Page 55 of Drive Me Wild
“Cocoa is a December drink.”
“Here he goes.”
Renée suppresses a giggle. “Do you have rules about beverages, Caleb?”
“Only the hot ones. So, no sign of Zoe, huh?”
“Nope.” Renée pulls out her phone. I assume she’s looking for text messages from Zoe. “What are you up to today?”
“She wants to go to the racetrack. My buddy Tommy is racing one of my cars today.”
“You sold him a car? I’m surprised he hasn’t totaled it yet.”
Cole never liked Tommy or any of my racing buddies. Looking back, I can’t say I blame him. Most of them are shit starters that encouraged me to do dangerous things.
“Yeah, the Barracuda.”
Renée perks up. “You had a Barracuda? Those are beautiful cars.”
“Says the woman with a mint Mustang.”
“What are you guys talking about?”
I startle at the sound of Zoe’s voice and whip around. Her hair is tangled like a bird’s nest, and she has lines on her face from her pillow. She sidles up next to me and wraps her arm around my waist.
“I take it you stayed up late last night.”
“Four-thirty.”
“Still want to go to the racetrack?”
“Oh shit. I’m sorry. I got so wrapped up in my business plan I forgot.”
Cole holds up his mug of cocoa. “Want some hot cocoa, Zoe? Some of us drink it year round.”
Her head quirks to the side. “Um, yes? But why would you not drink it year-round?”
Cole laughs as he stands to get her some cocoa. “So you haven’t learned about your new boyfriend’s hot beverage rules?”
Zoe buries her head in my chest and mumbles. “It’s too early for my brain to work.”
“Sweetheart, it’s 11:30.”
Her eyes grow wide.
“Crap. I’m sorry. Is it okay if we’re late? I want to go. I just need a minute to wake up.”
“Did you finish your business plan?”
“Almost.” She pulls me into one of the chairs on the patio and crawls in my lap. I instantly warm where we’re touching.
“I think I need some letters of recommendation.”
Renée and I both offer to write one.
“Actually, no offense, but I think it would be stronger for my application if I got some from people who’ve worked with me professionally. I’m going to reach out to the teacher I worked with as a paraeducator in Downsville and that woman who ordered a custom curriculum from my website.”
Cole came out of the house with two steaming mugs—one coffee for me and a mug of cocoa for Zoe.
