Page 17 of Highest Bidder
It would be nice to get to know her, but I don’t think I’ve earned it. One thing is for damn sure though, CarMax definitely hasn’t earned it either. There are different types of dealers, and he has to be one of the worst. He hides behind his clean-cut exterior, but he’s not above cutting as many corners as he can just to make a few extra bucks. Doesn’t matter if he’s screwing over the auction or an auctioneer. Everyone knows he’s a liar, and I have no doubt it’s the reason he pushed to be on Hunter’s lane. She doesn’t know him, so he can con her just like he has every other person he comes in contact with.
I walk through the office and JT is talking to one of the front desk girls, so I keep going. I’m almost to the front door when I hear him yell my name. I stop and look over to see him jogging toward me.
“Dude, I saw that.” He folds his arms across his chest.
“Saw what?” I hope he’s not talking about me wearing women’s sunglasses.
He lets out a breath and shakes his head. “You weren’t a totaljerk to Hunter for once.” He gives me a little nudge to walk out the doors.
I’m thankful because I don’t want others to hear anything he says. He’s always teased me, but I don’t know what I’m feeling right now.
“Dude, you like her.” He shoves my shoulder.
I stop dead in my tracks, looking at him with what I know is pure shock. “What?” I take my hat off, but the sun’s rays cut through my eyes like a knife, so I quickly put it back on. “We just came to an understanding. That’s all.” There’s no way he could jump to that conclusion.
“Right.” He scoffs.
He always does this. He won’t let it go, but if I mention the girl who broke his heart and made him into a player, he shuts down. He never wants to talk abouther.He wants to dive into my personal life, and force me to spill all my secrets. That’s the way he’s always been.
JT rolls the sleeves of his button-up shirt, making me want to do the same. But I don’t because I try to hide the tattoos on my arms while I work. The sun is blazing today though, so I undo the top few buttons of my shirt for some relief.
“She’s going out with James.”
The hard look on JT’s face is everything I’ve been feeling. “You need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“How am I going to do that?” I look around the parking lot before looking back at my best friend.
“I don’t know, man. Maybe talk to Jess?”
I nod. That’s not a bad idea. I know James isn’t her favorite person either. I don’t know if Jess told Hunter, but he humiliated her. I heard all about how he acted like the nicest guy in the world only to screw her over for information on a car he wanted to buy. It was years ago, but I’ve always seen the look of disgust written across her face when he’s around.
Throwingon a pair of gym shorts as soon as my eyes open, I grab my earphones and run out the door. My feet hit the pavement as Emery blasts through my ears. Running on the weekends always helps me stay in shape. By the time I get home during the week, I’m spent and a run is the last thing on my mind. But I always get up first thing on a Saturday and get a few miles in.
I tossed and turned all night thinking of Hunter going out with CarMax. I can’t help but hope Jess will talk some sense into her. I don’t want to step in, but she cannot be with that guy. My legs instinctively pound against the asphalt faster at the thought. It’s like my world has been knocked upside down since getting my ass handed to me in pool. Images of her relaxing into my arms after I gave her the chocolate monstrosity flood my mind and make me want that feeling again.
“Walls” by Emery starts playing, and I can’t fight the urge to nod my head along to the rhythmic song. I’m passing the dog park when golden fur darts in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. The fur ball sits at my feet, panting with his tongue dangling out the side of his mouth.
“Well, hello to you, too.” I pet his soft hair, and he scoots his butt closer. I pick up his leash, so he doesn’t bolt again. I’m sure his owner is looking for him. Pulling out my earphones, I hear a woman yell.
“Nickelback!” Her breathing is heavy. “I swear to god. I won’t give you a spoon of peanut butter when we get home if you don’t get your ass over here right now!”
There’s something familiar about her voice. My hands pause, locked in this fur ball’s hair. Hunter comes into view, and I watch her gaze all around the area. She’s wearing green leggings, a black sports bra, and black tennis shoes. Her hair is haphazardlythrown into a bun on top of her head. With how much hair she has, it’s amazing she can get most of it into a ponytail. She stops her search as she narrows her eyes on the dog in front of me.
Her eyes harden. “Nickelback, what the hell?” She storms over and kneels in front of us, grabbing the face of the dog and bringing it toward hers so their foreheads touch. “You can’t run off like that.” Placing a kiss on his head, she pets him before looking up at me. The sun blazes into her face, and she squints, having to look away. “I’m sorry about this guy. He has a mind of his own when he sees a squirrel.”
“It’s not a problem.” I don’t miss her fingers grasping the fur.
She gets to her feet, brushing off the leaves stuck to her legs. “Myles?” she asks like she was so concerned about the dog that she just realized who was in front of her.
“I’m guessing this guy belongs to Jess?” I hold my hand out with the leash. “Or do you also have a golden retriever with the same name?” I chuckle.
She shakes her head and reaches over, taking it from my hand. Her eyes meet mine as our fingers graze. “No, he’s Jess’ dog, but I wish he were mine.” She scratches his ear. “What are you doing here?” Her head tilts slightly.
“I run here every weekend.” I flex my hand, still feeling where it touched hers.
Her eyes lower and widen slightly. It looks as if she just realized I’m standing before her in nothing but shorts with sweat running down my chest. I can’t help but love watching as she takes me in. Clearing my throat, her gaze jumps to meet mine, and she flushes as she looks away.
“Does he run away often?”
