“Anyway, my co-operative needed to recover a microchip.”
“Why? What’s on it?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that the computer chip was being transferred in the mall from the people who created it in the first place to a new buyer.”
I twist in my seat so I’m facing Park. “Who’s the buyer?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet, but I did intercept the computer chip from the men selling it before they had a chance to pass it off.”
“Do you have it now?”
“Yes.”
“Can I see it?” He gives me an unsure expression as if he can’t trust me with something so valuable. My face turns hard. “If you want me to believe your story, I need some proof that what you’re telling me is real.”
“Fine.” He rolls his eyes, reaches into his front pocket, and pulls out a small square chip the size of a Skittle.
I take the chip between my fingers, examining it. There’s a sticky residue on one side and a gold memory board on the other. “What does all of this have to do with me?”
“Well,” his face takes on a guilty grimace, “when we were standing in line to check out, I stuck the computer chip to the tag on your purple scarf.”
“This?” I hold it up.
“Yes.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I thought the men selling the microchip were on to me, and I needed to use you to smuggle the computer chip out of the mall safely.”
My mouth falls open. “I was yourdrugmule?”
“Okay.” He shrugs. “I know it sounds bad, but it was supposed to be easy.”
“I was your drug mule!” I slap him on his shoulder several times, causing my periodic table charms to jingle like the bells on Santa’s reindeer.
“Stop sayingdrugs.There are no drugs.” He uses his forearm to fight off my blows while still watching the road. “Careful! Don’t lose the chip!”
“I don’t want your stupid microchip.” I hand it back to him, pushing his shoulder one last time.
“What is with you and all this hitting today?”
“I don’t know.” I press my back into my seat, taking in a calming breath. “This entire situation is bringing out a violent side in me.”
“Everything would’ve been fine if you hadn’t mailed the scarf immediately after you left the mall, but since you did, I had to follow you to Leavenworth and wait for the package to arrive.”
“Oh my gosh!” I drop my head in my hands.
“What?” Park rubs my shoulder. “Lacee, what is it? Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I’m such an idiot.” I whip my head up. “I thought we just randomly came together through fate. I proposed we kiss through the holidays. I even set uprulesfor our holiday fling.”
Park smiles. “I loved your proposition.”
I shut down his charming smile with a glare. “Well, it’s obviously over now. There will be no more kissing now that I know the truth. Nothing from here on out!”
“Yeah, of course. I get that.” He removes his hand from my shoulder. “It’s all my fault. I never should’ve gotten you involved in the first place.”
I glance out the window absently, not really seeing anything. “And now I’m going to die. If not from embarrassment then from getting shot.”
