I snickered. Yeah, right. When it came to being an A-hole I didn’t think he could help himself.
I sat my phone aside without saying goodbye, snuggled into my bed and immediately fell back to sleep. I had no idea how I managed it seeing as I had napped for hours, but I pulled it off. It wouldn’t be until the next morning when I realized I hadn’t cried myself to sleep after all.
Chapter Nine
I was out of time and I’d barely just opened my eyes. Shit. Apparently, I hadn’t remembered to set the alarm on my phone. I didn’t have time to brush my hair or eat anything for breakfast. I threw the blanket off of me and raced towards my closet. I dressed in matching red panties and a red bra, black leggings, a black t-shirt with white lettering that read: The only Snow I want is Jon Snow, a tight zip up black hoodie and a pair of black flipflops. It was the best I could do on such short notice.
I breezed into the bathroom where I brushed my teeth and pulled my tangled-up mess of hair up into a messy bun on top of my head. I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. Part of my natural coloring had returned which was good. The bruising at my temple that surrounded my wound was not good and I didn’t have the time to try and cover it up with makeup. I was a hot mess but was lying, telling myself I rocked it.
I raced through my bedroom, nabbed my phone and my bag and I ran down the stairs. Mr. Cole was in the kitchen pouring coffee into a mug as I made a mad dash to the garage.
“Whoa. Where’s the fire, kiddo?”
“Late,” I called over my shoulder as I raced through the door. “No time. Gotta go.”
The door slammed behind me as I rushed through the garage and straight to my new Rover. I couldn’t even bring myself to flinch at the loud noise. If it woke up my mother she could suck it, I was in no mood for her crap this morning. I should have stolen Mr. Cole’s coffee on my way through the kitchen. My stomach growled and I had a headache, coffee would go a long way towards making my day brighter. Heck, even a can of Coke would do it. Too bad I didn’t have the time.
I climbed into my pretty, shiny new Range Rover. I stuck my key in the ignition, turned her on and hit the right button to open the closest door behind me. I was backing out as I clicked my seat belt in place. I cleared the door when I had to slam on the brakes. If I hadn’t stopped I would have plowed down Tyson. He ran around the Rover and opened up the passenger door. He was grinning at me as he climbed in. As soon as he had the door shut I was cruising back down the driveway.
“Sweet ride.” Sweet, indeed. Just like his tone of voice this morning. I wondered if this was how he sounded every morning.
“Um, not that I mind,” I looked at him to see him grinning at me, “but what’s with you riding with me? Is something wrong with your car?”
“Didn’t you get my texts?”
“No time for texting. I literally woke up less than five minutes ago.”
He laughed quietly. “That must be why your hair is so adorably messy this morning.”
I nodded, not the least bit offended by him calling my hair messy. “No time to brush it. Or cover up my face. Or eat anything. This day is going to suck so hard,” I whined.
“I have a power bar in my bag if you’d like it,” he offered up sweetly.
“Would I ever.” A wrapper crinkled as he opened the power bar for me and handed it over. I took a grateful bite and chewed as I cruised down the road.
“So, what do you think the third day of school will be like for us?” I asked him after I swallowed my first bite.
“I have no idea,” he told me bluntly. “But whatever happens today we’ll get through it together.”
My heart skipped a beat. My, how a day could change everything.
I had nothing to say in return to that so I ate and drove the rest of the way to school in silence. He didn’t seem to mind. As I pulled into a parking spot the big, black truck that had followed from a distance the entire way to school pulled into the empty parking spot beside me. I rolled my eyes. These boys were sweet but annoying.
I climbed out of the Rover, waited for Tyson to close his door then I hit the button on the key fob, locking the doors. I no longer had to stand around in the cold with shaking hands while I tried to unlock the door with a key. Mr. Cole was the best and had great taste. Just not in women. Don’t tell my mother I said that.
I was grinning from ear to ear when I turned around and smacked right into a huge chest. Vibrant green eyes twinkled down at me.
“Good morning, Abel,” I chirped, no longer caring about waking up late.
“Mornin’, pretty girl,” He grinned down at me. “You’re in a good mood. Are you usually like this in the morning?”
“No, sir.” I grinned up at him. I shrugged and told him honestly, “I even woke up late this morning and had to deny myself caffeine because of it.”
A dark eyebrow raised high on his forehead. “Then why are you so happy?”
Good question.
“Honestly??