Page 14 of Easy Out

In my car. I’m good. Mad I lost, but I’ll be fine.

SYD

You were robbed, babe. You’ll get them next time.

ME

There won’t be a next time. I’m done with it. I just want to go home and go to sleep.

Clutching my phone, I groan and knock my head on the steering wheel. I’m over today. Between dealing with Killer and Carter. Then seeing Matt again. I’m done. Maybe Carter is right. Maybe I shouldn’t take Ray up on his job offer.

Ray’s is a honky tonk off campus where the bartenders wear fitted jeans and tiny tank tops while serving drinks and dancing on the bar.

Ray has been trying to recruit me for a while now. He’s been sending his son Tyler to scout for him at our battles around town and at The Warehouse all summer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tyler slummed it somewhere in the shadows tonight. Ready to report back to dear old Dad.

Exhaling a deep breath, I unlock my phone to call up Ray. I don’t have the time to work there. I wasn’t joking about that. My classes are intense as I finish my degree. Not to mention I need to find a paid internship or a job when I graduate. I don’t plan on living in a trailer park forever.

That’s exactly why I need to call Ray and get a job. The more money I can make and save now, the better.

I’m about to hit the talk button when the passenger door swings open. A six-foot giant drops into the seat, rocking my car.

I swivel my head slowly to my right. Hart’s angry face is right there, staring back at me. He is not happy. Not that he ever really is. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile once.

I’m completely stunned by his presence. Why is he here? In my car. Shouldn’t he be off hooking up with someone? Isn’t that what guys like him do this time of night?

Hart doesn’t say anything. It’s on brand for him. I’ve never heard him say more than a few words at a time in my presence.

His eyes lock with mine. They are hardened black orbs. If it wasn’t for the tick of the muscle in his cheek, I would think Hart had been paralyzed.

I don’t want to risk breathing. There is a maelstrom of emotions roaring through his dark eyes. I try to decipher what his face is saying. He’s impossible to read.

A low growl rolls in his throat. It reverberates through my body. Hart leans over the center console of my car and threads his arm between me and the steering wheel. The lock on the door clicks, trapping me in the car with him.

My insides start rioting when he exhales a shallow breath near my ear. Hart opens his mouth to speak but struggles to form the words. I still don’t know why he is here, but I can tell he is upset. Either at me or himself. I’m not sure.

“Sorry.” The word is out of my mouth before I fully understand why or what I’m apologizing for. The relief on his face is instant.

Hart falls back in the passenger seat. Slowly the sandalwood and wintergreen fog is lifted, and I regain my motor skills.

With my head clear, I ask, “Why are you here?” Hart taps the top of my hand that’s still clutching my phone. His touch sends a ripple of goosebumps up my arm.

I unlock my phone and check my text messages. There is one unread from Sydney.

SYD

Speaking of going home. Can you give Hart a ride if you see him?

We lost him in the crowd.

Thanks, babe! See you later.

Hart smirks. I exhale. I place my phone in the console. Then put on my seat belt. I nod for Hart to do the same before I start the engine. “I’m only doing this because Sydney asked, and I’m tired. It’s been a long night. I’m ready to go home so I can wallow alone in the dark.”

Hart’s eyes go wide. I hate that I rambled. He doesn’t need to know what I’m feeling. I’m sure he doesn’t care, either.

The parking lot is gridlocked. I keep checking the rearview mirror. All I see are cars inching slowly toward the exit. With my car in reverse, I wait for a break in the line so I can start edging out of my parking spot.

I’m about to start backing out when my phone starts ringing. It’s Sydney. “Can you answer that for me and put her on speaker?” If Hart is taken aback by my request, he doesn’t show it.

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