Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 129986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I let go of the keys and absently mess with the straps hanging from the bottom of my backpack. “Um… do you need my phone number or anything?”
He shakes his head. “I have it.”
I frown. “You do?”
He nods, but doesn’t explain how or why he has my number.
I guess it doesn’t matter, so I don’t bother asking.
“I guess I’ll see you after school then?”
He nods, watching me as he backs away. “I guess you will.”
Chapter nine
Aubrey
Dare isn’t in English class when I get there.
He usually gets there and takes his seat first, so I think today may be the day he realizes we have this class together, but it’s not.
He doesn’t show up at all.
That’s really weird since we showed up to school together today, so he has to be here.
Right?
I hope he’s not missing class because he’s dealing with my car problems.
It leaves me a little uncertain as the school day approaches its end and I have no idea what’s going on with my car. Dare hasn’t texted me, so I don’t know where it will be. Parked in the parking lot somewhere? Will we have to go pick it up?
Once I’m done at my locker, I head out front and find Dare’s parking space. His car is parked there, so I know he hasn’t left. I don’t think he has practice after school today, but I don’t know. I know he’s on the swim team, but I have no idea what their practice schedule looks like, or if it’s even the season for that. I imagine if he had something going on, he would have told me.
I feel awkward standing by his car as everyone files out of the school, so I dig my phone out and DM him to let him know I’m here.
He doesn’t answer, but he comes out with a group of his friends a few minutes later. I watch them all say their goodbyes and wander off, a couple of them glancing at me by his car and smirking before they go.
I sigh, knowing today is probably going to make waves.
I shouldn’t care. It’s Anae’s own fault, plus she got me in trouble at work, so screw her, but… well, it’s unlikely to make my life easier if she hates me.
“I have good news and bad news,” Dare says as he approaches the car and opens his door.
I tentatively open the passenger door, too. “What’s the bad news?”
He drops in, so I slide in as well. Looking over at me with a grim expression on his face, he says, “The auto repair shop didn’t have your tires in stock. Since they had to order them, we should be able to pick it up tomorrow after school, but you won’t have your car tonight.”
I sigh heavily, sinking back against the seat. “And the good news?”
He smiles over at me as he fires up the engine. “That means you get to spend more time with me.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Are you volunteering to be my personal chauffeur until I get my car back?”
“At your service. I’ll pick you up in the morning and drop you off after school to get your car.”
“That’s really nice of you, but I feel bad.”
“No need.” He checks the rearview mirror, then starts to back out.
“I hate to ask, but I was planning to stop at the store for chicken and a few other things for dinner. Would you mind? You can drop me off at the door if you want and I’ll be as quick as I can, I just hate to pay for delivery when I only need a few things.”
“No problem. Damn, I can’t remember the last time I went grocery shopping. I’ll come with you. It’ll be fun.”
“To… grocery shop?”
“We have staff that handles stuff like that at my house. I can probably count on one hand how many times I have personally stepped foot into a grocery store.”
I gape at him. “Are you serious?”
He nods. “My mom has stopped at the grocery store to grab cheap wine a couple of times after fighting with my dad and took me with her, and a couple of times we went out late at night to get ice cream for an impulsive treat, but yeah, we don’t do our own grocery shopping. Never have.”
I can’t fathom what he’s saying. “Do you know how to cook?”
He laughs. “No. God, no. I can make hot chocolate. Does that count?”
I laugh, not meaning to make fun of him, but my God, who can only make hot chocolate? “No, that doesn’t count.”
He shrugs. “I’ve never had to.”
“You should still know how. What will you do when you go off to college? Bring a maid with you?”
“Maybe, if she’s hot. You’re not in the market for a new job, are you?”
I can tell by his too-charming smirk he’s only teasing me, but he still turns my cheeks pink. “I might be. What’s it pay?” I joke right back.