I unlock the car and head for the drivers side, still rattled but trying not to be. Jimmy’s a stoner. He says weird shit all the time. We’ll talk to Kate and anyone else that can help me fill in these blanks then it’ll be fine. So fine.
It has to be fine.
“Hey, can I, uh, can I drive?” Able asks before I get to the door.
I pause and look at him. He’s addicted to this car and I don’t get it. It’s a car.
“Nah,” I say, shrugging and smirking at him. “Don’t you have a car to drive?”
He scratches his head. “So you’re saying you want to drive separate?”
“No,” I blurt. “I just mean...it’s my car.” I laugh. “And it’s not a race car. And every time you drive it you think you’re on a race track.” I pop open the door. “So no. My car.” I puff out a breath, hating that I feel awkward around him right now.
He gets in and quietly chuckles. “You just look tense is all.” Grabbing my shoulder, he massages a circle right where all my tension builds up at the back of my neck and I almost melt into the seat. “No big deal.” He pushes my slipping hair behind my ear and I look over at his smile. “I just drive it better.” Shrugging, he faces forward.
My mouth falls open.
“Um, hi. Who’s got a perfect record? And who’s insurance is high because of the speeding tickets?” I start the engine and glare at him. He doesn’t drive better!
“Faster is better, babe.” He grins and reaches over, squeezing my thigh, making sure to wiggle his fingers right where I can’t stand it because it tickles like hell.
“Stop!” I screech. “I have to drive!” I shove his hand away, still laughing. “You’re a jerk.” He keeps touching me. Are we always like this? Maybe he’s always done this. Maybe I’m only now paying more attention to it because of...well...last night.
“Did you know Tom Freedman moved back to California?” he asks casually, like we’re not dealing with a mini crisis here. “His girl cheated so he just up and left. Said fuck school and fuck all of us. He was a cool guy.” His fingers start fidgeting with my hair that’s slipping from my messy bun. “You got...it’s slipping...just...hang on.” Turning he reaches with both hands and fixes my hair. “There. Still cute.”
I look into his face as he’s so focused on fixing the bun I wasn’t even worried about when we left the house. Why did it have to be Able? What the hell brought me to my decision last night to potentially ruin a perfectly good friendship? And why does he keep touching me? And why do I suddenly care?
“I kind of get it,” I finally say when he’s done. “Why stick around when you’re just going to be constantly reminded of what hurt you?”
“Yeah.” Shrugging he looks out the windshield. “I guess. But like, what about your friends? He was close to his frat brothers. I mean, would you ditch me if something like that happened?”
I glance over at him, furrowing my brows and seeing him waiting for my response.
“We’re not a couple. So there’s no chance of you cheating on me because we’re not a thing. So that question doesn’t make any sense.”
“Whoa.” He laughs. “Cool your jets, mama. I mean if you got cheated on, by some douchebag, then after I beat his ass would you just up and leave? I’m your friend. Probably your best friend. So you’d just ditch me?”
“It’s not ditching,” I mumble. “I’m not staying here forever, Able. I'm going back home anyway. We both are. Right? After school?” On opposite sides of the country. In different worlds.
“Yeah.” He’s still smiling but I can see his in deep thought. “It was hypothetical, Annie. I’d never cheat on you. No one would ever cheat on you. And if they did, they never deserved you to begin with,” he trails off and looks out the side window.
“Yeah,” I laugh lightly. “I mean, I’d have to have a boyfriend first, before he’d have the chance to cheat on me. And that’s not happening so I think you’re good. You’re not getting rid of me just yet.” I shove his arm and park in front of Kate’s place.
“Just yet,” he mutters before getting out. I look over the top of the car and see him stretch before he looks at me and smiles. “Lets go see Crazy Kate.”
“Why don’t you like her?” I catch myself looking at the muscles in his arms and wonder what the hell’s gotten into me. This is Able! “She’s a good person.” I walk in front of him up the sidewalk.
When he grabs my hips abruptly I yelp and he laughs, pulling me back against him but we keep walking. His warmth over my back makes my eyes start to close but upon realizing what I’m doing, I spring them open.
He leans to my year and whispers, “She fucked three of her professors. Married professors. Kate’s a gem.” His lips smack over my ear then lets me go, falling a step behind with a satisfied smirk on his face that he made his point.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” I whisper, glancing back at him as I raise my hand to knock.