He drops in, so I slide in as well. Looking over at me with a grim expression on his face, he says, “The auto repair shop didn’t have your tires in stock. Since they had to order them, we should be able to pick it up tomorrow after school, but you won’t have your car tonight.”
I sigh heavily, sinking back against the seat. “And the good news?”
He smiles over at me as he fires up the engine. “That means you get to spend more time with me.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Are you volunteering to be my personal chauffeur until I get my car back?”
“At your service. I’ll pick you up in the morning and drop you off after school to get your car.”
“That’s really nice of you, but I feel bad.”
“No need.” He checks the rearview mirror, then starts to back out.
“I hate to ask, but I was planning to stop at the store for chicken and a few other things for dinner. Would you mind? You can drop me off at the door if you want and I’ll be as quick as I can, I just hate to pay for delivery when I only need a few things.”
“No problem. Damn, I can’t remember the last time I went grocery shopping. I’ll come with you. It’ll be fun.”
“To… grocery shop?”
“We have staff that handles stuff like that at my house. I can probably count on one hand how many times I have personally stepped foot into a grocery store.”
I gape at him. “Are you serious?”
He nods. “My mom has stopped at the grocery store to grab cheap wine a couple of times after fighting with my dad and took me with her, and a couple of times we went out late at night to get ice cream for an impulsive treat, but yeah, we don’t do our own grocery shopping. Never have.”
I can’t fathom what he’s saying. “Do you know how to cook?”
He laughs. “No. God, no. I can make hot chocolate. Does that count?”
I laugh, not meaning to make fun of him, but my God, who can only make hot chocolate? “No, that doesn’t count.”
He shrugs. “I’ve never had to.”
“You should still know how. What will you do when you go off to college? Bring a maid with you?”
“Maybe, if she’s hot. You’re not in the market for a new job, are you?”
I can tell by his too-charming smirk he’s only teasing me, but he still turns my cheeks pink. “I might be. What’s it pay?” I joke right back.
He slides me a sideways glance. “Depends on your skill set.”
I can’t ignore the suggestion inthatstatement, but I try. “Well, I’m a very good cook,” I tell him. “I’m just okay at cleaning. Can’t say it’s a passion of mine, but I can get the job done.”
“I’d have to sample the goods and see you in the uniform before I could make a firm decision.”
I nod. “And I’d have to scoop out all of my dreams and aspirations, so it sounds like we both need time.”
Dare cracks a smile. “Not into the domestic gig, huh?”
“Part-time, sure, but I need something of my own, too. Men leave, so I’m not about to tie my entire well-being to one. Maid, wife—if my status depends on a man’s whim, it’s not going to be the basket I drop all my eggs in.”
“Ouch. Someone had a bad break-up,” he jokes.
My lips curve up faintly, but I’m not amused. “Something like that.”
“Who was the guy?” he asks.
“No one you know.”