Page 166 of Something Rad
My shoulder relax.Yep. The sound of his voice is definitely further in the distance now. Not by much, but it’s something. Without giving myself another second to think about it, I push to my feet and dart out from behind the bush and back in the direction of the Camaro.
Within ten seconds, it comes into view, both front doors hanging wide open. It occurs to me that I didn’t really plan this escape well and that I have no idea what I plan to do next. I do know, however, that if I stop my feet from moving, I’ll probably just collapse onto the ground, so I jog around to the driver’s side of the car. A glint of something in the seat catches my eyes when I reach the open door and my heart starts racing immediately in response.
I don’t know what I’m doing as I reach for the keys. They jingle as I pick them up and start sorting through them, my hands shaking from nerves as I pinpoint the key to the Camaro. The second I locate it, I’m bending over, inserting it into the ignition and giving it a forward twist.
Have I mentioned I have no idea what I’m doing?
The engine just barely roars to life when the radio comes back on full blast,Purple Rainresuming.
“Shit!” I croak out, releasing my hold on the keys and jolting backwards a step in surprise.
After taking half a second to gather myself, I move to duck back inside the car but am quickly halted in my movement by two arms wrapping around my midsection from behind and pulling me back.
Hands land on my waist, spinning me around, and I find myself face to face with an enraged Robbie.
thirty-four
ROBBIE
“Seriously, Cooper?” I fume over the ridiculously loud music. “Grand theft auto?That’s what you’ve resorted to just to avoid talking to me?”
“Well, you didn’t give me much of a choice!” she shouts back, throwing her hands in the air.
“Oh,right!” I bark out a humorless laugh. “Becausethiswas clearly theonlypossible alternative!”
Cooper scoffs, shoving at my shoulders. “Anything beats spending another minute with you!”
“Oh, yeah. And you’re such a ray of fucking sunshine yourself, Cooper!”
Her eyes narrow at me. “You know what?”
“What?” I demand for her to tell me, since I’m not sure I know anything right now. Since this blaring music and blinding rage towards Cooper are the only things occupying my brain at the moment.
“Iama ray of sunshine!”she shouts, stomping her foot.“Especially compared toyou!”
“And what’sthatsupposed to mean?” I question her.
“That you–you’re–ugh!” she sputters.
“C’mon!”I push, waving my hands in her direction.“Spit it out, Cooper!”
“You are a fuckinghurricane!”
My eyes squint at her, my brows drawing together.
A hurricane?
Cooper lets out a shaky breath, indecision flickering across her face, before she clearly decides to shove her filter away.
“You just come and go as you please!” she shouts, waving a hand in front of my face. “You just come out of nowhere, make yourself known, wreck everything in your path without a care in the world, and then move on with your life! No concern for the damage in your wake.And then, guess what!”
My jaw flexes as I meet Cooper’s burning gaze with everything I have. “What, Cooper? Tell me.”
“Then you just do it all over again! Because you can! Because no one can stop you!” She shakes her head, and something tells me we both know we aren’t talking about weather anymore.
We stare at each other for a long time, top volume Prince and our unsteady breathing the only sound breaking through the silent night.
“You think that’sme?” I finally ask, raising my voice over the music.
