“Nope. Heading over to Firebird’s.”
“Tell her I say Happy New Year.”
Makes sense. She did ditch us before midnight, after all.
Today’s training session involves zero driving—I’ve seen more than enough to know she’s amazing behind the wheel. From now on, I’ll do the driving, but I plan on waiting until next semester, so she can sit in on some actual real-life trips. Give her a chance to see how it feels for herself. Something tells me it’s going to be intense. Considering how our New Year’s Eve party panned out, the girl definitely needs to work on her personal skills—and I’m not even talking about the whole Amber showdown. First, though, I want to show her how the app works.
I snatch up my bag and keys and fire off a message to let her know I’m on my way.
LEWIS:Gonna swing by the mall, be with you soon. I’ll grab us food—what are you in the mood for?
FIREBIRD:Anything chickeny!
LEWIS:OK. See you at the garage in an hour.
FIREBIRD:Go around the back, up the stairs. Back door.
LEWIS:Sounds sketchy…
FIREBIRD:Dude, if I wanted to fuck with you, I’d tell you to come through the main door. That way you’d run into my sister, pick up a few scars for life.
LEWIS:Why does that feel kinda sexy?
FIREBIRD:If you die, can I have the Dodge?
LEWIS:Back door it is.
FIREBIRD:Why does that feel kinda sexy?
Damn.There’s a stirring between my legs, and I still can’t put my finger on what exactly it is about her that gets me all worked up like this. I tug on my jeans. It’s probably just the fact that she’s off-limits.
I WRAP UP MY MORNINGroutine, pick us up some lunch, and head straight for the shop. The roads are busy today, people streaming back into town, the near-zero temperatures messing with their judgment. I end up losing my shit with two drivers and crank up the stereo to stop myself spiraling into a road rage meltdown. What is goingonwith me today? I’m normally so relaxed, I’m horizontal.
I pull into RJ’s garage and park on the drive before hitting the stairs Amy mentioned, hammering against the iron door, silently begging her to hurry. It feels even colder in this part of town.
A minute ticks by, and I knock again, balancing our food in one hand, itching to fish for my phone with the other, when suddenly I hear a lock turn.
“Fuck, I’m freezing my ass off here!”
The door swings open, and I swallow hard. Her skin is glistening with sweat; her curves poured into a sports bra and cycle shorts.
“You go for a run?”
“Yeah, sorry—I just got back.”
“You go for a run dressed like that?”
She pauses, blinking slowly. “Uh—yeah?” She rests her fists on her hips. “Are you body-shaming me?”
“No! I just mean because it’s so cold, that’s all.”
A slow smile spreads across her face as she steps aside and ushers me into her room. I glance around. The space is small, but everything is neat and tidy.
“I’m gonna jump in the shower. Make yourself comfy.”
I drop the plastic bags on her desk. “I got us Chinese. That okay?”
“Perfect, I’m starving! Get settled in, I’ll be right back.”
