“Why? You think it’s a bad name?” The smug smile on his face makes me roll my eyes.
“You’re laughing at me.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. You always do that.”
“No. I just like to see you riled up.”
I sigh. “Whatever.”
He steps on the gas, making the car go even faster. It’s scaring me a bit. There are puddles on the road and the windshield is spattered with rain. We might slip if he makes a turn here.
“Can we go slower, please?” I mutter.
He ignores my question. “You know what I think? I think you’re jealous.”
“W-what?”
“You heard me. Scarlet was all over me, and you hate that.”
Pursing my lips, I snort, trying to show him that I do not care. I definitely don’t care. At all.
Okay, maybe I do.
He ripped my heart out. I don’t want to admit it, however.
“You don’t have to say it. I already know you like me.”
A flush spreads across my neck and cheeks, and I try to hide it behind my hair.
“You wished it was you purring up against me instead of her.”
“Shut up!” I say, and he chuckles. “Just stop it.”
“Oh, I’m only getting started.”
“Can we just go home?” I mutter, sighing.
Suddenly the car starts to rattle, and smoke rises up from the engine.
Shit. Now this.
I can’t believe what a disaster this night is turning into. First I find out my best friend is in love with me, and now she’s avoiding me. I find out Hunter’s a drug dealer for some shady guys, and he gets into fights because of the same people. And I thought Scarlet and Brody were a couple … guess that’s a thing of the past, too.
Seeing her put her fingers on him makes me so goddamn angry, I could scream.
What a night.
“Fuck,” Hunter mutters, as we go slower and slower.
The car starts to sputter, and the engine stops running after a while. Then we come to a halt.
“Yes. We’re fucked,” I say.
Dammit. I just want to go home, lock myself up in my room, and sleep. I don’t have time for this.
Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Hunter steps out of the car and starts dialing some number.
He’s just standing there, calling, in the middle of a rainstorm.
However, I don’t want to wait for him to call someone and get us some help. Maybe I can see what the problem is. I’m not a champion when it comes to cars, but I can at least try. It’s better than nothing.
I step outside and shiver when cold drops of water land on my skin. I’m wearing nothing but a flimsy black dress, and it’s goddamn pouring out here.
“Half an hour? Cool. Bye.” Those three sentences are all I catch of his conversation.
I walk to the front of the car, shaking rigorously from the sheer cold. I lift the hood and peer inside. Blowing away the smoke that is suffocating me, I check if everything’s still in order. There’s nothing leaking out, so that’s a plus.
Oh, I have no idea what the hell I’m doing anyway.
“You a car mechanic now, too?”
I jolt up and the hood slams shut in front of me. Hunter’s behind me, standing way too close for comfort.
“I just want to get this fixed as soon as possible,” I say.
He chuckles. “Relax. They’re coming. I got it covered. Get in the car before you’re soaked to the bone.”
Crossing my arms, I turn around and sigh. “I think I can make my own decisions.”
He’s right in front of me, literally in my face, his lips curved mischievously. “You don’t just want to go home quickly. You want to get away from me. You’re avoiding it,” he chimes.
“That’s right.”
“You don’t want to admit you don’t like seeing me with other chicks. You want me for yourself.” He leans in and places his big hands on the hood, trapping me between his arms. The air is suddenly thick, and it feels hard to breathe.
“You’re an ass and you know it,” I snap.
He laughs. “You’re still under the impression that I was enjoying the party.”
“You sure looked like you had fun with Scarlet!”
“Hmm … and that’s where you’re wrong.”
He leans in so close, our foreheads almost touch. He’s taunting me, gauging my reaction. I won’t give in to his games. I won’t lose. Not this time.
My teeth are chattering, but I won’t stop looking him straight in the eye.
“She just wants to numb the pain. They all do. That’s what I give them. I know what you’re thinking, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. My only role at that party was to hand out drugs. Period.”