Page 26
“Look, I’ve got another ride to take…”
“Do you think Poison Ivy is in there?”
“Poison Ivy?”
“Yes, the redhead, Derrek. Keep up.”
“Oh, uh…”
“I bet they’re kissing,” I scrunch my nose, then wave away the thought.
Derrek chuckles. “I’d be doing a whole lot more than kissing if I was alone with Poison Ivy, dude.”
“Ew, Derrek. I don’t need to hear the gory details of your heterosexual affliction.” I sigh and rest my head back against the seat, closing my eyes. “And anyway, Dillon is too boring. I bet he’s trying to woo her with a mug of Earl Grey tea right now. Between that and the baby toys all over the place, I’m sure she’s going to be running out the door soon enough.”
“Uh…hey, man…”
“Or he’s got her folded up like a pretzel right now. And you know what? Fair. She was hot. And he’s…unfortunately gross. But the abs are nice. He’s like this big, disgustingly sexy dumbass. I can’t even judge her. Well, I mean I can, and Eleanor will absolutely be hearing…”
The knock on the car window has my head shooting up. Dillon and his split lip are bent, looking in from the other side of the glass with a very unimpressed raised brow.
“Derrek, I will tip you one hundred dollars to back out of the driveway. Right now.”
“I think Poison Ivy is my next ride, man…”
I fumble for the door lock in the dark, unable to take my eyes away from the man on the other side, choosing to ignore the woman behind his shoulder completely. I don’t find the lock in time.
The door swings open, and Dillon stands up, holding the top of the door to keep me from slamming it back closed.
My throat constricts, and I smile sweetly up at him.
“How strange to see you here, Dilly.”
“What are you doing here, Emerson?”
What are you doing here, Emerson?
My eyes betray me. Big time. The treacherous little visionary bulbs wander over to the redhead. She’s looking back at me like I’m the ass end of a joke I’m not in on. I huff, pulse in my throat, and try to close the door. Uselessly, of course.
“Driver, I’ve seen all I need to see here.”
“God, you’re a fucking brat.” And for the second time in the same night, Dillon grabs me by the arm and uses the hold to get what he wants—this time, it’s pulling me out of the back of the car and straight into his side. He uses his free hand to pull money out of his pocket and leans back into the open door to give it to Derrek.
Derrek, who is also smirking, like I’m the world’s biggest joke.
Fuck all of them.
“Emery, right? I’m Amanda.” Poison Ivy steps up to the open car door but looks at me with a damn twinkle in her eyes. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I swallow, lifting my chin. “All good things, I’m sure.”
She laughs, a bright and pretty sound and looks at Dillon, giving him a fucking wink before she ducks into the car. “See you, Dill.”
“I’ll call you next week, Manna.”
And then Derrek shows he does, in fact, know what reverse is and does it quickly, out of Dillon’s driveway and down the street. I watch, heart beating a dramatic gay little tune in my chest because now what?
“Inside,” Dillon says, letting go of my arm and stalking off towards his house. I watch his back, tapping my foot incessantly.
