He sighed and rolled his eyes, but I got my way. Not like he didn’t jump behind the wheel again. Did I mention he’d kicked his shoes off the first time he climbed in? Now I was the one rolling my eyes as he spoke to the car like it was a living thing. “Hey, why don’t you add your phone number here, baby? This way, if you’re in the car, you don’t have to reach for your phone; you can just press this button right here.”
“Awesome, I’ll add yours too.”
“Mine, why?”
“What do you mean why? Who’s going to be in the car with me most of the time?” Like I can’t see how pleased you are by the offer.
“It’s fine, I guess.”
“Speaking of which, there’s no place to park the car near the dorm. I didn’t get a parking permit when I arrived because I didn’t need one, and it’s going to take a while to get one, so you’d have to take it with you.”
“How long did they say it would take? I’m not sure I can get away with taking two parking spots with this and the heap.”
“Didn’t you say the truck needed fixing? Now would be a good time to take it in since we have another ride.”
“The damn parts cost more than the heap. I was going to buy another one soon, but with things the way they are with my dad, I wanted to hold off. The heap still has a few months in it, at least.”
Like heck! “Well, I guess I can pay for parking somewhere.”
“Are you nuts? You can’t park a car like this just anywhere. Let me think.”
“I don’t get it; why can’t you just keep this one to ride around in since yours is on its last leg?” He didn’t answer me right away, and I got a pit in my tummy.
“Babe, do you know how it would look with me driving your car around? This car in particular? I can just hear the haters now.”
“Oh, so you care more about what they say than what I want. Got you.”
“What? Where is that coming from?”
“Think about it, Cody. You’re not making any sense. We have a perfectly good car here.”
I tapped the dashboard again. “Notice, I said we because I was operating under the delusion that what’s mine is yours and vice versa. But since you see me as a stranger that you have to keep at arm’s length, I’ll stay in my lane.”
Geez, I’m getting too good at this. Or maybe not. Lately, I’ve noticed him giving me looks in the middle of a conversation. No wonder I’m on pins and needles every time he opens his mouth these days. His looks seem to be trying hard to read more into what I’m actually saying, which can prove dangerous for yours truly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because a lot of what you say makes sense, but for some reason, I always end up feeling like I’m being played.” Picture me looking stupid and unaware. I did everything but feign amnesia, but he still kept that damn look on his face.
“Fine, I don’t really wanna learn how to drive; I just wanted to get us something nice to drive around in since your car is about to give up on you.”
“I know you don’t want to spend any money right now, which is fine, but I have some, and I bought us a nice car, but if you don’t want to drive it, it’s fine; I’ll just have my dad take it back.” That wasn’t all pretend; I was genuinely hurt that he was acting this way. As if I was going to hold it over his head in the future or something.
I know how hard he works, between tutoring foreign students online, which actually pays rather well, and fixing people’s computers when he has the time, he’s doing better than most, but I also know, from his friends, not him, that he’s been saving every penny in case his dad needs it. It’s just that his parents refuse to take a dime, choosing instead for him to put it towards his future.
So, even if there was no Susie involved, this is something I would’ve wholeheartedly done for him. “Stop sulking. I didn’t say that you’re a stranger; I never called you a stranger; I never thought of you as such. I just don’t want you ever to think that I’d use you like that.”
“It never crossed my mind. So, are we good? Are we going to keep the nuisance, or should I call that guy back and have him come pick it up?”
“What guy? That fool that was just smiling in your face? If he comes back around here, I’ll make him eat his damn teeth.” That’s not hot or anything. I think I like semi-violent Cody, even the veins in his arms flexed with his anger.