“But not yet. Let’s just…go somewhere for a while. I’m not ready to go home.”
“I know just the place,” she says, starting the car. “It has amazing Enchiladas, and then there’s this
fun store next door.”
“Sounds perfect,” I murmur, resting my head against the seat. I’m exhausted and, internally,
already rehearsing what I’m going to say to Zach. I need to get it just right. I don’t pay any attention to
the road because I’m hopelessly lost already. I can’t imagine driving at all, let alone in this city and
that puts a serious crimp in my plan to buy a car. But that’s an issue for another day. For right now,
I’m going to eat Enchiladas and do some shopping with my friend.
The lack of motion finally registers, and I look up to see a tiny strip mall right in front of us. With
a small Mexican restaurant with a line out the door and, next to it, a sex shop.
“Um, Bree…what kind of shopping are we doing exactly?”
Glancing at me, she wiggles her eyebrows and laughs, swinging open her door, letting a blast of
cold air in. “The best kind. Now come on, move your ass. I’m starving.”
It’s ok. You can do this. It’s just a shop. It’s not going to kill me.
Who knew you could almost die of embarrassment?
16
ZACH
T he brake lights of the Jeep flash briefly, then Bree swings onto the street and they’re gone.
Leaving me standing in sweaty workout gear in the icy parking lot. Do I look as pathetic as I
feel? Touching my sweaty hair, I’m sure I do.
“Zach,” Nick yells from the front door. “Get your ass in here before you freeze to death.”
I drop my chin to my chest and contemplate walking home. It’s only fifty blocks. I could do it.
“Zach, come on.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, turning and jogging back to the doors. Nick grins at me, and I elbow him aside,
making him laugh.
Goddamn it.
If Kade or Jonas were here, I could get the fight I need right now, but Nick just laughs and follows
me back into the training room. I kick at the stupid padded suit as I pass, then drop onto the floor in
the corner, stretching my legs out and leaning my head against the mirrored wall, right at the spot
Maya rolled to a stop.
