Page 65 of Lessons In Grey

She nodded, and they broke off.

I gave them a small smile and nod before turning to the street again. He’d be coming down the road soon enough, I’d be okay. I’d be safe.

Seconds turned to minutes, my fingers and nose were frozen.

“Emily!”

I straightened, eyes widening. Shit, he made it outside. Just don’t drink the drink if he finds you. Find a way to spill it again. Trip, be stupid.

“Emily!”

I turned my head towards the voice slightly, findingthat group of girls again, their eyes finding mine.

One of them lifted a brow, hooking her thumb in Isaac’s direction.

I nodded just as an engine revved in the distance.

My head whipped around as another violent shiver shook through me.

The vehicle that pulled up slowly wasn’t what I had seen sitting outside of that gas station so long ago. It looked like a shitter, honestly. An old hatchback from the early 2000’s. I was shocked it had the ability to run.

All the windows were blacked out though, which was incredibly creepy.

I leaned over.

He cracked the passenger window, this look on his face that caused a shiver for an entirely different reason. “Get in.”

Fuck, yes sir.

I didn’t even look back as I stepped off the curb, opened the door, and slid in, the scent of stale cigarettes wafting around me.

I reached for the buckle—

“Doesn’t work.”

I paused, glancing over at him, slightly nervous.

I sucked in my lip and sunk into the old, cracked leather seats. The dash was yellowing, the carpets burned and stained in some spots. Maybe it had been made earlier than the early 2000’s.

I rubbed my palms on my thighs as the heat blasting through the old vents worked to warm my skin. The tension felt weird. Uncomfortable. We had spent this entire last month in each other’s arms, and now? Now I just felt out of place.

“It’s not my car.”

I shook my head. “I’m not judging.”

“Yes you are.”

I glanced over, taking in the tension in his shoulders, the dirt covering his hands, the sweat along his brow.

His eyes flicked to me, and it was as if he finally realized whoI was. The tension eased and he rolled his shoulders, followed by his head. “Sorry.” He glanced over again, this time taking me in, his eyes lingering, causing my body to warm far too fast.

Shit.

“Are you okay?” he asked, turning back to the road as we crawled our way through the people.

I didn’t think they could see us. By their shouts and the way they started dumping cups of booze on the hood, it didn’t seem like they hadany ideawho was driving. Maybe that was the point of this thing. To remain anonymous.

“Just unsettled. Charlie has rules and I just…I had other things on my mind.” I picked at my nails, feeling exposed without my jacket on. “Are you okay?”