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Besides, it felt kind of good to one-up her, so I allowed my lips to split into a slow smile like a spool of thread unraveling.
My gaze lingered on Thorne’s face for a beat longer before I turned to Gabby and said, “Yeah. Maybe next time.”
When her smile vanished, I filed the disappointment in her features away for future perusal before I turned my back on them, and Thorne slid his hand into mine.
Chapter 10
Themomentwesteppedoutside into the cool February air, laughter burst from my chest. Though it was too cold without my jacket, I was too elated to care.
“Holy crap, that was classic.” I sucked in a lungful of oxygen while I wrapped an arm around my abdomen. “Did you see the look on her face when I told her no and we left?” I spluttered. “Classic. Totally classic.”
“Like someone took away her new toy.”
“Exactly!” I pointed to Thorne in triumph, then sighed. “That’s one for the memory bank for sure.”
Beside me, Thorne chuckled, and a moment later, his car pulled up to the curb.
My brows knit together, and I glanced at him in question.
“Big Joe,” he supplied, motioning toward the car.
A closer peek revealed the buff dude trailing behind Thorne this morning in the driver’s seat. Once we grew closer, he stepped out and handed the keys to Thorne, whispered something into his ear, then clapped him on the shoulder and started back down to the school parking lot.
I opened my mouth to ask where he was going when Thorne interrupted by opening the passenger side door and waved me inside. “Your chariot awaits.”
With a laugh and shake of my head, I stepped forward and sunk inside, noting the cluster of students videoing us from the curb. Thorne was either completely oblivious or used to the attention because he ignored them as he joined me.
“Do you get used to it?” I asked, nodding toward one of them.
Thorne’s gaze slid over the group of kids—phones pointed at us—and lifted a shoulder. “Yes and no,” he said, and before I could ask for him to elaborate, he flicked the stereo on, and one of my favorite songs burst from the speakers.
So, for once, instead of questioning everything and asking what he meant or where we were headed and if Big Joe would be there too, I leaned my head back against the seat and enjoyed the ride.
THORNE
During what I considered to be a pretty enjoyable drive where we discussed music and fought over who got to choose the station, we finally compromised on choosing every other song.
“See, we make a good team,” I said, glancing at her as we came to a stoplight.
Scarlett hummed in response.
“What? You don’t believe me?”
She arched a dark brow in disbelief.
“I survived my first day, didn’t I? And it seemed everyone at your school bought that we’re a couple. Although, you’re an atrocious girlfriend, by the way.”
“Atrocious?” she half-yelled.
“You partnered with someone else during chemistry class. Since when does a devoted girlfriend partner with another dude?”
She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing.
“Exactly. But was today so bad?” I asked.
“Considering I got to witness Gabby Haines get rejected, it could’ve been worse.”
I grinned, shaking my head as I pressed the gas. We went another mile before I took the turnoff to my hotel, and when I pulled up outside the valet parking, Scarlett’s gaze slid up to the skyrise.
