Page 32 of Refuel

“Do you want it to be?”

I shrugged, not knowing if I wanted to go through with this or not. Kash was a cool guy, but it would be too much attention on me if we got into a relationship officially.

“Ari, try not to think too hard, let’s make a deal.”

“We already have a deal with the race,” I told him.

“Let’s hang out and if you’re having a terrible time, we can come back and not speak on it again and consider it an official bad date.”

“What if we have fun?” I questioned.

“Then you owe me a date no matter who wins the race,” he suggested.

“Mr. Coleman, you are really slick.”

He chortled. “What can I say? I’m good at negotiating.” Kamden started the car, turned on the signal, and pulled off into traffic. He turned the radio on to the local pop rock station and bobbed his head to Shania Twain.

“What?” he asked when he caught me staring at him.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Not too far from here, and you’re dressed perfectly. So, don’t stress about how you look,” Kamden insisted. I looked at what I was wearing and back at him.

“I never do.” I pulled the mirror down to check my makeup and saw him staring out of the corner of my eye.

“Stop staring,” I said.

His eyes burned with lust. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you, and you’re not too bad.”

“Ohh, thanks. I guess,” Kamden joked.

We stopped at the red light, and my phone rang, pulling us both from the shared stare. He answered the call without looking at the name.

“Hello.”

“Baby, just listen,” Freddie said, and Kash looked over at me. Before I could say anything back, Kash grabbed the phone out of my hand and hung it up. He placed it in his pocket and turned into Dave and Busters.

“Kash!” I screamed.

“We arrived.”

“Can I have my phone back, please?” I asked and went to open the door, and he muttered under his breath for me to stop.

“When you’re with me, I open all the doors, Arianna.”

“Fine, but give me my phone back.”

“When we’re done, you can have it back,” Kamden insisted.

I stepped out of the car and placed my hand in his as we walked inside to a small crowd of kids and parents. Kamden walked up to the hostess to get a table, and I followed beside him, taking a seat near the back corner of the restaurant.

“I didn’t have you pegged as a Dave and Busters type for a date. I figured you would wine and dine me,” I said, grabbing the menu.

“There’s a lot you got wrong about me, Ari.”

“Hi, I’m your server for the evening. My name is Tamela, can I get you something to drink first?”

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