It’s childish, but I need to get the last word in.
“I can be pretty stubborn,” he fires back.
Seems like he does, too.
“I can also be pretty violent.”
“Wrong answer, Firebird. You’re just losing points left, right, and center, aren’t you?”
And with that, he ducks down into the passenger seat, leaving me standing there, grappling for words.
Aaaand breathe, Amy.
I take a minute to collect my thoughts, staring into space, breathing in through my nose. I’ve noticed Lewis since classes started, and now here he is, sitting in my car.
“Ready when you are, Firebird!”
Guess that nickname is sticking around.
And the worst part is, I like it.
I’ve just about got my shit together when some student yells outat my mentor from the sidewalk, a grin spreading across his face. I’m instantly suspicious.
“Hey, Lewis!”
The guy trots over to us, waving at me politely while I stand there speechless, dazzled by the whiteness of his teeth. I must be glaring, because his smile slowly fades as he leans into the passenger seat, a hand resting lightly on my roof. I’m watching him like a hawk. I can’t say why, exactly, but my hackles are rising.
Get your paws off my car, buddy.
“Amir!” Lewis sounds surprised. “What’s up, man?”
“Life’s pretty good! I just wanted to let you know that I’m ready to roll! As soon as I’ve got my Dodge, I’ll be good to go.”
What is he even talking about?
I bend down and glance at Lewis through the window. He’s frowning, like he’s suddenly confused, and when he looks at me, there’s the weirdest expression on his face. I squint at him, and he raises his eyebrows before turning back to the guy.
“Great! Give me a call in January.”
He’s trying to wrap the conversation up, I realize. I was right to be wary.
“Got it. See you around!”
Amir thumps my car—twice—before sloping off. I’m getting a bad vibe from this guy, and I keep my eyes locked on his feet, willing him to trip or sprain his ankle or something.
I slip behind the wheel and turn to Lewis.
“Who’s the dude?”
“My private Taco Bell bitch.”
Right.
Something tells me Amir is a backup driver, but I know better than to push it right now. I have a better idea, anyway—I plan on running my own shadow investigation. If that guy is the competition, then bring it on—I’ve already got some solid ideas as to how to bring him down.
“So, can we do this?”
Lewis sounds impatient, and so I tuck Amir away in a special file at the back of my mind and refocus. My nerves are fizzing again. Here I am, in the car next to Lewis, my muscles suddenly feeling like Jell-O as I revert to the basic bitch I never thought I would ever be.
