Page 16 of Life Blood
Zac’s smile would’ve probably melted me at any other time, but not today. I was too annoyed to be gawky right now.
“Why don’t you let me give you a ride?” he ducked down and eyed the torn cloth seats of the car, “This thing might not make it out of the driveway. Besides, you’ve got a lot of smoke coming out of this thing.” He pursed his lips, trying not to laugh, “You’ve destroyed a bit of the environment just by starting it.”
That same weird magnetic pull toward him hit me like a ton of bricks. Did we share a past life together or something? I exhaled and tried to force this strange emotion away.
“Please don’t tell anyone about my contribution to climate change,” I somehow managed to get a grip and respond. “I’m just trying to get to work. So, if you don’t mind, I need you to move your car.”
“Let me give you a ride. This poor car is barely holding on.”
“Listen, Zac, is it?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Yep.”
“I hardly know you. I appreciate the gesture,again, but I can’t accept. Why are you here anyway?”
“You don’t remember telling me what time you had to be at work today?”
Now, this guywascreeping me out.
“No. I have an excellent memory, and I don’t remember telling you anything about what time I had to be at work.”
Did I tell him?
His lips tightened, “Hmm. Yeah, you did. It was around the time we were discussing how your boyfriend was all wrong for you.”
“Firstly,ex… ex-boyfriend; and secondly, even if I told you what time I work, that doesn’t mean that I was asking for a ride.” I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration, “You know what, I’m sorry. I’m acting like a bitch, and you’re only trying to be nice. It’s been a very long couple of days, and I just need to get to work. I don’t need my boss yelling at me for being late on top of everything else.”
He threw his hands up, cast an innocent smile, and I watched his topaz eyes glisten, “Not a problem. Sorry you’re having a bad day.” He folded his arms, “Great call on ditching that douchebag, though.”
“Thanks for your seal of approval that I didn’t ask for.”
He winked at me and smiled, his perfect teeth gleaming. “No need to thank me. We’re friends now, right? That’s what friends do.”
“Zac, please. I really have to go before this car overheats.”
Without another word, Zac turned and walked back toward his car. I might’ve been running late, but I wasn’t so late that I couldn’t take my time watching this ridiculously hot guy walk away. Hot was the understatement of the century to describe Zac, but hot or not, I couldn’t help but feel like he had stalked me out.
ThankGod it was a Tuesday night. For some reason, this was the night that everyone loved to hang at the coffee house and study over coffee and lattes. I had just finished dropping off the last of the cheer squad’s skinny vanilla lattes when the Banner cousins waltzed through the front door. The loud giggles from Kaley and the squad in the corner booth quieted down, and all eyes were on the four intensely attractive men.
I snapped my eyes shut as I felt that pull—that magnetic, comfortable, alluring pull—even more powerfully than before.
“You okay, there, Elle?” Brenda whispered as she passed by.
I could hardly get these emotions under control.
“Ellie?” Brenda’s voice became urgent.
“I need some air,” I told her after realizing I was gripping the stainless steel counter for dear life, trying to keep myself from falling over. “Can you take the counter?”
“Sure, go. You’re up for a break anyway,” she said as she leaned over. “I think I can manage the four hotties—”
I was darting through the kitchen and out through the loading dock before she could finish. I found a crate, plopped down on it, and let my forehead drop into my hands.
Much better.
I took a few deep breaths of fresh air and let the damp, chilly night evaporate the sweat from my palms.
Maybe I’m just having a hormonal reaction to four abnormally gorgeous guys. That explains why I get all twirly feeling when they’re around.
