Page 76 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Dylan opens the passenger door for me, which makes me inexplicably shy. I tuck my hair behind my ear as I slide past him into the car. I look around the interior while he walks around to the driver's side. It’s obviously a girl’s car. An angel covered in shiny beads hangs from the rearview mirror, a pretty barrette and a bottle of nail polish sits in the center console, and it smells like powdery perfume. It’s clean though. I’m impressed that Lydia keeps her car so clean.

When Dylan slides into the seat, he says, “You know you’ll have to tell me where we’re going now. So that I can drive us there.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I can give directions. It’s about half an hour away, though. Do we have gas?”

Dylan looks. “Plenty. Point me in the right direction.”

I tell him which freeway we will be taking, and he heads in that direction.

“So, Lydia is your neighbor?” I used to worry that they were dating or at least interested in each other, but I’m guessing if Dylan asked to borrow her car for a date, there isn’t anything going on between them.

“My entire life. She was super annoying until about two years ago when her social life kicked into gear. Like I said, her mom was super great to us.” He frowns. “I don’t understand why she’d want to date my loser of a father though.”

“Is their dating awkward at all? Since she was so kind to your mom and now…?” I let my question resolve itself.

“I was just really surprised when I first figured it out. She knows what he’s like.”

“How did you get your motorcycle? And why a motorcycle?”

Dylan laughs. “Motorcycles are cheaper to buy and cheaper to fill the tank. The insurance is ridiculous, but I manage.”

“Do you work?” I can’t imagine when he would have time.

“Off and on. More when I’m not doing community service and have my weekends free. We know a guy who owns an auto shop. I’m good with cars, so I pick up work when I can, doing easy stuff like oil changes, tire mounts, and spark plugs. Stuff like that.” As we merge onto the freeway, he’s checking his blind spot and using his blinker, and navigating with ease. “I miss it. Can’t wait to get back to it, actually.”

“How much longer on the community service?”

“I think it’ll be about another month of weekends.”

“I’m going to get a job this summer. Start saving up to move out after school. Joel is moving out on July 1st. I’m pretty envious.”

“How’s Cora doing?”

I raise my eyebrows. “Cora?”

He looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Your mom…?”

I laugh. “I know she’s my mom, but when did you start calling her Cora?”

He shrugs. “I honestly thought I’d always called her that. Well, since she told me to, at least.”

“Did you tell her you were my boyfriend?” I peek sideways at him, but I’m so embarrassed by the question, I can’t look directly at him.

He purses his lips in thought. “I don’t think I did. I would never presume such a thing, and it isn’t like we talked about it.”

“Or had even been on a date.” I chuckle. I love how he puts me at ease.

“Though…” He taunts.

I wait. When it’s clear he wants me to beg, I do just that. “Though what? Don’t leave a girl hanging.”

He reaches over and wraps his long fingers over my hand. “Truth be told, I would absolutely love to be known as Ava Landry’s boyfriend.”

“Really?” My voice is only a whisper. “How can you even know that already?”

“I’ve known from the moment you let Belle out of her kennel.”

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