Page 60 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“That was my manager. I planned to open a racing shop but changed my mind.”

“Then why are you still here?” I push. “Don’t you have to race cars in circles somewhere?”

He laughs. “You’re funny.”

“That’s a first,” I say, sipping my lukewarm coffee. “I’ve never heard that one before.”

He grins. “You don’t take compliments very well.”

“I’m not used to them coming from someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” he says unexpectedly. “That’s a first.”

"I'm sure you're accustomed to them, but not me."

“You should. Because it’s true,” he says honestly.

“I need to head back,” I tell him, pushing my coffee away and picking up my phone.

“I had something planned,” he says, confused. “I thought we were good.”

“That’s one thing we would never be. Good.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to buy you what you need.”

“Why?” I ask confused.

“Because in my eyes, we will always be good, Dulce. I just need to convince you.”

19

FORD

This is a side of her that I have never seen before. But I like it. She has a fire in her eyes when she speaks to me as if I am gum beneath her shoe. It’s refreshing.

She doesn’t trust me, and I can’t blame her. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t either.

She asked me why I came back, and I hated lying, but I can’t tell her why because it would make it worse.

“Why did you agree to come with me?” I ask. “You could have said no.”

She shrugs and says, “I changed my mind.”

“Changed your mind about what?” I don’t get it. What’s her problem? She needs help, and I can and want to give it to her.

“You.”

“What about me?”

“I don’t want your help, Ford.”

“Why not?”

She raises a brow.

Okay, point taken. She has every right to tell me to go fuck myself.

“You don’t want my money.”

---