Page 116 of Under the Influence

When I make it to the steps, the door jerks open. Corinne’s eyes go wide before she pushes past me to walk to Madden’s black Honda. I hadn’t even realized he pulled up.

Turning around, I chase after her, grabbing her wrist, “Wait, just let me explain!”

“Explain what?” she jerks her arm away.

“Just… Please come with me.”

She glances at Madden’s car, and he stares at us over the roof.

“Get away from her, Nash.”

Corinne backs away, almost like she’s afraid. I look at him and then back to her, “Please, just ride with me. That’s all, when you get to school, if you don’t ever want to speak to me again, then I’ll leave you alone. Please just give me ten minutes.”

She gives me a knowing, sympathetic look then walks over to Madden’s car. He’s pissed. I can tell he wants to walk right over here and punch me, but she places her arm against his chest, stopping him.

He gets in his car, slams the door, and pulls away. She walks back over to the driveway, and I pull her into me. I rest my chin on the top of her head, “I’m sorry I freaked out on you. I’m not used to people giving a shit. I didn’t mean to push you away… I just… my mom… she”—I stutter, trying to find the right words—“I don’t know how my life got so fucked up.”

She looks up at me through her lashes, the blue of her eyes darker than mine, and when I look into them, it’s endless. I’ve rendered her speechless, but the way she’s looking at me nearly brings me to my knees, right here in the driveway.

“Please say something.”

She backs away, creating some unwanted distance between us, “I understand.”

I grab her hand, leading her to the passenger seat. I open the door and help her inside. My behavior is humiliating, and I wish that I could just sink into the floorboard and disappear.

“Coffee?” I ask, backing out of the drive as she stares out the window.

“Sure.”

We’re both silent for a minute, but I begin to get restless, “I’m glad you came. I didn’t think you would. Not willingly anyway.”

She sighs, “I figured this would be good closure for both of us.”

What?

I grip the wheel tighter, trying to hide my anger. “Is that what you want? Closure?”

“I want to feel safe. I don’t feel safe around you.”

“Because I’m not Carson?” I seethe.

“Because you are you.”

Her words strike like a bullet, knocking my breath from my lungs. “You’re mad, aren’t you? Over what happened with Drayton.”

She looks over at me, “I think we both know it’s more than what happened with Drayton. Which, by the way, was horrible. You know that’s how his dad died? His baby sister? It’s unforgivable.”

“I fucked up,” I admit. “I know that. I took it too far.”

I pull into the coffee shop, opting for a parking space rather than the drive-thru.

“What are you doing? We’re going to be late?” she questions, ignoring my half-assed apology.

“I’m doing what I should’ve done the first day you got here, Princess.”

I snake my hand through the back of her hair, and pull her lips against mine..

I want you, anyway.