That voice.
I turn my head and see Aiden, half his attention on me and the other half on the road. “Oh. Hey.”
“What are you doing all the way out here?”
He pulls the car over and I walk to his window. “Horrible date. Had to walk it off.”
“Date?” He nods, pulling his attention toward the road ahead and then back to me again. “Kind of far from home, no?”
I shrug. “Fifteen-minute walk.”
“Want a ride?”
That dumbass feeling hits me right in the gut. I just need to get my shit together. I almost thought he was checking me out the other day, which was my sign to call Damien and see if he wanted to go out tonight.
The thing is, Aiden is what Hunter likes to call rich pretty. He looks expensive even in the plain T-shirt he’s wearing and driving this shitty, beat-up car. He looks like someone important. His features are sharp—sharp gaze, sharp cheekbones, sharp, solid set to his lips.
I don’t know Aiden very well, but it seems I’m feeling reckless tonight.
“Okay.” I open the door and slide into the passenger seat. It’s old as hell. The car rocks as I sit. The seats are torn a bit, and there’s an old tape deck where the radio is. “Is this safe?”
He pats the dash. “She’s old, but she’s reliable.” I buckle up, even though I’m pretty sure the survival rate would be less than zero in an accident. He starts to drive and I glance over, noticing the black T-shirt he’s wearing. It strains around his biceps as one hand holds the wheel, the veins in his arms flexing as he drives. There are pale little scars decorating his arms, and he smells like he just took a shower.
I love that freshly showered smell.
“What are you doing out so late?”
“I just went to the gym. Heading home now.” His violet eyes slide to mine. They’re so odd—brown sometimes, then a hint of that violet hue when the light hits them just right. This close to him I can see the scar on his face. It drags from his temple all the way down to his cheekbone. It’s thin and looks old. I can’t imagine what did that.
“So, was your date hot at least?”
I sigh. “About the only thing going for him.” Maybe I need to put the apps away. It’s hard to meet people, but the apps aren’t helping the way I thought. Dating is a shitshow. Most people justwant to fuck. I thought Damien was different. Or maybe that’s just what I wanted to see.
He glances over at me and I realize I haven’t stopped staring.
“You’re not swayed by a pretty face?” A soft smile struggles at the corner of his lips before it gives up, falling flat. “Do you mind if I take the long way?”
“Long?”
“Route seven,” he says.
“Oh, uh.” Fuck, I hate back roads. Deer scare the shit out of me. I’ve never been in an accident, and I have no clue where this fear comes from, but it’s almost debilitating. Seeing wrecks makes me sick to my stomach. “Yeah. That’s fine.”
He turns down a dirt road and trees surround us on either side. “Tell me about your date.” He keeps his eyes trained ahead. “What did they do? Chew their food too loud? Laugh weird? Rude to the server?”
“We were supposed to go out last weekend and he canceled. I thought it was for work, but he told me today that he had a chance to go out with another guy he’s been seeing, so he canceled with me and went out with him.” Silence settles between us, my gaze dropping to my lap. “He figured I wasn’t busy becauseI just bake cupcakes.”
I look up at Aiden, at his hand tightening on the wheel. Trees roll by outside our windows, and I don’t think I’ve ever been this relaxed in a car in my life. “What an asshole,” he says softly.
I want to forget about it. “What about you? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Partner?”
“Fuck no, to all three.” Something punches me. A slight little twinge his sharp words cause.
What is wrong with me?
“Blunt,” I laugh.
He shakes his head. “I don’t understand the point in it.” He switches his hands on the wheel. “You have one life. Why spendit answering to someone who makes you miserable, constantly wondering if they’re cheating or betraying you? If they secretly hate you? If they might kill you?”
