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I lifted a shoulder and pushed off the lockers as she stopped in front of hers and opened it. “You need a ride, right?” I asked, and though the halls were mostly empty, the jocks and club geeks remained, several of which eyed me as I spoke to her now.
Good. Let them watch.
She paused in putting her books away to narrow her eyes at me.
“What?” I asked, though I couldn’t say I blamed her for not trusting me. “After what you told me, I figured your car was out of commission.”
“It is.”
“Okay, well, I’ll give you a ride.”
“Wait.” She glanced around her, scanning the halls like she was looking for some sort of trick. “Did you hang around just for me?”
Was that so hard to believe?
“Yeah, no biggie. I had some stuff to do anyway.”Lie.
I raked a hand through my hair, uncomfortable under the scrutiny of her gaze. Why did it feel like she saw right through me?
“I mean, if you’d rather ride with—”
“You know I don’t live in Lakeview, right?” She slammed the door shut and turned to me.
“Yeah.” She was one of the few kids at Lakeview on scholarship, so it wasn’t exactly a secret.
When she stood there, unmoving, I placed my hands over the tops of her shoulders, which tensed under my palms. “Ewe, relax. Believe it or not, I know how to get in and out of Lakeview. And I’m not gonna bite. You’ll be safe.”
“I wasn’t worried you’ddosomething.” She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed, but her feet started moving, so that was all that mattered.
I jiggled the keys in my hand as we walked side-by-side out of the school and into the parking lot to my spot in the front row, wondering what she was thinking.
She chewed lightly on her thumbnail, and I noticed they were painted black, a change from the bright yellow a few days earlier. I couldn’t help but think the lighter color suited her better.
“Right here,” I said, motioning toward the silver Audi.
Several kids gawked as they watched us stop by my car.
“I know which car is yours,” she snapped.
Right. Perks of being a Royal. Popularity. Recognition and all that.
Clicking the keyfob, I unlocked it, then rounded the front while Penelope blinked over at me like I had some kind of communicable disease. “Aren’t you driving?”
I tipped my head back, eyes skyward, and smiled before I glanced back down and opened the passenger side door for her, then waved her over. “Believe it or not, I am a gentleman, P.”
Her brows rose.
“Don’t look so shocked.”
“Sorry, I just . . .” Her words trailed off, and she bit her lip before she rounded the front of the car and sunk inside.
I closed the door behind her and hurried to the driver’s side, then got behind the wheel. I had an idea where she lived, but not the exact area, so I asked, “Where to?”
She rattled off her address, and I headed out of the parking lot for the highway. Every so often she peeked at me out of the corner of her eye, and I was almost afraid to say anything lest I scare her off.
With one arm hung casually out the window, I allowed the breeze to ruffle my hair while my other hand gripped the steering wheel. And though I was trying to act casual, my nerves mounted in the silence. “Do you mind?” I asked, flicking on the radio.
When she shook her head, I snatched up my phone, punched a couple buttons, and handed it to her. “Here, you wanna pick the playlist?”
