Finally, she asked, “What happens next?”
He put one hand on the top of the car. “I’m trying to think of what to say to you as a police officer and what to say to you as a friend.”
“We’re not technically friends,” she said.
“Well, that makes this easier, then.” His blue eyes lowered to hers, frustrated and intense. “Are you insane?”
She coughed. “That’s what you’re saying to me as a police officer?”
“Yes. Because I can’t think of another logical reason for you to be in a car with an inebriated guy who was just threatening to run over people.”
Lucas made it sound worse than it was. “I was already in the car when that happened. Are you saying I should’ve gotten out and hung out with the drunk guy who carried brass knuckles and wanted to fight Nick?”
“You don’t drink. You should’ve never let him get behind the wheel.”
“I offered to drive, but he thought the car could do a better job.” She lifted her hands for emphasis. “I believed in technology.” Had she been wrong about that? “Sorry. Maybe I was lulled into a false sense of security by the car’s ability to make music and sophomoric noises.”
Lucas didn’t comment on that. His eyes found hers again, the dim light making his eyes seem darker. “What were the two of you doing while he drove, anyway? Even with self-driving cars, you’re supposed to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.”
She folded her arms and felt the toll of the night taking its effect. Her hands shook. “Do I need to make some sort of official statement about what happened at Legends? You have no other reason to detain me, do you?”
He made a chuffing noise to let her know he thought she wasn’t being penitent enough. “I’m not allowed to tell you what I find when I run a check on people, so I’ll just say I think you could do better in a boyfriend than Nick Floyd.”
Seriously? What was on his record? “He’s not my boyfriend. He was just in town for the weekend and wanted to do something fun.”
“Well, getting a ride in a police car should fulfill that requirement.” Lucas stepped away from the window. “I need you to gather your belongings and get out.”
“Why?” Was she in some sort of trouble and would also receive a free police escort downtown?
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Nick’s car will have to be towed. I’m assuming you don’t want to be in it when that happens.”
Oh. He could’ve explained. It’s not like she’d ever been pulled over for drunk driving before. She grabbed her purse, climbed out, and cast a glance at the squad car. She couldn’t see Nick sitting in the back. That was probably for the best. No awkward eye contact to end their date.
“You really didn’t have to do this,” she said. Police officers had some leeway to issue warnings. He could’ve just let her drive Nick home.
“I really did. If for no other reason than so you’ll think twice about getting in a car with the next drunk Lark Springs High graduate who blows through town.”
Like there was a large stream of them coming back to date her. “Is Nick going to get in trouble for what happened at Legends because the other guy?—”
Lucas held up a hand to stop her. “He’ll just get a warning for that. No one was hurt.” He gestured to her purse. “Can you call someone to pick you up?”
“I’ll call one of my roommates.”
She expected him to return to his car. Instead, he folded his arms and stayed there, watching her. Did he have more to say? He didn’t speak or move, just kept watching her. His posture was tense, and the press of his lips indicated he wanted to say more but was holding back.
They were standing fairly close together, staring into each other’s eyes. Was he about to say something about their relationship? Try to make amends again?
The thought shouldn’t have made her heart beat faster, but it did. Despite everything, Lucas’s eyes on hers still had that effect. Every inch of her was aware of his presence.
She waited another moment. He still didn’t speak.
“Well,” she said, “don’t you need to take Nick somewhere?”
“I’m waiting until I know you have a ride home. You’ve got a stubborn streak. I figure you might want to bury this night of shame, not admit anything to your roommates, and walk to your apartment. That would be a bad idea at this time of night.”
So, not trying to make amends. Also, he thought she was unnecessarily stubborn. Why had she considered anything else might be on his mind?
She took a step back from him and pulled her phone from her purse, glad for an excuse to look at something besides Lucas’s eyes. “I’m not hiding this night from Delancey. She’s the one who set me up.”