Page 46 of Inception

“You’re going home anyway,” said Ben, shrugging. “You can drop her off on your way home. That way the rest of us can go straight to the party.” He nodded into it as if to persuade him.

Trace looked over at me, musing as he grazed his busted lip with the tip of his tongue. “Fine. Whatever.”

“Done,” said Ben, turning to Taylor. “Let’s roll.”

“Jemma?” she raised her brows, awaiting my approval.

“Yes. Go. Have fun! I’ll be fine with Trace.”

I think.

14. STRICTLY BUSINESS

The warm heat radiating from the vents felt like a godsend against my skin, which had all but anesthetized itself from the cold. Trace was leaning forward in his seat and checking his lip in the rear-view mirror, angling his face as he appraised the damage. I found myself watching him without meaning to, my eyes taking in the hard edges to his face, the deep indentations in his cheeks, the fullness of his heart-shaped lips...

It really wasn’t hard to see why a girl might become slightly unhinged around him—forhim.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, wincing as he patted the cut with his finger.

“Nah. I’ve had worse,” he said and relaxed back in his seat.

I hadn’t actually been alone with Trace since theincidentlast Wednesday. We carried on as if it never even happened, dutifully avoiding any real conversations and ensuring neither one of us had a chance to bring it up. It was just as well, I had no desire to talk about it anyway.

“You want my jacket?” he offered. He was looking outside the driver side window when he asked. “You’re shaking.”

I hadn’t realized my shivering was that obvious, especially since I hadn’t seen him look at me once since we got into the car. “I’m okay, thanks.”

He griped the steering wheel with one hand and threw the car in gear with the other, jolting me forward a little as he backed out of his parking spot.

“So what happened back there?” I asked out of curiosity and a newfound urge to make conversation with him.

“Back there?”

“The fight.”

He shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road.

When he didn’t offer anything up, I pressed on. “Did you know those guys?”

“Not really.”

I looked him over. “Do you make habits out of fighting with people you don’t know?”

“Do you make habits out of asking so many questions?” he responded crudely.

Alrightythen. I could totally take a hint.

“Sorry I asked,” I said in the same tone and then twisted my body away from the sudden arctic chill that had nothing to do with the weather.

Neither one of us said another word until we hit Main Street ten minutes later. The entire street seemed eerily quiet, and sort of deserted as most of the shops had already closed up hours ago. Everyone who might be out on a Friday night was either still at the game, at an after-party, or on their way to one.

“Mind if we stop for food?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“You’re the boss.” I answered without looking.

He turned into the parking lot of the next burger place and pulled into the first spot before killing the engine. There was a grand total of two cars in the entire lot. I was surprised they stayed open for this kind of business, or lack thereof.

“What are you having?” he asked as he swung open his door.

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