Lex and I leave her car and separate, me toward the water where Lex had texted my date to meet, and Lex to her shady tree. As soon as I’m out of range I call Lex and pop my AirPod into my ear, concealing it with a wave of hair. “Mic check. One, two,” I say, glancing back at Lex.
She touches her own AirPod and nods. “Roger.”
Good. No cringey dialogue will be missed. I’m glad we started doing this; having Lex both physically close and listening to every word makes me feel so much safer.
The sun is bright and warm, the cool breeze off the lake smells like pine and fresh water, and the call of birds melds with the low hum of other picnickers enjoying their afternoon. I wait by the water, relishing the sun on my face, and prepare for my day to take a one-eighty and go right down the shitter. My peace is disrupted by the noise of a very fancy red car as it pulls up and parks. I don’t recognize the brand—there’s some sort of swoopy half-moon logo on it. The car parks and idles for much longer than it should, with everyone in the park turning to gawk at the expensive monstrosity.
A moment later the engine shuts off, the door opens upward, and out climbs a very well-dressed guy with glittering gold sunglasses and shiny black shoes. He walks—no,saunters—over to where I am.Oy vey.
“Nice to meet you, Aubrey,” he says as he extends his hand, adorned with multiple rings and a gold watch accentuating his dark brown skin—which, I discover as we shake, is super soft. Would it be weird to ask what moisturizer he uses?
“You, too! That’s a very fancy car you have there,” I comment, looking over his shoulder. A few bystanders have gathered, taking pictures and posing with peace fingers. “What, um... breed is it?”
Fancy Car Guy fits me with a quizzical look before looking over his shoulder at his prized possession. “It’s a McLaren.”
Explains why I didn’t recognize the badge. “Never seen one before.”
“That a fact?” He says it like he knew I probably haven’t seen one. This must be his schtick, relying on his cool car to flash his wealth and woo his dates. “Want to take a spin?”
Lex’s voice is sharp in my ear. “Donotget in the stranger’s car.”
“No, thanks. Maybe next time.” There probably won’t be a next time. “How about that picnic?”
Fancy Car Guy shrugs. “I didn’t actually bring any food.”
In my ear, Lex mumbles, “Who the fuck shows up to a picnic without food?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling.
Fancy Car Guy gestures with his thumb toward the McLaren. “I figured we’d go for a drive. I know this great spot with the best ceviche you’ll ever eat.”
“I repeat, donotget in his car.”
I have to stop myself from replying to Lex. Instead, I say, “Was your plan to entice me with your fancy car and lure me to my untimely demise with the promise of delicious seafood?”
Fancy Car Guy laughs, a great bellow of a thing, the laugh of a rich person who doesn’t give a shit about disturbing the peace of people around him. “Come on. Have a look inside, at least. I just had it detailed.”
Despite myself, Iamintrigued. The likelihood of me getting to see a car as cool as this again is slim to none. I glance over my shoulder at Lex as her eyes narrow. “Fine. Just a look,” she concedes.
With Lex’s permission granted, I give a nod to Fancy Car Guy, who walks me to his car, past a small group of peoplesnapping pictures of it, and opens the door. I’ve never seen a door open upward in person, and, I must admit, I’m a little impressed and slightly turned on. The interior is the fanciest shit I’ve ever seen. The tan leather is double-stitched with red and black, there are velvet accents, and a plethora of buttons and switches across its swooping, masculine dash.
“Sit for a minute,” he says, extending his hand to mine.
“Don’t do it,” Lex warns.
I hesitate, weighing my curiosity against the possibilities of what the curse might do to me.
“The seats have a massage function you might like?”
“Sold.”
I slide into the deep bucket of the seat and immediately sigh in comfort. Even without the fancy massager turned on it’s the most comfortable chair I’ve ever been in. Lex growls in my ear, sending tingles down my spine.
Fancy Car Guy takes the driver’s seat and closes his door, entombing us in decadence before flashing his rich-guy smile and reaching for the ignition button. The thing roars to life, and he smirks over at me as if he expects me to swoon. When he doesn’t earn the reaction he expects, he presses his foot on the gas several times, the car rumbling beneath my ass. I squeak in surprise at the obnoxiously loud noise.
“You okay?” Lex asks.
“That scared me a bit, but I’m fine,” I reply.
