“Stealing from libraries now?” Cole grunts, rolling down the window. “Couldn’t get away with it at the jewelers, so you had to take from a librarian.”
I look down, realizing that I still had my book tucked into my hand. Disgruntled, I hadn’t noticed. That’s how badly I needed away. It probably had looked like I was stealing with the way I was running. Laughable to the few who passed.
“Might I suggest another hobby than theft?”
“Go away, Cole.”
“Not until you tell me why I keep finding you in these situations?”
“I’m not a thief,” I demand, needing him to understand that.
“Then enlighten me to why you’re standing on the side of the road running in the complete dark this late at night?” His voice on the verge of snapping.
I blow out the side of my mouth. “Leave me alone.”
It would be easier to concentrate on my breathing if I didn’t feel his eyes penetrating my profile. He isn’t happy, that makes two of us.
Honestly, was he ever though?
Deep breaths, Rory. Count to five, in. Hold it. Count to five, release.
Dragging his teeth over his plump bottom lip, he says. “For once in your life would you follow direction!” Eyes boring into mine. It almost sounded like a plea. It held me captive. A silent simmer of fervor brewing between us.
His foot slams on the brake. I stop, facing him at the smell of the tires burning. His brows thunder, swallowing, he glances down. I am coated in sweat and a chill still manages to roll down my spine.
“Do you even know where you are right now?” he asks roughly.
Not a clue.
I didn’t know if I was heading toward the Casper house or if I was heading farther away. I don’t bother trying to look for my phone knowing I left it in my room. Not planning on being out here.
Revving the engine, his eyes lit up. Sparkling with silent mirth, somehow knowing, loftiness doubling in size.
“Don’t say a word,” I state flatly, climbing in.
Cole doesn’t take me home. I think he could tell I didn’t want to go back. So, he brought me somewhere I didn’t know existed until tonight.
At first, I debated if he knew where he was going when he headed up this direction with the relaxed ease he was handling the sharp turns on the cliff’s edge, I knew he was familiar with the road.
Pulling off the main road and onto some graveled wide-open space, he puts the car in park turning off the engine. Wordlessly climbing out and sitting up on the hood resting his back on the front windshield.
“Gonna stay in there all night?” he asks after a while.
I haven’t left the vehicle.
He sighs, resting his arms behind his head. “Your loss.”
I look over at where he left the keys in the ignition. Music playing through the speakers. It would be so easy. I could start the car and leave if I wanted to…
Cole taps his knuckle on the glass making me jump. He hasn’t moved. His fingers tapping following the rhythm of the song, oblivious.
“Glad to see you’ve finally joined the fun,” Cole deadpans after I climb out.
“Where are we?”
“Afraid?”
“Not in the slightest.”