“Crap, I haven’t grabbed my books yet,” Nolan exclaims, and then he presses another kiss to my forehead. “See you at lunch. I love you.”
“Love you too,” I call after him as he bolts for his locker.
Connor is his usual silent self, choosing actions over words. He gives me a kiss that curls my toes, and then he wanders off to class, whistling a happy tune. It’s wonderful to see him so content and rested. It appears the spelled rooms are working, and he’s finally able to have some peace.
Kaleb, Donovan, and Felix wait for me to get my books since we all share first period. Once I have my books switched out and have done my best to stuff the petals back into my locker, we walk toward Mr. Harris’s class, chatting about what will likely be on today’s “surprise” pop quiz. It’s not really a surprise if we have one every Wednesday.
When we reach the classroom, I’m about to follow Kaleb and Donovan inside when Felix catches my arm and pulls me a couple feet away. He glances up at our classmates walking through the door and steps a little closer, as if he’s worried about being overheard. Releasing my arm, he shoves his hands in his pockets, and his gaze seems to bounce around my face. The easy excitement about the dance has given way to an anxious buzzing energy, if his shifting from foot to foot is any indication.
I’m about to ask him if he’s okay when he blurts, “Can we do one of our driving lessons this Saturday night?”
“If I’m free, sure,” I answer, confused as to why he’s so nervous. When getting behind the wheel, I understand the nerves, but this wouldn’t be our first lesson together. It’s the first one at night, so maybe that has something to do with it. While I dig out my phone to check my calendar, I joke, “I’m still surprised you want lessons from me, considering how everyone makes fun of my grandma driving.”
“Nothing wrong with driving safely.” Felix chuckles awkwardly, pulling a hand out of his pocket to rub the back of his neck. “I’d rather learn from you than Nolan. I don’t have his reflexes.”
“Few people do in this town,” I reply with a smirk. Nolan’s super speed reflexes come from his abilities as a vampire, which is why he’s able to drive like he’s in a perpetual street race without getting into any accidents. While looking down at mySaturday schedule, I grimace. “I’m volunteering at the hospital that afternoon, and then I’m supposed to have dinner with my nan. I’m free after that though. Is eight o’clock too late?”
He shakes his head vigorously, his trademark boy next door smile spreading across his lips. “No, that’s perfect. It’ll be full dark by then.”
Before I can ask why he specifically wants a lesson at night, the second bell rings, and Mr. Harris glares at us from the doorway. “Are you going to join us or just stand outside jaw jacking?”
The urge to be a smartass builds inside me, but since he’s done so much for Felix recently, I’ve been forced to acknowledge that there’s some good in him, even if he still enjoys putting students on the spot way too much.
Winking at Felix, I whisper, “See you Saturday.”
Felix beams. “It’s a date.”
Chapter 14
Felix
The headlights of my truck are all that illuminate the main highway leaving Twin Cedar Pass, though calling it a highway is generous. It’s a two-lane road that is in desperate need of repairs once we leave the city limits. Fortunately, Saturday night usually means heading toward Main Street for those who need to go out for fun, so there are very few cars on the road this far out.
Callie hasn’t commented on our odd direction for driving lessons, but I can tell she’s curious. To be fair, I’ve been weirdly twitchy, stumbling over my words whenever I’m lucky enough to think of any. Normally, I have too many words that often mash together, barely coming out fast enough to keep up with my thoughts, but tonight is different. Tonight, I’m surprising Callie with a real date.
My brain keeps buzzing with anxious white noise, and my heart is thundering so loud, I can barely hear the music playlist I made as a special background for this drive—the best love songs from the past twenty-five years. Nolan made this sound so easy. Callie and I are already dating, so it shouldn’t feel any different from other times we’ve hung out, except all those times, Iwasn’t trying to plan a romantic evening, and my knowledge of romance predominantly comes from rom-coms—not the best source for romantic dates that don’t end in crazy hijinks.
“Careful going around that pothole,” Callie warns, her voice sounding distant over my very loud thoughts.
Like an idiot, I run right over it with a shocking thud that has us bouncing around the cab of the truck. “Sorry, I, uh, didn’t see… I mean, I did see it because you pointed it out, so how could I miss it?” A weird laugh that is way too high-pitched escapes me, and I wish I could pull over and flee into the woods to escape my own awkwardness.
I nearly jump out of my skin when Callie reaches over to gently squeeze my shoulder. “Are you okay? You seem really nervous driving out here. Maybe we should try night driving in a parking lot or residential street first? I can drive us back.”
“No,” I blurt way too loudly for such close proximity, and then I take a deep breath to hopefully calm the fuck down. “It’s okay. The driving isn’t what’s making me nervous.”
She reaches over to turn the music down until it’s barely audible, and then she shifts in her seat to better face my direction. “What’s going on? If it isn’t the driving, is it me? Is there something you’re nervous to talk to me about? Whatever it is, I promise to listen.”
Groaning, I take a hand off the steering wheel to rub the back of my neck. “It isn’t that either. There’s…” I sigh, deflated that I couldn’t keep my cool long enough to surprise Callie and feeling like a total idiot for even trying. “We haven’t been on, like, an official date, so I thought I’d surprise you with one.”
“Oh.” Callie’s lips quirk into a soft smile, and her hand drops to my thigh. “So you’re nervous because this is a date?”
Awareness tingles through my body, radiating from the heat of her hand through my jeans, and I swallow heavily. “I want it to be special.”
She slides closer to me and rests her head against my shoulder. “Casper, any time I get to spend with you is special. There’s no reason to be nervous. It’s just me.”
“Just you,” I scoff, but her nearness has certainly changed the reason my heart is pounding. “Pretty girl, you’re literally my dream girl personified, and that’s before we get to the fact that you’re practically a superhero.”
“Yeah, but that’s never made you nervous before,” she points out with a teasing tone. “All I’m saying is that you don’t need to worry. I love you, and any time together is special. Whatever you have planned, I’m sure I’ll like it, because it will be with you.”
