Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“Crappers.” I dig through my bag to try and find my phone.
I have to empty the entire contents of my bag on the passenger seat, and it’s a lot. A girl never knows what she might need. I dig through it, but when I find my phone, I’m reluctant to hit the number. My finger hovers over the screen to call my father, and I sigh before I reluctantly hit it.
It rings twice before going to voicemail, and I have to swallow the lump that forms instantly in my throat. That’s why I didn’t want to call him. I knew he wouldn’t answer, or worse, he would ignore it and send it to voicemail. Sometimes he calls me back later to say he was in a meeting, but I know now it’s not the case. It’s Sunday night.
I go through my wallet trying to find the AAA card when a knock on my window startles a scream out of me. My heart nearly bursts out of my chest, and I turn my head to see a crotch at eye level. I should probably be ashamed that I immediately recognize the pants.
Unable to roll down the window, I go to open the door. His hand grips the top, pulling it open for me.
“Hi,” I chirp up at him.
“Won’t start?”
“No, I was going to call someone to tow it.” I hold up my phone to display the AAA number.
The car is practically brand new. My father bought it for me when we moved here, which was his way of smoothing things over. His motto has always been to throw money at the problem. It works for his wife and stepdaughter. Me, not so much.
“And then what?” He sweeps his gaze up and down the relatively empty street.
The sun set hours ago, and it’s late Sunday evening. Nobody is out walking around right now because they are all probably at home with their families. At least that’s my guess.
“Oh, I don’t know. Call for a ride?”
“You get in cars with strangers?” I can tell from his expression and tone that he’s disappointed in my answer.
“Well, ah...” I lick my lips. “A Lyft or whatever doesn’t count.”
“It’s still a stranger,” he repeats.
“I guess,” I admit, but I’ve never thought of it that way.
“I’ll take you home.” He touches my elbow before pulling me out of the way of the door so he can close it. The next thing I know, he’s leading me around to the sidewalk.
I should tell him no and that I’m not taking a ride from him. At the very least, I can know on Lyft who is picking me up. I'm sure they conduct background checks and other procedures. Well, I hope they do.
Instead of arguing any of those points, I stand there watching as he pulls out his phone and taps on the screen.
"You only need your bag?" he asks before opening the passenger door. All of my crap is still dumped out in the passenger seat, and he starts to pick it up.
“I got it!” I exclaim and hurry over. In the process, I inadvertently bump him with my hip. Before he can see anything, I grab my notebook and quickly shove it down into my bag.
“All right.” He smirks and then watches as I proceed to cram the rest of it in there too.
“Okay, I think I got it all.” I turn around, nearly running into him. “Sorry.” I brush my hair out of my face, feeling flustered.
“Come on.” He takes my elbow again. “Give me the key.” I hand them over without a second thought. It’s not until I’m in the passenger seat of his SUV that I realize I have put myself in what some might call not the best situation.
“What's your name?” I finally ask.
“I got you all the way in my car before you even asked.”
“Stupid, I know. But I see you all the time, so I feel like I know you.”
“You don’t know me, princess.”
"Right." I fold my hands in my lap so that I don’t fidget. My stepmother hates that.
"It's Callum.” His voice is so soothing. “Now what's your address?"
I ramble it off, and he pulls away from the curb.
"I'm Tinsley," I tell him even though he didn’t ask.
"I know."
"You do?"
"They call it out in the coffee shop."
"Oh, yeah. They never say yours. Since you just get black coffee, they hand it right over."
"You’ve been watching me?" He lifts an eyebrow.
"What?" I suck in a breath. I’m so busted. "No, I mean, ah..."
“I’m teasing you, Tinsley.”
“Right,” I say, looking out the window. My stepsister teases me whenever she has the opportunity.
“I’ll make sure your car is outside your house in the morning. You’ll need it.”
I nod when he pulls up outside of my house. I don’t want to tell Callum that I need it because I’m still in high school. How lame would that be?