Page 77 of Redline Communion

“Yes.”

“Then I support you completely and have never said anything negative about his hovering.”

Ash lifts one hand, and Kiwi waves back.

Traitor.

Zaconia comes down the steps behind us, takes in Ash and his aggressively parked car, then looks at me.

“Your ride?”

“No.”

Ash pushes away from the hood.

“My ride,” I say, “has apparently developed free will.”

“You said you needed to get back to the house.”

“I said I was going back to the house.”

“Same destination.”

“Not remotely the same sentence.”

Kiwi touches my arm. “You want me to wait?”

Ash hears her. His expression barely changes, but I catch the shift anyway. He isn’t angry with her. If anything, he looks offended that she has a reason to ask.

I look at him, then at Kiwi.

“No. I’m good.”

She doesn’t believe me. People have gotten very good at that lately.

“Text me.”

“I will.”

Zaconia blows me a kiss and follows her toward the parking lot, and I watch until they disappear between two cars. When I turn back, Ash already has the passenger door open.

I don’t move.

“You know there are entire transportation apps built around asking people whether they want rides.”

“You don’t have to get in.”

The answer catches me off guard.

Ash takes his hand off the door. “I mean it.”

“Since when?”

His jaw shifts. “Since you made it pretty clear you hate me showing up places without asking.”

“I don’t remember making that clear.”

“You didn’t have to.”