“Lake, are you fucking insane? I’m driving!” He grabbed her waist with his free hand while keeping the steering wheel steady.
Yes! She kept trying to squeeze through.
“Let. Me. Go,” she ordered through short breaths.
“Sit your ass down before I pull this fucking car over and spank you!” Vincent roared.
It took a total of two seconds for her ass to sit back down. Lake hated that a part of her regretted that decision, just to see if he would actually do it. However, she knew all too well that he would, which was exactly why she had sat down.
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave a humph sound.
“Put your seat belt back on,” Vincent demanded, still mad she would jeopardize her safety.
Lake kept her arms crossed.
His voice came out low, almost at a growl. “Sweetheart, you have three seconds before my arm becomes your seatbelt.”
She hurriedly reached for her seatbelt and snapped it back into place with a few fumbles. Although, from the way he had roughly called her ‘sweetheart’, one part of her wanted him to put his arm across her lap.
What the hell is wrong with me? She thought she should be telling him to quit ordering her around.
“You are so bossy.” Well, at least she had met somewhere in the middle.
He laughed at her choice of words, going back to his normal self. “I wouldn’t be if you would quit fighting me.”
“Sorry I’m not obedient like the girl climbing in and out of your window for you.” Lake stared at him and thought she saw anger behind his eyes again.
I don’t know why he has a reason to be mad about it.
“We know you’re not obedient, because you can’t follow the fucking rules.”
“Fuck the rules, and fuck the mob! They are completely unfair and sexist. When I turn eighteen, they’ll hold no power over me, because I’ll be gone.” She watched him squeeze the steering wheel tightly, thinking it would break.
Shit, it was word vomit! She really hadn’t meant to say it.
“Who gave you the pills?” he asked calmly.
Lake took a deep breath. “My mom did, and I need them back, Vincent.”
“Does your dad know?”
She had known that was where he was heading. “Give them back, and I’ll tell you.”
Vincent reached into his pocket and pulled them out for her to see.
“No, he doesn’t know. You’re not going to tell him, are you?”
“I’m thinking about it,” he said coldly.
Lake snatched them from his hand after a small struggle. She swallowed hard when she saw Magical Cupcakes ahead. She seriously thought about asking him to drop her off there, but by the way the car ride was going, she knew he wouldn’t. Therefore, she quickly gave him the rest of the directions to her house which, thankfully, wasn’t much farther away.
As the car settled back into silence, she heard Vincent take a deep breath, which made her turn her head. She could tell he wanted to tell her something, and it was only making her nervous.
“Um, it’s this one on the right,” she instructed, biting her lip.
“Holy shit, you live here? I didn’t know your mom married someone rich,” he said, driving up the long, private driveway.
Unfortunately.
She turned to look at the expensive house, which sat in an exclusive area of town. It was exactly why she didn’t want him to see her mother’s home, because looking at Lake, you wouldn’t have guessed it. To everyone else, she looked poor. Like trailer trash.
She tried to give a fake laugh. “Yep.”
Vincent took another deep breath. “Listen, Lake, I made a mistake last night kissing you.”
Lake’s heart began to beat out of her chest. “Is that why you wanted to take me home?”
When he didn’t respond, she had her answer. Lake could have sworn her heart broke in that moment. Don’t cry in front of him. Don’t cry in front of him.
“Lake, I’m sorr—”
“Don’t be. I’m the one who should be sorry for letting you take my first kiss.” She wanted to make sure he understood what it meant to her.
She was ready to get the fuck out of there so she threw open her door, set to jump out.
“Wait.” Vincent grabbed her arm before she could escape.
Lake stared at his hand around her then glanced up to his eyes, praying he would say something to make it all better.
“You didn’t tell Adalyn, did you?”
If her heart hadn’t been broken before, it officially was right then.
She snatched her arm back from his grasp and kept her gaze steady. “No, because as far as I’m concerned, nothing fucking happened to tell.” Lake got out of the car and slammed the door shut, coming to one conclusion.