Clearly, I was wrong.
I exhale sharply. “Well, congratulations. You found my place. Now you can leave.”
“Or,” Troy says, “you can get in the car, and I can get us to campus way faster than you walking in the cold like a tragic Dickens character.”
Snorting at the reference, I fold my arms. “Mr. Abernathy would love that one. I was just about to leave.”
“Right, and that takes—what? An hour? Let’s cut that down to fifteen minutes. And who’s this Mr. Abbernaffy?” Him stumbling on the name is sort of cute.
I squint at him. “My boss. Why are you so invested in my transportation?”
“I’ve explained this, because I have to work with you, andif you freeze to death, I have to find a new partner.”
“I am not going to freeze to death.”
“Debatable.”
I huff, glancing toward the road. I could still walk and prove a point.
But my legs are already tired just thinking about it, and I know—deep down—that if our positions were reversed, I’d have done the exact same thing. Well, minus the minor stalking but I would have insisted I give him a ride.
I open the passenger door. Troy’s smirk grows.
“Don’t say a word,” I warn.
“Didn’t say anything,” he says, innocently.
I slide into the seat, slamming the door shut.
Troy pulls away from the curb, looking way too smug about this victory. And I tell myself this is just a ride. It doesn’t mean anything.
Troy is annoyingly cheerful for 8 AM on a Monday morning.
He drives like he does everything else—effortlessly, one hand on the wheel, his body loose and relaxed, like he’s completely at ease with himself. I hate people like that. Even more, I hate thathelooks so fucking hot doing it. His UMS hoodie rides up a little and I catch a glimpse of his abs.Delicious abs, I remember Brianna saying. I gulp and look away. I try folding my arms, staring out the window, determined to give him nothing.
Unfortunately, Troy doesn’t believe in silence.
“What time’s your first class?” he asks.
“Not until twelve. But I like to get in early, get some work done,”
He nods, like he’s confirming something.
“Cool. Wasn’t sure, so I got here at seven and waited.”
I whip my head toward him. “You what?”
“Yeah,” he says, totally unbothered. “Didn’t know your schedule, so I figured I’d get here early, just in case.”
I stare at him.
“You sat outside my apartment for an hour?”
“I went and got a coffee, chilled for a bit. Texted my friends. Not a big deal.”
“That is a huge deal. That ispsychopathbehavior.”
Troy laughs. “Relax, Mittens. You act like I was lurking in the bushes.”
