eyes on me, but I refuse to meet them.
“Drive!” I fold my arms over my chest. “This is unreal. How come people always take shit out on me?”
Nice little sideswipe there, Lois.
“Drop me at the mall.”
He hits the gas, and as the miles fly by, my throat tightens. He’s so unbearably sexy when he drives—one hand loose on the wheel, jaw set—and it makes me ache with the shameful truth: I’m still as obsessed with him as ever.
I watch helplessly as he turns off down a random side street.
“You’re going the wrong way,” I warn.
He pulls over and unfastens his seat belt as I glance out the window. I’ve never been to this part of town before.
“What’s the deal?” I snort. “This how I die?”
“I think we’re past that, don’t you?”
“We’re past a lot of things.”
He swallows hard, narrowing his lips.
“What do you want from me?” I sigh.
It’s taking everything I have to keep my tone in check.
“Come back home.”
For a split second, I forget to breathe. I wasn’t expecting this—and from the way he’s shifting in his seat, I don’t think he was, either.
For the briefest of moments, happiness swells in the pit of my stomach, but the feeling is fleeting as I remember that Lane is the same old Lane he ever was. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: nothing he ever says means what I think it does.
“No, thanks,” I say primly. “I love sharing a room with Carrie.”
“Listen, I know I messed up. I should’ve—”
“Don’t wor—”
“Let me talk! I’m trying to say sorry, here!”
He grips the steering wheel harder, his knuckles blanching.
“Well, you could start by actually looking at me,” I snap.
My voice cracks. This is what I’d been scared of. My instinct is to reach for the handle and shove open the door, so I start unbuckling my seat belt but Lane is quicker off the mark. He locks the doors before leaning over and jamming my buckle back in place.
“I’m sorry!” he yells. “Okay?”
For a moment, I freeze. And then I burst out laughing.
“You must be the only guy in the world to actually scream an apology.”
I shake my head, suddenly exhausted. I’ve been waiting for this moment since the day I left, but I’m still hurting. I’m so sad he broke what we had between us.Whatever I thought we had.
