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Crap. I wasn’t expecting that. I followed him. “Seriously? You’re going to just leave me here?”
He turned, his eyes darkening. “Apparently, you’ve got it covered and don’t need my help, so yeah. I’m going to leave you here to figure it out for yourself.”
“Well, you’re here, so you might as well help me,” I gave in, hating every second of it.
Thane’s eyebrow shot up. “You think you can just be a bitch after I came all the way here just to help you? You were the one sending me away and refusing my help. Now you expect me to help you just because you allow me to? No. If you want my help, you need to ask for it. So, say please.” He crossed his arms to let me know he meant it.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and hung my head low. I needed his help. I didn’t have a spare tire, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to get the lug nuts off.
“Please.” I could feel the pain stab my heart as I said it.
“Well, since you asked so nicely, allow me.” He grinned and shoved me aside as he went to change my tire.
That just stomped all over my pride. I didn’t like to ask for anything from anyone but asking it of Thane was even worse. I didn’t want to be in his debt. And his apparent delight at me needing him irked me to no end.
“Once we get home and I can get to a bank machine, I’ll give you $100 for your troubles.” At least if I offered him money, it wouldn’t seem like a favor, and I would no longer be in his debt.
He looked up and shook his head. “No need, Darcy. I’m more than happy to do thisfavorfor you.” He followed his words up with a sweet smile.
Was it a crime to attack him with the wrench? Or to put my fist to his jaw? I would at least wait until he was finished changing my tire. I paced behind him, feeling like it was taking forever.
“Is this the first tire you’ve ever changed?” I asked sweetly. I ignored how my knees felt weak just standing beside him.
He tightened up the last lug nut and looked up at me thoughtfully. “You should think twice about biting off the hand that is helping you. One might think you were spiteful.”
“No biting. Just observing how long it took to complete the task at hand,” I corrected him.
“You’re not a nice person, Darcy. You’re welcome and enjoy your drive back home. Don’t call me the next time it blows on you,” he said as he stood, then walked away from me.
“I didn’t call you this time either. I wouldn’t be surprised if you left some of the lug nuts loose, so I would get into an accident,” I yelled after him.
Before he got into the car, he said, “I wish I had thought of that! And just so you remember correctly, you might not have called me, but you still asked me to help, which I did. I could have just ignored you or been as spiteful as you are. Enjoy your day.” He slammed his door, and within minutes, he’d turned his car around and was driving away, squealing his tires.
I muttered to myself as I got back in the car.Shit.He was right and hedidfix my tire. I suppose I was a bitch, and though life had taught me you had to be one in order to survive this world, life had also taught me to be thankful for the little favors it granted, which I hadn’t been with his help. I suck.
THANE & DARCY
Thane
It was strange that Lila would ask me over to her roommate’s house to chat. Why wouldn’t she just come to my place? Maybe her hormones were out of whack with her pregnancy. I made my way over and was surprised at how quiet the house seemed. I wondered if Darcy would be home? I had to stop thinking about her. It was driving me mad.
I supposed I should stop using my key whenever I felt like it, so I knocked on the front door and waited. When the door finally opened, Lila ushered me inside, smiling. What was she up to?
I went inside and was greeted by, “Happy Birthday, Thane!” Many of my friends were smiling at me and holding up glasses of champagne. I was given my glass and, loving being the center of attention, lapped up the birthday wishes. After chatting with everyone, I went over to Lila.
“I’m sure you’re the one guilty of putting all this together? When do we have cake?”
Lila laughed. “It’s all about the cake for you, isn’t it? Be patient, brother dear. It’s coming soon.”
“Where’s Darcy?” I peered through the sea of people to locate her unsuccessfully.
Lila looked at me for a moment and said, “She’ll be here in a few minutes. She had to pick Addison up at work. Are you sick or something? I can’t remember when you ever cared where Darcy is.” She looked at me suspiciously.
“Oh, I just wanted to ask her how her tire was since I changed it for her.” Just then, Darcy and Addison walked in the front door, and I felt the tension rise immediately, not to mention my manhood.
Our eyes met, but she looked away quickly and did everything she could to ignore me.Not so easy, Darcy dear.
Addison walked up to me. “Happy Birthday, Thane. How old are you now?”
