“What?” He slid his phone into his pocket and walked toward me. “You want me to lie?”
“No, but you don’t have to be so extra.”
“I’m not extra. I’m honest.”
I shook my head as he reached for my hand and pulled me toward him. “Where are we going?”
“You still asking questions?”
“Yes, because you still not answering them.”
He opened the front door and glanced back at me. “Just trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
“Then stop asking.”
“That don’t mean I don’t wanna know.”
He laughed while leading me outside. The truck was already in the driveway, and, of course, he opened my door before I could even reach for it.
I tilted my head at him. “You really don’t have to keep opening my door.”
“Good thing I want to.”
I sucked my teeth. “You get on my nerves.”
“And yet you still got in.”
“Because you’re blocking the door.”
He grinned and waited until I was settled before shutting it behind me. A few seconds later, he climbed in on his side, started the truck, and pulled out of the driveway like he had somewhere important to be.
The whole ride, I kept trying to figure out where he was taking me. Every time we passed somewhere I recognized, I looked over at him, waiting for him to give me something. He didn’t. He just drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on my thigh like this was the most normal thing in the world.
“You know kidnapping is illegal, right?” I asked.
He glanced over at me. “You got your phone.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m not being held against my will.”
“You got dressed willingly.”
“Because you threatened to carry me outside.”
“I didn’t threaten you. I told you what was gon’ happen.”
I stared at him for a second before laughing. “You are so crazy.”
“And you still sitting here.”
I shook my head and looked out the window, trying not to smile too hard. The more we drove, the more curious I got. We didn’t pull up to a restaurant, the mall, or anywhere I thought he would take me. Instead, he drove toward an area filled with little shops, cafés, and buildings that looked more artsy than anything.
When he finally parked, I looked through the windshield and froze.
A large sign sat above the building in front of us.
The Art House Studio.
