Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
“I …”
Suddenly, Cora turns around in her bed, and we both gaze at her while holding our breaths. Luckily, she falls right back to sleep again. It must’ve been a rough night for her.
Bagel jumps off my bed and curls around my legs instead, meowing.
“I didn’t even bring kitty food …” I pick Bagel up to hug him. “I’m sorry, Bagel.”
“You know what? C’mon.” Heath grabs my arm.
“Wait, what about Cora?”
“Max will watch her and feed her when she wakes up. Don’t worry.”
I only barely manage to release Bagel before I’m dragged down the stairs.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
The grin on his face predicts trouble. “Shopping.”
CHAPTER 40
Heath
Our first stop is the pet store to get food, toys, and a litter box for Bagel. The moment we walk out of the store with a whole bag worth of groceries seems to ease Ivy’s mind a little, and I can visibly see the weight slowly dropping off her shoulders.
“All done?” she asks as we hop inside the car.
“Not yet,” I reply, driving off.
“What else is there?”
“I’ve gotta stop by a car dealer,” I reply, racing through the streets.
She holds the car door. “Not so fast.”
“Sorry, can’t help it. Learned from the best.” I wink.
“Who?” she asks.
“My dad,” I reply, though I’m definitely not eager to see him.
When we finally get to his car dealership, I get out and open Ivy’s door for her just like before.
“Were you always this chivalrous, or is this your way of apologizing for your behavior?” she says.
I close the door and snort. “Please. Me? Apologizing?” I laugh. “Don’t be delusional.”
She rolls her eyes. “Figured.”
“I’m not opposed to begging for forgiveness, though,” I add while on the way to the shop.
She stops abruptly like she just couldn’t believe her ears.
But I meant every word.
“Are you coming?”
She clears her throat but doesn’t ask me anything. Instead, she follows me inside the shop, where it smells like expensive leather and untouchable metal. Like, for real, if anyone touches these cars, they’re dead. At least, if my dad catches them in the act.
“Heath, that’s a surprise, seeing you here.”
My dad walks out from behind his desk in his fancy suit. He doesn’t have to work here because he’s got a ton of companies under his name, but he still prefers to be hands-on at his favorite job, which is working directly with the cars.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Dad asks.
“Save it. I just want my old license plate back. Do you still have it?”
He frowns. “Why?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes,” he replies, leaning on the desk as he casually swoops his dirty blond hair aside. “If you’re going to do stupid shit, I’d like to know about it.”
With a smug smile, I reply, “Too late.”
His face drops. “Tell me what you did.”
“I’d rather eat shit,” I reply.
“Heath …” He groans, rubbing his forehead. “Listen, you can’t just come here and rope me into whatever.”
“You’re the last one to lecture me, Dad,” I grit. “It’s not like you and your friends were such Goody Two-shoes in school.”
His pierced brow rises. “That was different.”
“You were young,” I retort. “Now you’re not.”
“Wow.” He makes a fist and stomps his own heart. “Right in the chest.”
Ivy snorts behind me but quickly uses her hand to hide her laughter.
“Who’s this fine young lady?”
“No one you have to know about,” I reply.
“Well, you’re here in my car dealership, trying to get your old license plate back. I think you’re not in a great position to bargain,” he quips, with a nasty grin that reminds me way too much of what I look like in the mirror.
Dammit.
“So, who’s this lovely lady?” my dad asks, looking at Ivy.
Ivy steps forward. “Hi. My name’s Ivy.”
He shakes her hand. “Caleb Preston. Nice to meet you. Are you his girlfriend?”
I nearly choke on my own spit. “Jesus Christ, Dad, no!” Ivy looks mortified, so I shove my old license plate in his hands to change the conversation. “You’ve met her now, can I please have the old one back?”
“Fine, since you asked nicely this time.” He winks, embarrassing me all over.
Goddammit.
He goes to the back of the shop where the supplies are kept.
“So, that’s your dad, huh?” she mutters.
“Yup.”
“You two sure are alike.”
“Fuck no,” I growl, folding my arms.
She chuckles right when he comes back.
“What’s so funny?” Dad asks.
“Nothing,” I reply.
“I’m just impressed at how much you injected your genes into him,” Ivy muses.
“I know, I’m proud of my best work,” he says, patting me on the shoulder. “If only he didn’t get himself into so much trouble.”
I swat his hand away and snatch the license plate from his fingers.
“Would it kill you to hate me less?” he asks.
“Yes. It would,” I retort, and I promptly turn around and wave. “See you later.”
“Stop by the house some time, Heath. Mom misses you,” Dad calls as we make our way outside.