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“You’re the lovely part.” I kissed her again, softly this time, and then stepped back. “You all be careful getting back inside. There are still way more lights on in there than I prefer to see, so it will be tricky to avoid everyone.”
“We’ve got this.” Cas took Karelis’ arm and led her a few steps away. “Go and be safe.”
I did need to return the car, but I lingered while Adan opened the door to the tunnel and they all disappeared inside. It was the best evening of my life. And while we hadn’t discussed mates much, if at all, it was fine. Unlike a certain professor with a wandering eye, our mating would be for life, and we’d have time. Patience was a virtue, even if it might be one of the hardest of them. But Karelis was worth waiting for.
I got back in the car and turned the key. Nothing. Dead. Of course. It was an old vehicle, and they sometimes had problems. My father was a collector of classics, and I’d grown up tinkering with them with him. In the climate-controlled garage under our home. And none of his toys had a speck of rust or torn seats. Or a drooping headliner. Not even a pine-tree air freshener dangling over the dashboard. So, I did what I had to and pulled off my sweater. A breeze had kicked up in the last few minutes and I might be a bit cold, but I couldn’t work under the hood of this vehicle without getting greasy. There was no staff member employed by Fernando to steam clean his engine.
Half an hour later, I was ready to give up when a car pulled up in front of me and someone got out. “Need any help with that?”
Shit. I kept my head down, not wanting whoever it was to see me. “No, just about have it here. No problem. Thanks though.”
“Really? Because I’m handy. Or I can call roadside assistance if you don’t have it?” I recognized the voice now. It was a professor emeritus who taught one class in computers.Adan took it; I did not. If only it had been the cheating prof, I’d be all right. But in this case, not so much.
“That’s really nice of you.” I bent lower, deeper into the engine compartment. “But it does this all the time, and I know just what to do.”
“If you’re sure.”
“One hundred percent. Happens when I get stuck late in my office sometimes, but I’ll have it right away. You take care now.”
“Okay.” The voice was farther away when he wished me a good evening. I couldn’t believe I’d pulled it off. My heart was hammering against my rib cage and I had less than no idea what was wrong with this car. It was newer, more computerized than the classics Dad and I worked on, and while I could probably figure it out eventually, it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
“I was afraid of this.”
At yet another voice, I jumped and banged my head into the hood. “Ouch. Fernando, you startled me.”
“I’m sorry. She’s an old car, and she does her best but sometimes…step aside and give me a minute.”
I did and within that minute, he had me get in and turn the key. The engine grumbled to life. “You’re a genius.”
“No, I’m poorish. And I have to make this car last because even after your kindness, it will be a while before I can save up enough. Did I tell you the previous alpha made us turn in all our wages and gave us some small amount back?”
“No, but I believe you. Things are better?”
“Much. Now if you’d like to use the tunnel to get in, I’ll drive away and go to the gas station, which is where I told my supervisor I was going on my break.”
“Hey, you know about the tunnel?” I climbed out from behind the wheel and let him assume the spot.
“I work here. And I feel confident saying that most of the nonteaching staff knows about the tunnel. They don’t, however,know about the escape route you used earlier with that rope ladder tucked up in the tree.”
So much for secrets. I thanked him again and headed for home.
Chapter Nineteen
Karelis
“Are you sure he’s going to be okay?” I asked as Cas and Adan led me through the tunnel, which was as scary traversing as the first time, maybe more so. “What if there’s someone at the end, waiting for us? Are you sure no one knows about it?”
Sneaking back into the school freaked me out more than sneaking out. Goddess, this dating business was dangerous.
“Blaze is a big boy. He’s going to be fine. Besides, this isn’t our first time.”
I stopped dead in my tracks as a wild streak of jealousy flared in my veins. Before I could stop myself, a growl ripped from my throat, Night’s doing, and bounced off of the concrete walls around us.
“Sweetheart,” Adan cooed. He rubbed his thumb in circles along the outside of my hand and pulled me close. “Some rumors are true and the one about us not being interested in any other girls is absolutely the truth. No need to get growly, beautiful.”
Adan. Always calling me sweet names.
“Sorry about that,” I muttered as we continued on.
