Page 52 of A Dash of You

“Iwillfind a way to pay you back for everything,” I finally tell him.

He goes to speak but I throw up a hand, stopping him. “No fighting me on this. I don’t like owing people.” I take a deep breath, letting it out. “Okay, well. Goodbye.” I scurry away.

Go. Go. Go.

“Sora,” he calls after me and I turn, locking eyes with his. “I won’t be hiding anymore.” He pauses and my mouth parts. “Just so you know.”

I swallow the rock in my throat and as he shuts his door, disappearing behind it, I’m glued to where I stand. They’re just words. I should not be over analyzing them. It’s nothing. There is no hidden meaning.

He bought me tires.

This is all new to me. Someone does nice things because they generally care and without any backhanded meaning.

I close the door, resting my forehead on it.

“That man has it bad. At first, I thought he was just being gentlemanly, but now… no way.” Lana smiles with a half-eaten cinnamon roll in her mouth.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Logan being obsessed with you.”

“You’re crazy. He’s just being nice,” I say as the sticky icing coats my fingers when I grab a cinnamon roll, pulling it apart.

“All I’m saying is no man has ever boughtmenew tires.” Her brows rise while her mouth forms a grin.

Logan is notobsessedwith me. Maybe he feels responsible since he’s the one who originally helped me. Whatever the reason, he would never have those types of feelings toward me. Not only did Claire say those words, but they are also facts. I have no alluring qualities. Unless he wants to be fed dessert every day.

“Like I said, he’s just being nice.”

“That’s an expensive, nice gesture.”

“Fuck. I’m going to have to find a way to pay him back.”

“Oh. I’m sure he has ideas.” Lana giggles but my insides flood with heat.

I pick up an oven mitt and send it flying in her direction. “I hate you and your dirty mind.”

“You love me and don’t even try to deny it.”

He’s only being nice; I keep telling myself. There is no underlying meaning. Still… I sometimes wonder what it’d be like to have a man like Logan. Tires and all.

Nineteen

My braided ponytail moves over my shoulder as I toss my bag by the door. Since I want to be comfortable for the long haul, I threw on a loose tank and shorts.

When I left Jason, a sense of relief fell upon me. This time, even though my goal is to come back, it’s less gratifying and more of an uncertainty of what may happen. Who will follow me,ifsomeone will follow me? But I don’t want to think about the what ifs.

Outside, Crew’s motorcycle sits, blocking the only way out. That’s fine, I’ll be taking the bus, anyway. I feel confident that my car will make it, thanks to Logan, but I still can’t risk the possibility of being pulled over.

With the bus station being so close, I plan on walking there. But Lana comes tearing up the drive in her tiny Toyota Yaris, and all hope flies out the window.Shit. I am definitely regretting texting her.

When she comes stomping up mad as hell, I know I messed up. “No way. Nope. March that pretty ass of yours back inside the house. You are not going.” She wiggles her pointer finger at me.

I roll my eyes. “Thank you, Mom. But I am going.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

I check my phone realizing I need to leave now if I want to make it. “You can’t,” I demand. I don’t want to drag her into any potential dangers.

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