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I roll my eyes. “Yeah, probably. That’s definitely something I’d do.”
Again, he smiles. “No worries, I’ll give you a jump.”
“No—!” I shake my head. “No, don’t... don’t trouble yourself. I can get my roommate to do it in the morning.”
“It’s no trouble.”
“It’s pouring out there! Really don’t. I’d feel like an asshole — more than I already do.”
He sits back and laughs. “Then, can I give you a ride home?” he asks.
I hesitate. I can walk it. It’s not too far. It’s only... on the other side of campus, plus two blocks. And my backpack would get soaked, my sketchbook included. I can’t even describe how much that would ruin this already horribly eventful night.
Or I can do as my BFF Jenna would do and let the cute boy drive me home.
I hold my breath, feigning confidence. “Okay,” I squeak.
He smiles again.
Dimples for days.
CHAPTER 2
HEIDI
“It’s just right up here,” I say, pointing to the old house on the corner.
He nods from the driver’s seat, his eyes safely on the road. I quickly slip my hand right back between my knees again. I sit still, awkwardly pinched in place as I try to survive this social interaction that fate has thrust upon me tonight.
Just be cool, Heidi.
“Is the driveway okay?” he asks.
“Uh-huh,” I answer. “My roommate won’t be back for a while, so you shouldn’t get blocked in or anything.”
He pulls into the driveway and stops the car, but he leaves the engine running. “You live on Shanty Row, eh?” he asks as he glances out the window.
“Uh... yeah,” I answer slowly.
“Hey, no shame,” he says, sensing my shift. “I’ve gone to a lot of great parties on this street. I dig Shanty Row.”
My lips twitch. “I hear the parties are nice, yeah.”
Just be cool…
“You hear?” he asks.
“I...” I stutter for a second. “I don’t party... much. I’m a bit of a loner, mostly…”
Yeah. Real cool there, Heidi.
“That’s okay,” he says, smiling.
I reach for my backpack, desperate to put myself as far away from this as possible. “Well, uh… thanks for the ride,” I say. “Sorry if it was out of your way.”
“It wasn’t,” he says. “Hold on a sec.”
He opens his door and hops outside before I can respond. I watch through the windshield as he loops around the car. He quickly slips his jacket off and holds it up, creating a cover for me from the pouring rain as he opens my door.
