Page 10 of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
“Like you.” His lips twitch into a smile, and mine follow suit, my irritation skittering away.
Staying angry with him is safer. Especially in the quiet darkness surrounding us.
But holding on to it is like holding on to waves on the beach.
“You don’t have a spare,” he says.
“What?”
I bend at the waist and squint into the darkness under my car. “Why would they sell brand-new cars without spare tires?”
He shrugs. “No idea.”
“Shit.” I pull my phone out of my pocket. The light is still on, and the battery indicator signals it’s woefully in need of charging.
“Can I borrow your phone? Mine’s almost dead.”
“For a tow truck?”
“Roadside assistance, but yeah.”
He shakes his head. “It’ll be easier to grab someone in the morning. I’ll give you a lift home.”
“We live in opposite directions.”
Evan lives even deeper in the hills than Chris does, and my condo is downtown.
“Who else can you call? Milo?” His jaw locks as he grinds out the name.
What does he care who I call?
“I’ll grab an Uber or something.”
“Do you seriously not want to be around me so badly that you’ll pay for a ride when I’m freely offering?” He steps closer as he speaks, his chest brushing mine in the shadowy light.
“N-no.”
I don’t trust myself not to kiss you.
“Either take the ride or not, princess. I’m leaving.”
He turns on his heel, and my phone chooses that moment to go dark.
“Wait. Let me grab my stuff and turn off my car.”
He doesn’t turn around, but he nods once.
I rush to grab my bag and push the ignition button. The hum of my engine quiets, and I gulp in the silence.
What the hell am I getting myself into?
I’ll just walk back to Chris and Jessie’s. It’s not that far. I’m in their driveway, for pity’s sake.
“Are you coming?” Evan’s voice echoes in the silence around us. His engine idling in the background emphasizes the roughness of his voice and sends a shiver of awareness down my spine.
No. No. No. No. No.
“Yes.” My voice is breathy, so I clear my throat and repeat myself louder so he can hear me. “Yes.”
