Page 44 of Ruthless Deliverance

“We’re skipping. Like we should’ve this morning.”

She gives me a few grumbled curses but doesn’t try to resist as I lead her to my car, open the passenger door, and motion for her to get in as she looks over to me. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I don’t like surprises.” She gives me a stubborn look that I’m sure I’ll see many more times.

“That’s not surprising, control freak.” I grab her bag, pull it off her shoulder, and toss it in the car.

“You should know.” She waves her hand up and down over me.

“Exactly. So, get in the car, I want to get out of here. We can go grab something to eat since you didn’t finish your pizza.”

“That does sound better than going to class.”

“Then let’s go.” I nod towards my car as she looks inside, and I see a bit of uncertainty in her. It’s something she’s not sure she should do. Not because of the case or anything else, but because she won’t be the one driving, the one in control; she’ll be at my mercy. And when she drops on the seat, I realize how much I wanted her to give me that.

38

DANI

“I still think we overlooked something in Cabot’s office.” I take a bite of my chicken taco.

“Doubt it.” Creed shovels his last bite in his mouth, turns and tosses the wrapper in the nearby trash can. “I’m gonna get another, want one?”

“No, thanks.” I watch as he stands from the weathered picnic table and moves over to the taco truck. I was beyond floored when he suggested it, but he was right, it has the best food and reminds me of the one parked near Gus’s. And once again, I realize I won’t be back here after all this is wrapped up. If it ever wraps up. Because at this rate, I’ll be walking the commencement stage at the end of the school year without any leads. And Creed doesn’t seem in a hurry to keep digging. He always changes the subject or shrugs off any mention of the case or anything regarding it. This time going to grab more food to avoid it.

Once he’s back and seated, he slides another couple of chicken tacos over to me, and I’m suddenly glad he didn’t listen because I finish the first then start on the next one. He’s avoiding the elephant in the room, I can’t. “You’re avoiding it.”

“Avoiding what?”

“The investigation.” His focus stays on his food as he takes a bite, but I see the tension in his body. “Nothing has changed, Creed. I still have a job to do.” This is nice. Yes. But we’d both be kidding ourselves if we thought this was anything more than a quick roll in the hay before going back to our separate corners.

“Yeah. So, you keep saying.”

“Because it’s the truth.”

“I know. I just wanted to have a minute without all the shit we left back at campus.”

That I can do. “Okay. But it’ll be waiting for us when we get back.”

“Football practice. That’s what’s waiting on me.” He says it nonchalantly. “How about you? Play any sports back in the day?” The tension eases as he teases.

“No. I spent all my extra time at the gym, either working or training, and didn’t want anything to interfere.”

“What gym?” he asks, like it’s no big deal. But it feels like a major deal because it’s my real life.

“Was that not in your dossier on me?” I lay on the sarcasm because it still ticks me off that I don’t know exactly what he knows and doesn’t know about me.

“Look who’s avoiding the subject now.”

I drop the taco and focus in on him. I don’t like being called out and I don’t like him being correct. “Then don’t ask questions that you shouldn’t have answers to.”

“Got it.” He stands, shuttles the remains of his meal to the trash bin, and tosses it.

I chuck mine too, the appetite I arrived with having been extinguished by some of the delicious food, but the rest has been squashed out by yet another awkward encounter. But really, how can things not be awkward between us?

The ride back to school is mostly silent, and once we arrive, it’s not long before the final bell should be ringing. Creed pulls into a spot at the rear of the parking lot near my car and sits back in the driver’s seat. He eyes the school building but doesn’t make a move to exit the car. And I do the same, sitting in the quiet. Only, it’s not awkward this time, but more of us trying to just be with each other.