“Miss, are you okay to answer some questions?” I nod and stand, only a little dizzy from where I hit my head in the crash. I’m pretty sure I look worse than I feel. I’m glad no one was hurt too badly, but I am beyond pissed that my car is fucked up yet again.
“Can you please tell me what happened here, in your own words?”
I sigh at the question. I know it looked like I just plowed straight into the back of that woman, but they’re not going to believe me until they check out the car. I explain everything that happened about my brakes not working.
His look of skepticism isn’t lost on me. “Who would want to mess with your brakes?”
I look over at Lincoln, and he smirks at me as he leans against his car, arms crossed over his chest. Jackass. I don’t know why he’s here, but we both know that if he backed me up right now, this cop would believe me without hesitation.
Of course, we’re not friends anymore, so I don’t expect his help. But it’s likely he knows who did this if he didn’t do it himself. Though this seems too blue collar for Linc. He knows his way around an engine—he’s always had a fascination with how things work—but I doubt that even if it was his idea that he did the damage himself.
“I don’t know, Officer. All I know is that they didn’t work. I never said that someone messed with them.” The officer’s cheeks go red as he splutters an apology. “Is there anything else?”
“No, miss. We’ve called a tow truck for your car pending investigation for your insurance company, but once everything’s cleared up, someone will contact you.”
I nod at him, wishing I hadn’t because pain rips through my skull. Well, that’s a fun little side effect, awesome. “Thank you, Officer.”
He heads back toward his car, and the paramedics pack up, leaving me with my smashed up car to wait for the tow truck. The woman I hit scowls at me, and I smile apologetically. I don’t know how many more times I can say sorry to her. Thankfully, her car isn’t too damaged, so she climbs in and drives away, leaving me with my undrivable Impala.
Lincoln saunters over to me, smirk firmly in place. “I do not have the time or patience for your bullshit today.”
“And here I am, a nice bystander, waiting to offer you a ride home.” I scoff at his words. There is no way he’s here just to be nice.
I roll my eyes at him, beyond exasperated and so done with this day. “Yeah, right, I totally believe you.” My smile conveys every ounce of snark I have building up inside of me. “Besides, I already called Indi, she’s on her way.”
“She isn’t. I was at the library too when she got your call. I told her I’d come and get you since I was heading home anyway.”
I let out a growl of frustration. “Of course you fucking did. If you’re being so helpful, why not help me with the cop?”
He laughs at me and crosses his arms, watching me like a hunter watches his prey. “Why would I help you with that?”
I roll my eyes again, but it makes my head pound. I wince, grasping my head. God, he’s such an asshole. We’re interrupted as the tow truck arrives, asking me to sign a dozen different forms before he hooks up my poor car and takes it away.
“Do you want a ride home or not?” He’s so fucking shitty about it. I almost want to say no, but the world starts spinning. I groan internally because I don’t think I’ll manage it if I try to walk home.
“Yes, please.” I grind out the words through a clenched jaw, and he grabs my bag from the ground.
“After you,” he says, waving to his shiny black SUV. I start walking, and my stomach flips. I really hope I don’t vomit. Though the thought of fucking with his impeccably spotless car does give me a sadistic sort of satisfaction.
He opens the door for me and closes it once I’m buckled in, striding round to his side before climbing in. His gaze runs over me—almost as if checking for injury, but I know better than to think that—as my stomach rolls, and I practically feel the blood run from my face. “If you vomit in my car, I’ll make you clean it.”
I flip him the finger and open the window, taking deep breaths.
At least that wouldn’t be the worst part of my day.
Chapter Sixteen
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!” I practically jump on Indi when I meet her at school. The last couple of weeks since my car crash have been pretty shit, but she’s the sunshine in my life, and it’s her birthday. I’ve been planning her gift for what feels like forever.
I grin at her when I release her from my hug, and she looks all sassy and beautiful. Her long hair is now a cascade of rainbow colors, and I fucking adore it. “Here. This is for you!”
Not bouncing up and down in excitement about her gift is fucking hard as she opens the envelope.
She gawks down at the tickets in her hands, blinking. I think I might’ve broken her.
It only takes a second or so before she comes back to life, and her squeal is so high-pitched, I think dogs on the other side of town can hear her. “Oh my God! You absolute fucking rockstar! Are these real?”
She waves the All Access Passes I got her for the Midnight Blue gig in San Diego in my face; and when I nod, she squeals again before jumping on me and hugging me so hard I almost fall over. I’m glad the bruising on my chest is gone, otherwise I’d be fucked right now.