“You’re going to have to pay for a new phone,” she said.
She wanted to call Sean more than anything to let him know she was safe or at least, alone in a car with Drake and it was all her fault. She shouldn’t have approached him at lunch or given him the time of day.
“I’ll buy you a new phone. No worries about that, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You don’t like me calling you sweet names?”
“I’m trash to you, remember?”
“Yeah, well, I like to live dangerously.”
“Stop talking to me.” She folded her arms across her breasts, hating this feeling. She didn’t even understand it and that alone scared her. For as long as she could remember, Drake was her enemy.
Kissing him had been a mistake. Approaching him today had been an even bigger one.
She closed her eyes and counted to ten very slowly, hoping when she opened her eyes, she’d recognize something.
After ten, she couldn’t make anything out.
You’re going to get killed if you don’t ask.
I don’t want to ask him. He’s an asshole.
An asshole who could totally kill me.
Rubbing at her temple, Prudence knew she couldn’t not ask him. This was just way too dangerous. “Drake, where are we going?”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask that.” He laughed. “Do you have any idea what could happen to you if you were to take a ride from a stranger? That shit is dangerous.”
“I know you.”
“Yeah, and? You think you’re safe with me?”
She glanced over at him and decided to take a chance. “Yes. I do. You won’t hurt me.”
Again, he barked out a laugh. “Wow. Shit, you can even surprise me.”
“You think just because we’ve had our fights and you’ve bullied me, you think I don’t see past all the bullshit you’re spouting?” she asked. “You could have hurt me a lot worse ages ago. You never have. You’ve always held back. I’ve seen you fight before. It was what made me realize that you’re never going to hurt me. Your threats are completely useless but that’s okay. I don’t mind. You can pretend to be a bad guy all you want.” She shrugged her shoulder. “I’ve got all the time in the world.”
She leaned back against the chair, staring out of the window.
For the longest time, Drake didn’t do anything. He didn’t say anything, just kept on driving at a rather slow pace.
She chanced a glance over at him, and she couldn’t read his expression. “Drake?”
He slammed his foot down on the gas. They went from driving normally to suddenly speeding along.
“Drake, what the hell are you doing?”
“Giving you a fun time. It’s what you want, right? Some fun, some excitement. I bet that asshole doesn’t give you any. I sure hope you know what you’re doing!”
“Sean doesn’t do anything to you.”
“He breathes.”
“Is that it? Is that all he’s ever done wrong with you? Live? Get real, Drake. People you don’t like exist. You can’t just vanish them away because you can’t stand them. You’re going to be surrounded by people you don’t like. It’s the way of the world. I’ve got to put up with you.”
“There you go again, constantly telling me how you can’t stand me when it couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Wow, you’re really not listening to me. I don’t want to be in this car with you. I don’t even want to see you, ever. I’m so sick of this. Summer is supposed to be my time where I can do whatever the hell I want and I don’t have to listen or see your face. I don’t want to see your face and I don’t have to keep on doing this with you.”