“So I’m an after ?” I say as we walk down the hallway, not giving two shits if a teacher sees us ditching. “Want to talk about it.”
“No.”
Outside, the senior lot’s not gated. I guess administration doesn’t care enough to stop kids who skip or there’s too many goody-two-shoes who don’t. “Want to drive?” I ask nearing my Range Rover.
Piper perks up a little. “Really?”
I toss her my wireless key fob. She catches it with one hand and stares at it like it’s magic. “Sure. Why not? I’ve got insurance. You’ve got a license, right?”
Her face falls. “No.”
I’m not surprised. A mom who lets her daughter almost be raped doesn’t sound like the kind of person to take Piper to the DMV. “No biggie. Just don’t get pulled over.”
Piper pushes the start button on the key fob and grins when the engine roars to life. The car automatically unlocks and we get in. She spends a solid minute adjusting the seat and mirrors then says, “Where to?”
“You’re the captain. Whatever you want I’m buying.”
“Good, because I’m broke,” Piper says putting the car in reverse. “This isn’t a stick, right?”
“No. Why?”
“I have no clue how to drive one. I’d totally fuck up your transmission.”
Piper
We skip the rest of the day. Somehow time always flies away from me when I’m with Rex. We don’t even do much of anything, just eat Subway then drive around. I make it back to school by the skin of my teeth for my final. Now, two and a half hours later, I’ve got to catch a bus to the beachside so I don’t miss all of my shift tonight. Although, I wouldn’t mind skipping it to avoid Cooper.
I walk out the main entrance of the school and don’t bother to fight the grin that takes over. Rex is parked in the parent-pick-up circle, waiting for me. He leans against the shiny black paint of his Range Rover looking like he just popped out of a magazine advertisement. “Thought you might need a ride.”
He opens the passenger door for me and I climb in. The car’s already running, air on, ready to go. “What? I don’t get to drive this time?”
Rex shakes his head
, chuckling. My door shuts and he runs around to get in on his side. He shifts into drive and pulls out of school. “No. You’re great and all, but you’re a terrible driver.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“You almost took out a stop sign,” he says, amusement dancing in his tone.
I roll my eyes, feigning a smile. “That was one time, and it came out of nowhere.”
“One time is all it takes, Babe.” The blinker clicks as he turns onto Highway-one. “How late do you work tonight?”
“We close at nine but clean up takes about an hour.”
“Is it cool if I come back and get you around nine-thirty? I can wait outside until you’re done.”
I try to hide my surprise. Rex must not have heard my conversation. If he had he wouldn’t want to be alone with me again. Hell, majority of the time I don’t want to be alone with me. “Why would you do that?”
“We were gonna watch Aladdin tonight. Remember?”
“But tonight’s a school night.” My rebuttal is weak, but it’s the only excuse I can come up with. I love hanging out, which is all the more reason I should stop. If things keep going the way they are, I’m going to have a hard time leaving in a few weeks.
Rex rolls his eyes. “So was last night, and the night before. I promise we won’t be late tomorrow.”
“I should go home tonight. Mamma T will start to worry.”
Rex pulls into the front parking space at the Red Onion. It’s 4:55. We made it to the diner with five minutes to spare before my shift. “Okay, I understand. See you tomorrow?”