Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“I don’t know,” he says smoothly, leaning over the counter so he’s closer, his eyes locked with mine. “You want me to invite someone else?”
It’s his tone more than his words that makes my stomach twist.
It’s not a question. It’s a threat.
“Nina’s passing out armbands with my sister all day,” he adds. “She’d probably be up for it.”
My jaw unhinges before I can stop it.
My eyebrows shoot up.
If there’s one girl in this town that I can’t stand, it’s Nina Cortez—and I have a feeling he knows that.
But I’ll be damned if he manipulates me into coming over with a threat like that.
“If you want Nina there, then yes. I think you should invite her.”
“I don’t. I want you there. But I don’t plan to spend the night alone.”
I stop leaning over the counter and straighten up. “You should do what you want.” I point at my headset. “I have an order.”
It’s not true, but I’m done talking to him, so I float over to the drive-thru register, hoping he leaves before it becomes clear I’m lying.
He does, but he also drives around the building to leave—past the drive-thru, where there is definitely no car sitting at the speaker. Past my window, where he can certainly see me standing inside.
Discomfort fills me, but I try to ignore it as I turn away from the drive-thru area.
“What was that about?” Josh asks, lingering up front instead of heading to the back to talk with the guys like he usually does when the drive-thru isn’t busy.
I have no idea how to explain my association with Tor Walters, and after handling Tor, I don’t really have the mental energy to handle someone else.
Thankfully, a car actually does pull up to the drive-thru speaker with a big order, and I’m saved from having to answer.
CHAPTER 17
CASSIE
At the end of a very long closing shift, the night manager turns off the lights, sets the alarm, and we walk out together. We say goodbye as she heads to her car, but I stop short on the sidewalk because the Lexus isn’t where I parked it when I got here.
It isn’t in the parking lot at all.
“Are you kidding me?” I mutter to myself, watching Kris text on her phone in the car before turning on the engine.
The lot is empty except for her car, but she doesn’t seem to think much of it.
Some of the dishwashers wait for their moms or girlfriends to pick them up after work, so maybe she is used to employees waiting for rides alone in the dark. I’m never one of them, but I didn’t come to work in a car she recognized as mine today. Whatever the reason, she doesn’t think anything of me standing here, stranded, and she waves at me before leaving me here all by myself.
Perfect.
Irritated, I open my purse and take out my cell phone. Opening my text thread with Tor, I ask, “Did you take the car?”
His response comes quickly enough that I imagine he expected to hear from me. “I did. You told me I should do what I wanted.”
I roll my eyes. “And you wanted to leave me stranded at work?”
“You’re not stranded,” he answers. “I’m happy to come pick you up.”
I nod knowingly. “And bring me to the lake house?”
“That is where I’m heading, yes.”
I shake my head, frustrated, but with limited options. If I don’t let him come pick me up, maybe he won’t give the car back. Then I have to rely on my mom for rides to and from work just like the fucking dishwashers, and that didn’t work out so well today. She didn’t want to bring me, and frankly, I didn’t want to have to ask.
“Nice to see your help doesn’t come with strings,” I text back.
“Everyone’s help comes with strings, Cassie. You want me to pick you up?”
Once again, he asks me a question there’s really only one acceptable answer to. So I give it. “Yes.”
I sit on the curb, expecting to wait a while since the lake house isn’t even slightly close to where I work, but scarcely a minute passes before a car pulls into the parking lot. It’s late, but I recognize the glint of moonlight on the blue paint. I stand, dusting off my butt, as Tor pulls into the spot right next to where I’m waiting.
I hear the locks disengage as I reach for the handle.
“You got here fast,” I say as I open the door, then slide into the passenger seat.
“I was in the neighborhood.”
I pull the door closed and look over at him. “I bet you were.”
He holds my gaze for a few seconds, then backs out of the parking spot.
“You know, I appreciate you letting me borrow this car,” I say, glancing over at him, “but I don’t appreciate having it dangled over my head like this. If I have to worry about you taking it away anytime I displease you, then it doesn’t really feel like I can depend on it.”