Chapter 7 HARPER
“I’m still mad at you, just so you know,” Megan said, as we stood beside Tyler’s black Audi A3.
I laughed. She’d been giving me the cold shoulder ever since I confirmed the rumors that I was now Tyler’s temporary therapist—and that I got to work with him at home. Even though I’d apologized, she was still annoyed that she’d heard it from gossip instead of me.
“But I’ve apologized a million times. You’re making it seem like such a big deal.”
“‘Cause it is!” Megan yelled.
She paused, hands folded in a mock meditation pose as she took a deep breath. I shook my head playfully—such a drama queen.
“One, you’re about to ride with him in the latest Audi A3—” She held up a hand before I could argue. “Yeah, I know there are students with nicer cars, but you’re missing my point. You’re about to ride with him. Alone. In a nice car. Hot boy plus nice car equals..?”
I shrugged. “Terrible evening?”
“Ugh,” she groaned, slapping her palm on her forehead. “I love you, Harper, I really do. But sometimes I just wanna ughhhh.”
I took a step back as she reached out for me, chuckling. “Okay, calm down. I get it. Before me would squeal at this opportunity. But after working with him? Yeah, I think I’d rather be at home drowning in my loneliness than another hour of yesterday’s session.”
“Oh, please. It can’t be that bad.”
“Yeah? Be lucky you’re a grade below so you don’t have to put up with his grumpy attitude in class.”
“Hmm.” She tilted her head with her arms folded, looking lost in thoughts for a second, then shrugged. “I rather put up with a fine, grumpy, shit, than with an ugly one.”
“Megan,” I chided.
“What?” she asked innocently. “You feel that way too, don’t you?”
I exhaled, exhaustion clawing at me. “Yeah, well, that’s if he shows up.”
“Right behind you.” She nudged a head in Tyler’s direction. I turned. He wore his bag on the good shoulder—one hand holding the strap, the other still in a sling, cradled to his chest. His hair was messy as always, expression cold, with bored looking eyes. The moment his gaze met mine, a muscle ticked in his jaw.
“Great. He’s still in a foul mood,” I muttered.
“And it just makes him look hotter,” Megan added dreamily.
I rolled my eyes at her. She nudged me in the side with an elbow.
“You ready?” Tyler asked, tight-lipped, just as he reached us.
“Yeah, since the past ten minutes.” The irritation in my voice was more pronounced than I intended. Whether Tyler noticed or not, he didn’t look like he cared. “You should’ve given me a time to meet you if you knew you had something to do after classes.”
“I know.” He reached for his keys and pressed the button to unlock the car doors. I thought that was it, that he was done speaking. But then his next words caught me off guard. “I’m sorry.”
Megan latched onto my arm, pinching as she mouthed the words ‘oh my God.’ It took years of home training not to hit her square in the face as retaliation for the prickling sensation that coursed through my arm. I yanked my hand away, rubbing circles on it and shot her a dirty look.
“Sorry,” she whispered, then cleared her throat for her voice to be more audible. “So…I’m going to leave. Was nice meeting you, Tyler.”
“Yeah, you too,” he answered, already seated in the driver’s seat waiting for me.
I rounded the car, waving back at Megan, who now had a wide, cunning grin on her face, her eyes flashing from me to Tyler and back again. She made the ‘call me’ gesture before turning and strutting down to meet a group of girls from her grade.
Before I’d even gotten the chance to put on my seat belt, the engine roared to life as Tyler revved the engine and pulled out of the parking lot at insane speed. I gripped the door handle, holding on for dear life.
“So…how was school today?”
His brow shot up with a slight jerk of his head and he gave me a look that I interpreted as ‘the fuck?’ I mentally smacked myself on the head. Why did I have to sound like his mother?
“Uh, I mean, your shoulder. How’s it doing?”
“Fine.”
“Experienced any aches?”
“No.”
“Did you move it around?”
“No.”
“And you didn’t do any training with the other hand, right?”
His hands clenched the wheel, knuckles turning white. I knew I was pushing my luck, but mom had told me to ask these questions regularly to keep track of his progress—and talking helped keep my mind distracted from the speed at which he was driving.
“No,” came his clipped response. “Look, you don’t have to talk to me just because we’re in close proximity with each other. If I have aches I’ll let you know. I have medicines for the pain, and I’ve been told a billion times not to train, so lay off me, will ya?”
“Sorry.” I shifted my gaze outside the window and regretted it. “Um, Tyler? Aren't you driving a little past the speed limit? You’re driving way too fast considering the fact you’re using just one hand.”
His eyes blinked close like he was trying not to snap. “I’m well within the speed limit, and know what the fuck I’m doing. If you don’t like the way I drive, catch a bus next time.”
“You drove slower than this yesterday.”
“Exactly—yesterday.”
“Please.” The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
I’ve had serious tachophobia since I was a kid. It was so bad that I never learned to drive and even had to go to therapy just to be able to get into cars for transportation instead of walking everywhere.
“Please,” I said again. “I’m scared of speed. I promise it’ll only be for today. Next time, I’ll take a cab.”
He glanced at me, his expression unreadable, and I didn’t have to look pitiable for him to see my anxiety. He didn’t say a word, but the car eventually slowed down to the normal driving speed and I relaxed, placing my hand on my chest to calm my beating heart. At least he still had his humanity.
“Thanks.”
He didn’t say a word to acknowledge me.
We pulled into his driveway and I was thankful to finally step out of the awkward atmosphere that enveloped us. As we made our way i
nside, he finally spoke:
“I’m going to hold you to your word.”
Well, shit.