‘I get it. But ifIdon’t work, I don’t get paid. I don’t have a daddy to bail me out.’
My eyes widen at him. I can’t believe I’m hearing this, at the side of a busy highway, after everything I’ve done for him the past couple of days.
‘Look, just give me your phone,’ he says, holding out his palm. ‘I’ll see if I can find a local auto shop.’
I go and retrieve it from the passenger seat. Switch it on for him, then return to my car, watching him carry out a couple of searches then listen to the muffled sound of his voice as he makes three separate calls. When he hangs up, he comes and stands by the side of my open door.
‘There’s an auto shop in east Roswell that can help us out. Said they can tow it, then fit the new part first thing tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow?’
He runs a hand around the back of his neck. ‘Guess we’ll need to pitch up someplace overnight.’
I know for a fact he’s not happy about this. ‘What about Echo?’ I ask.
‘Echo’ll have to sit tight.’
I blow out my cheeks. ‘We would have been better off staying with your aunt.’
‘Point taken.’
We wait in the front seats of my car in silence, only the radio on low and the sound of other cars rushing by. Within a few minutes, AJ is asleep, his sunglasses still on, his head tilted toward me and the sun setting behind him through the open window. He hasn’t put his jacket on, so my gaze trails down his left bicep. It’s obvious he works out.
Then, my head snaps up and I click my tongue. I can’t put myself through this. Being borderline obsessed with him and his irresistible physique. Wondering what it might feel like to run my fingers through his hair. And now, knowing that Amber was hisactualgirlfriend, all those feelings are now drenched in jealousy.
But what right do I have to be jealous? It’s not like he sees me in that way, at all. When we get back to Canyon, he’ll be gone. We won’t be exchanging numbers or seeing one another again, given who I am and who my stepmother is. So, I just need to get through tonight.
It’s practically dark by the time the tow truck arrives. I give AJ a nudge and he jolts awake.
‘We’ve been rescued,’ I say.
He takes off his sunglasses and squints through the windshield. ‘Was I asleep?’
‘For about twenty minutes.’
He gets out of the car and goes to see the driver. For some minutes, AJ fills out some documentation on a tablet, then escorts the driver of the truck over to the hood of my car. He flicks his fingers at me to pop the hood for a second time. I comply, then hear the two men converse, and after a few minutes, the driver gets to work securing my car to be towed away.
‘Do I stay with my car?’ I ask as I get out.
AJ picks up his jacket. ‘The guy’s given me the name of a motel opposite the auto shop. We can stay there, then pick up the car in the morning.’
‘So—’
‘So, you’ll have to ride with me.’
‘What?’
‘Get on the back of my Honda. You know, two-up.’
Sweat breaks out on my upper lip. I swiftly wipe it away. ‘I’ve never been on the back of a motorcycle before.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll give you my helmet.’
‘Don’t you need it?’
‘If my mom or Aunt Rita knew I was taking a girl for a ride on my motorcycle and I didn’t give her the only helmet, believe me, there’d be hell to pay.’
I swallow. He had me attaking a girl for a ride.