Page 160 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11
I looked over at Liam, who somehow in the last few minutes had gotten tired of his blazer. It was tossed over his shoulder and his dress shirt underneath had the sleeves rolled up halfway on his forearms. He was literally not wearing any of the uniform correctly. Why the heck wasn’t my dad threatening him with being grounded?
Liam could do whatever he wanted. And I’d been forced to wear thick glasses and frumpy clothes for the last 17 years because my dad was trying to ruin my life.
But none of that mattered now, because today was my fresh start.
“Have a good day,” my mom said with a wave.
“Thank you,” I mouthed silently at her. I followed my dad and brother into the elevator and down to the parking garage. I had no idea why my dad wanted to drive us. He was a professor at a university across town and I was pretty sure he had an 8 a.m. this semester.
My phone vibrated as I climbed into the back seat of my dad’s car. It was a text from my best friend and cousin, Sophie: “How did Operation Too Hot to Handle go? Did you escape?”
I quickly typed back. “The first phase of Operation THTH was a go. My dad actually conceded. I got to wear the skirt.”
“Score! Contacts and a skirt that’s above your knees? This is your year, Scar.”
I smiled down at my phone. This was definitely going to be my year.
Another message came through. “Especially if a certain someone finally notices.”
I looked out the window and exhaled slowly.Axel Stevens.I’d been in love with him for as long as I could remember. And for the first time in years, he was actually single. It wasn’t just going to be my year. It was going to beouryear. I could feel it. I just needed to get out of the friend zone first. And fast, because Axel was never single for very long. It felt like today was my first and only chance to make him look at me like more than a friend.
Just thinking about him turned my stomach into a pit of nerves. And my heart was beating so quickly that I could feel it in my throat.Please let this plan work.
My phone buzzed again. “Ready for phase two of Operation THTH?”
I took a deep breath. This was my one and only chance. And it was going to work. It had to. “I was born ready.”
“Atta girl, Scar. We actually just pulled up to school. See you in a few!”
“Wait, who was driving?” Sophie always drove herself to school so she could flee whenever she wanted. “Don’t tell me Uncle Rob insisted on driving you like my dad did?”
“What? No. RJ wanted to drive.”
“He doesn’t even have his driver’s permit.”And he’s only 14!
“So? I was watching him.”
“You were texting me.”
“We made it here alive didn’t we? I’m a great teacher. Just like I’m going to teach you how to win over Axel. See you soon!”
There was so much wrong with what she’d just said. If I let Liam drive, my dad would literally kill me. He wouldn’t just ground me for life. I’d be dead in a ditch. But there was one point that she was right on. Sophie was a much better flirt than I was. I was pretty sure she’d only ever been turned down by one guy. I could use all the help I could get when it came to Axel.But I really should tell her to not let RJ drive her to school…
“I have a surprise for you guys,” my dad said.
“Is the surprise that you’re going to drop us off from school a block away so no one sees you?” Liam asked.
My dad laughed. “No.”
“So…is that a no you won’t do that? Or…”
“It’s a no I won’t do that and a no that’s not the surprise. Am I really that embarrassing?”
I looked up from my phone. Reprimanding Sophie before she helped me with Axel wasn’t the best idea. “It depends on the day.”
He smiled at me in the rearview mirror. “I let you wear the skirt, didn’t I?”
“Only because mom and I teamed up. And have you even looked at what Liam’s wearing this morning? He looks like such a slut.”
