“And you plan to every day?”
Another nod.
“At night, in the dark?”
“Yep.Andit’s getting darker by the moment,”Isaid, exasperated.
“DoesJenknow about this?” she asked, andInarrowed my eyes at her.
“As long asIget here, what does it matter?”
Teddy looked at me, confused for a moment, then rolled her eyes. “Notlike that, dipshit.I’mnot trying to get you in trouble.Ijust mean that one of us could have picked you up from the bus stop if we’d known.It’slike a three minute drive.Jenwould never want you walking that route, especially in the dark and rain.”
“Oh,”Isaid, pocketing my phone.Iwasn’t sure why she wanted to help me after everything she’d said. “Well, likeIsaid,Ithink the bus is long gone.Somaybe she can take me to the train station instead?”
She nodded. “Yeah, okay, let me go find out,” she said,steppingaside and motioning for me to leave through the door.Shejogged over to the house in the half-light, then came back almost immediately– not withJen, but with keys jangling in her hand.
“I forgot,Jen’sout at some charity meeting,” she said, pointing to the spot where the van was usually parked. “You’restuck with me.Sorry.”
I frowned. “Areyou even allowed to drive in this country?”
Teddy shrugged as she climbed into the driver side of theSubaru. “Doyou have another choice?”
She wasn’t wrong– she was my only option.SoIopened the passenger side door and climbed in.Teddystarted moving beforeI’deven shut it.
“Easy!”Iyelped. “I’venot even got my belt on.”
“You said you were in a hurry!” she countered as she reversed.
I was sureIcould come up with a retort– something about how being on time didn’t matter ifIdied on the way– but then she hooked her left arm around the back of my seat to turn around, looking out of the back window as she reversed, the scent of honey and sweat wafting over me, and any witty retortI’dhad evaporated.
She was a very competent driver,Ibegrudgingly admitted– to myself, of course, not to her– and we made it to the train station in one piece with about twenty minutes to spare.Idefinitelywouldn’t have made it ifI’dwalked, soIthanked her as pleasantly asIcould manage.
“When are you back at the farm?” she asked asIgot out.
“Why, so you can torture me with more ‘weed-whacking’?”
“SoIcan pick you up from the bus stop.Jesus.”Shesounded exasperated, but was that a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth?
“Not untilMonday,”Isaid. “AndthenThursdayagain after that.Trynot to miss me.”
“However willIcope?”Sheheld her hands up to her heart and smiled sarcastically.
I wasn’t sure why the thought crossed my mind, butIdecided to voice it beforeIcould back down.Beforeour dynamic froze over again.
“Are you free nextThursdayevening, actually?”Iasked, and she dropped her smile immediately, making me regret opening my mouth.Shestared at me for a moment, as if she were trying to solve a puzzle tattooed on my forehead, andIwas just about to take it back when she surprised me again.
“Yeah,Iam,” she said. “Why?”
“Then it looks like you’re driving me all the way home,”Isaid.
She tilted her head, looking less annoyed thanI’dhave thought. “Why’sthat?”
I took a deep breath and pushed down the part of me that thought this was a terrible idea before it could stop me.Maybeit was a bad idea, but a little chaos wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, right?
I smiled sweetly. “Haveyou ever playedDungeons&Dragons?”
Chapter8
