Taking a deep breath in, I start striding across the parking lot, brushing past two guys who recoil like I’m swinging a shotgun as I go, and I make a mental note to lose the resting bitch face.
Someone calls out to Lewis from the other end of the parking lot. He glances up and waves, before suddenly spotting me. I don’t shoot him a smile. He’s not smiling at me, either. Actually, he’s staring at me so intently my throat tightens.
“Right on time.”
I nod in reply, puffing out my cheeks. I need all the oxygen I can get.
“So, what’s the plan?” I start. No point beating around the bush.
“Today, you’ll be driving. I want to see how you handle yourself.”
I slap a smile on my face. I can’t wait for him to see the magic I work behind the wheel.
“I’m parked over there.”
Before he has time to respond, I’m on the move, and I can hear him running to catch up. As trial runs go, this one isn’t off to the greatest of starts, but I’m doing my best here.
I swing open my car door and freeze. On the other side of the Firebird, Lewis mirrors me. We stand there for a moment, staring each other down, and he’s the first to speak.
“Okay, listen. Before we hit the road, let’s get a few things straight,” he starts. “We got off on the wrong foot.”
“You think?” I shrug. “Actually, I thought that was a big, beautiful moment we shared back on that first day.”
“A big, beautiful car, more like. I got a pretty close view.”
“Next time, you might get even closer.”
He shoots me a dark look.
Okay, maybe that was a little too much, even for me.
“You have a point, though,” I concede. “Wedidget off on the wrong foot.”
“So, let’s rewind—my name’s Lewis Conley.”
As he stretches out a hand, my muscles tighten. The last time he shook my hand, I almost forgot to breathe. I steady my nerves and grip his fingers in mine.
My body zeroes on that single point of contact.
“And you are…?” he drawls.
“Pleased to meet you.”
He rolls his eyes. “You know that’s not the textbook answer to someone asking your name, right?”
“Right…”
“And that as a Campus Driver, being able to introduce yourself is kinda important?”
“Wait, I’m a Campus Driver?”
“Nope.”
“Meaning I still have time to work on my personality.”
“Something tells me that could take a while.”
I sneak a look at him. “I can be pretty surprising, you know.”
