Page 83 of Stand: Part One
I bit my tongue to silence my immediate retort. Did he really think I was going to use this opportunity to kill us both? Although, at this rate, I just fucking might with the attitude he was sporting.
“I don’t much see the point in causing an accident that’s much more likely to result in my death than yours. Besides, if I’m going down, I figured you’d appreciate my thoughtfulness in ensuring you’re able to tag along with me since I know how much you hate me going anywhere without you,” I jeered with a wink. “So that idea is out.”
Darren’s gaze sharpened, clearly not liking the visual I just gave him. “You’re really not selling this,” he muttered.
I smirked and ignored his grumbling, focusing instead on adjusting the mirrors, lowering the seat belt guard, and extending the steering wheel closer for my reach.
“My God, are you finally comfortable enough to drive yet, or do I need to fetch a phonebook for your ass too?”
This. Bitch. I swear.
“Actually, you know what, I think that’s a great idea. Why don’t you go back inside and find me one? I’ll wait right here for you while you look.”
Darren shook his head. “Real cute,” he replied, his broodiness becoming a serious damper on my mood.
Once I did feel comfortable reaching everything, I looked at the steering wheel and my mind went completely blank. The car had paddle shifters, which meant there was no clutch to engage. I’d never driven with paddle shifters before.
“Lost, little girl? Too much car for you?”
I took a deep breath and slowly released it. “How do I shift?”
Darren reached over and pointed at each paddle. “Left is down shift. Right is up. There’s no clutch pedal. It’s not needed here.”
No clutch pedal? This should be fucking easy, then.
“Think you can handle all that, or do we need to go back to driver’s ed?”
I turned to him with a blank face. “I’m gonna drive your ass back to charm school if you keep it up.”
Darren chuckled, taking one of my hands in his and holding it tight. “Then drive already,” he said with a smirk, kissing the top of my hand and then placing it on the steering wheel.
With that, I had no other reason to hesitate. Once I pressed the ignition button, the car roared to life, that powerful engine surging with energy and giving me the kick I needed to put it in drive and engage the paddles to move it to first.
Okay, this was easy. I could do this.
“Just take it easy for the first couple of miles until you feel comfortable. If you handle it well enough, we can give the freeway a try.”
I nearly rolled my eyes. Of course Darren would still be in control, even from the passenger seat. But that wouldn’t last for much longer once I finally had the open road in front of me.
Game fucking on.
23
Death Wish
My fucking jaw was aching from how hard I kept clenching it, a massive headache just waiting to rip through my skull. With the self-control of a goddamn Olympian, I somehow managed to force my muscles to relax instead of tensing up every time Jaden switched gears. Or switched lanes. Or every time she hit the gas.
It was literal fucking torture.
Not because she was a bad driver—she was exceptional, of course. Jaden handled the car with an ease I thought came way too quickly, but it shouldn’t have surprised me. She was a natural at literally everything, annoyingly so at times.
No, my issue lay with myself in handing over this much control to such a volatile little human who could literally whip the car around and kill us both with the single twist of her wrist if she were so inclined. Though I knew she wouldn’t.
She was having too much goddamn fun.
Completely in her element, Jaden drove with pride, comfortable in her skin with an air of effortless confidence that contrasted greatly with my broodiness and rigid restraint. The only thing keeping me from ripping her out of the driver’s seat was that gorgeous smile lighting up her face.
The last time I’d seen her this carefree and relaxed was when I’d allowed her solo time on the jet ski during our honeymoon. And while that had turned out to be a horrible mistake on my part, I’d hoped for a better outcome for this scenario.
