Page 28 of First Impressions of You

You have got to be kidding me.

There’s no traffic this early in the morning, so we make it to LA in a little under two hours, but it’s already too late for me to arrive for the opening shift. I sent Olivia a text half an hour ago, letting her know I wouldn’t make it, so before we get home, she texts back saying she’s on her way to the park.

If there’s one thing I can’t fault Olivia for, it’s her willingness to help. At any time. She might be a little too ready to party and flirt all the time, but she’d never deny us help if we ask for it. Even in the middle of a fight.

Olivia 7:51 am

You still need to make it to the 9 am shift, though. I was scheduled for it.

I take a deep breath when I read her text, but I don’t say anything when Winter gives me a questioning eye at my loud sigh.

We pull over right behind Cam’s car in front of our building. The sky is painted lilac with splashes of white clouds dancing around. The sun isn’t visible from here yet, but I can already feel its warmth creeping in when I go to their car and tell Cam to go ahead and help Julia up to our apartment, that I’ll bring her bag from the car. Winter comes to the trunk to help me, but I tell him I got it.

“I know you got it.” He heaves a sigh. “I’m just helping.”

“I’m fine,” I repeat, but I can’t keep a yawn locked inside, and he has the audacity to smirk at it.

“You’re dead tired,” he points out the obvious. “You should get some sleep.”

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I retort. “But someone of us gotta work.”

“Didn’t Olivia take your shift?”

I don’t remember telling him that, but then again, I don’t remember much of the drive here. I felt like I was stuck in a haze between awake and asleep. God only knows what else I told him in those two hours.

I guess I could blame exhaustion again for going the length to explain myself to him. “She did. But mine was the early shift, and she was scheduled for nine a.m., so I need to take that one for her.”

He doesn’t say anything in return. And I feel like an idiot for even trying to have a conversation with him. I should’ve learned by now that he only talks when he wants to. He pulls his phone from his back pocket and starts typing, ignoring me completely.

“Okay, then,” I say to the car because I refuse to look at him. “Bye.”

He finally looks my way, but I turn around and start walking. I don’t stop even when he speaks up.

“Cam’s going to stay with Julia to make sure she’s okay. Go take a shower and get ready. I’ll drive you to Movieland.”

“No, you won’t.” I say over my shoulder. “Bye, Winter.”

I close the door to the building behind me, but I notice that he doesn’t move. He stays exactly where I left him, leaning on the side of his car, watching me walk away.

Sure enough, when I come back downstairs, Winter is still there. I only have thirty minutes to take the bus, make it to the park, go up to wardrobe, get changed, and run to the front gate to clock in.

Accepting his offer would be the wisest choice, but I never claimed to be wise.

I walk out of the door and keep walking in the direction of the bus stop. Winter doesn’t say anything, but I can hear the loud groan that comes out of him.

The sound of the engine starting is my only warning that he’s actually leaving, but then the car slows next to me, and he lowers the window.

“You won’t make it in time if you take the bus,” he warns me. He’s right, but no way in hell am I letting him know that. I’ll wait for him to drive away and call an Uber.

I don’t answer him. I give him a taste of his own medicine and keep walking, ignoring his presence altogether.

“Why do you always have to be so difficult?”

“I’m difficult?” I turn to him. I let out a dry laugh that sounds scary even to me. “That’s a good one.”

“I’ve done nothing but try to help you,” he grumbles.

“I don’t need your help.” I’ve reached the bus stop, but the sun is too low for the cover to protect me from it. It’s too hot for this hour in the morning, but this is the price of living in LA.

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