Page 32 of Shattered

We finally reach the car and I jump inside, slamming the door behind me. I’m clutching my chest and breathless when River jumps in beside me while the ducks surround the car.

“Fuck! One bit me on the ass!”

I roll in laughter, further impairing my ability to breathe.

“That fucking hurt.” He lifts his ass off the seat and lowers his pants enough for me to see the pink, circular mark on his skin. The edges are already turning a light shade of blue.

I lift my shirt to reveal my side, and I have a mark matching his. “Oh my God. Those are Hell ducks!”

He lifts an eyebrow. “Hell ducks?”

“Yeah, they came directly from Hell! I thought ducks were friendly.”

He pulls his pants back up and starts the car. “They are for the most part. They just fight for what they want. Nothing wrong with that.”

“Haven’t you ever heard the saying, don’t bite the hand that feeds?”

He looks at me while pulling on his seatbelt. “I have, but do you want to go ask the ducks if they have?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Get me away from these demon ducks.”

“Oh, so now they’re demon ducks?” He shifts into drive and pulls out slowly, avoiding the ducks that just won’t give up.

“Oh, they’re demon ducks alright. Fuck these ducks.” I sit back and cross my arms over my chest.

As we pull away, I lift my hand and raise my middle finger.

“Are you seriously flipping off the ducks right now?” His voice is full of amusement.

I let my hand fall onto my lap. “No.”

I hear his deep chuckle fill the car before we’re driving away from the demon ducks, heading back towards the interstate.

* * *

As we’re driving down the road, I pull the list from my bag and mark off ‘send back a wrong order’ and start looking for the next thing I can cross off.

“What’s next?” River asks, breaking the silence.

I roll my eyes and let out a sigh. “I have no idea. I swear she did this just to watch me squirm.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Perform a strip tease?” I say as I turn to look at him.

He grins from ear to ear. “I’d like to watch that.”

I ignore him as I continue on down the list. “Give a guy a fake number?”

He quickly looks over at me. “How did she pick the things on that list?”

I take a deep breath and set the notebook in my lap. “It’s all things I’ve never done. I’m not big on going out. I don’t flirt with random guys or dance.”

“I find it hard to believe that you never had to give a guy a fake number.”

“I’m not very approachable, as Katie says.” I push my dark hair away from my face as I slide my sunglasses on. “I don’t know if I can do these things. I mean, yeah I can give a guy a fake number, but strip?” I feel my nerves shoot up just from thinking about it.

His hand lands on mine with a soft squeeze. “Don’t worry about it now. We’ll get you drunk first.”

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