Page 7 of Taming Drew

Chloe glances back in the rearview mirror. “How do you know Mia?”

“I hang out with some of the Campbell cousins, and I’ve been to the Campbell Manor for get togethers. She and her husband have been there with their kids.”

“Uh, huh.” Chloe looks through the mirror. “How did you get a condo at the Quad? I heard you had to be related to the Campbells to live there.”

“No, you just have to have one introduce you to the owners. The Mustangs management hired the Campbell-Petrov Security company, and I met the two cousins who own it. I mentioned I needed a new place, and they offered me a tour. It’s perfect. I love it: great amenities, nearby businesses and free travel buses to and from the stadium.”

The kid’s purple booster seat beckons my attention.The kid is a girl. How old are kids when they have a booster like that? I’ve got nothing; no idea what age her kid could be. Will she be pissed if I ask her?I click my tongue and pull my phone out of my pocket. “Um. How old is your daughter?”

Chloe rolls her eyes. “My daughter isn’t any of your business. We aren’t friends. Just focus on not talking.” She glances through the rearview mirror. “And Mia said not to use your phone.”

“I don’t remember you being so bossy.”

She guffaws. “The only reason I care at all is because Lily is my boss, and she asked me to do this.”

“Huh? What do you do at GESTM?”

Chloe sighs. “I’m in accounting.”

“Yeah. I remember you were an outstanding student.”

“Whatever. I’m surprised you had your head out of your helmet long enough to notice anything about me, except what I looked like with my fat ass.”

My mouth gapes open. “Now, wait a minute. I didn’t say you had a fat ass.”

She scoffs. “No, you said ‘maybe you should lay off the snacks, Clowns. You’re pushing maximum stuffage with that ass’.”

“Obviously, my warnings paid off. Look at you now, Clowns.” I smirk. “Clowns. Get it? You were funny”

“What, you want credit or something?” She stops at the red light and turns around. “You think your words had some kind of positive message? All the shit you and your friends said to me just made me feel bad about myself. And my name is Chloe, not Clowns.” She blows out a breath, waiting for the light to turn. “Let’s get you inside and put your ass to bed. I’ll wait for whoever is getting stuck with you, and then I’m gone.”

I shake my head and have to slow down the speed so my brain doesn’t slosh against my skull. “I don’t remember it that way at all.”

“Of course you don’t. You said whatever you wanted and to hell with anyone’s feelings. And you look back and think you did me some kind of favor. Douchebag.” Chloe pulls in front of the building. “I can let you out here and park in the visitor lot.”

I catch her eyes in the rear-view mirror. “Just take the driveway to the garage behind, under the Quad. I’ll give you the code to type to get us in.”

“Okay. Sure.” She circles the building and takes the long concrete drive to the metal box with the key numbers.

“Type in seven, four, three, eight, one, seven, pound.”

Chloe pushes the buttons, and a voice speaks on the speaker. “Hi. I don’t recognize your vehicle.”

She raises her voice. “I’m Chloe Taylor. I picked up Drew King from the hospital. He’s in the back seat.”

I cough. “Tell him ‘King three, six, nine, four’.”

Chloe repeats the words, and the guy raises the long, black metal arm that’s blocking our descent down the drive.

“I’ve got a parking space here. You can park there. It’s R forty-two.”

“Won’t your car be in the space?”

“I don’t have a car. I’ve got a motorcycle, and I park it with the other bikes.”

“Okay. I’ll drop you at the elevator, park the van, and meet you back here. There’s a bench, so sit there while I’m gone.”

My mouth smirks without my consent. “Yes, mom.”

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