Page 85 of Cross-Check

“Do you want me to come change it for you?” I hear him grabbing his keys, likely already headed out the door.

I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “No, I was actually hoping you would go pick her up for me.”

Kellan is quiet for so long that I pull the phone away from my ear to make sure the call is still connected.

“You there?” I ask.

Kellan clears his throat. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Me picking up Grace.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have a problem with it, but I don’t want to make you or Clay uncomfortable, or even her.”

“Hotshot, you won’t make any of us uncomfortable. It’s not a big deal. Now will you do it or not?”

He blows out a breath. “Yeah, I can do that. As long as you’re good with it.”

“I’m good with it.”

“Okay, where am I going?”

“I’ll text it to you.”

“Okay, let me know when you get that tire changed and are on your way back from campus, okay? If you need help, don’t be afraid to call me.”

“I will, and Kellan?”

“Yeah, beautiful?”

“Thank you.”

* * *

My hands shake as I start my truck.

Part of me is torn. I want to go to Cora and help her. She shouldn’t have to change a tire on her own. That’s why she has me, right? I should do the typical guy tasks for her, but no. She asked me to pick up Grace for her. Cora doesn’t ask for much, so I do as she asks even though it goes against all my instincts.

I pull up in front of the building and see Grace sitting on the steps. Putting the truck in park, I jump up and round the hood. “Grace.”

She looks up and frowns. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Cora asked me to pick you up. She got tied up,” I tell her as I open the passenger side door.

Grace stands and walks toward me. “Is she okay? She texted me and told me she was on her way. I was starting to worry because she should have been here by now.”

“She got a flat tire.”

Grace opens her mouth, but I raise my hand to cut her off.

“I offered to change her tire for her, but she turned me down. She was more worried about you than anything else. Now get in.”

Grace rolls her eyes but does as I ask.

“I forgot how demanding you can be,” she mumbles as I shut the door.

Rounding the hood, I get into the driver’s seat. “So why was Cora picking you up?” I ask as I start the truck and start driving.

“Oh, Clay had a study session tonight. He says I’m too distracting to be his study partner these days. He was going to leave early, but Cora volunteered to pick me up.”

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