Battle

My head falls back against his chest. “Oh,” I say breathless. “The offer was only a silly dare.”

He whips me around, anger flashing in h

is unbearable blue eyes. “You offered to leave here with me and a bottle of booze on a dare? Tell me you aren’t that reckless?”

Well, hell, I hadn’t considered much past asking him. I shake my head trying to align my thoughts back into coherency. I feel like a kid that’s been reprimanded for sneaking out of the house. “Actually, my talkin’ to you was a dare. Gettin’ you to leave with me was a bet, and thanks to you, I lost a hundred bucks.”

His grip on my wrist hurts as he drags me to the exit door. Along the way, he snatches my bag from the bar. Once outside, he stops abruptly, and I crash into his side.

“Where’s your car?” he asks, his harsh tone startling me.

Meekly, I point in the direction of my yellow baby and hang my head. The warmth of his body reminds me I’m still pressed into his side. I smile.

Marty owes me a hundred bucks.

“That’s your car?” he asks with a hint of sarcasm or maybe disbelief.

“Yes.”

A smile sweeps over his lips, a devilish and curious one I’ve yet to see on his face, so untainted and youthful I can’t help but smile back.

“What year is it?”

“A sixty-five.”

“Boyfriend’s?” he asks, frowning.

The mention of the word boyfriend irritates me. “No. I don’t have a boyfriend.” The faintest smile touches his full and kissable pink lips. “It’s all mine. I re-built it with my daddy. It took us five years.”

He cocks his head as his smile brightens. “You work on cars?”

“Not if I can help it,” I admit, and laugh. “I hated every minute of labor I put into this car, but I loved the time I spent with my daddy. Plus, I got a kick-ass classic Mustang out of the deal.” I dangle my keys in front of his face. “Do you wanna drive it?”

He takes the keys immediately. “I’m definitely not lettin’ your drunk-ass drive.”

With a laugh, I follow him to my car, stumbling enough that I’m grateful he’s driving. I get in the passenger seat, my head spinning slightly. Battle relaxes in the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel.

I have no idea what I’m doing, but for the first time in my life, I feel unrestricted. I feel like the young, carefree woman I should be. The ever present pressure in my life to live up to expectations isn’t weighing me down. I’m not trapped by an image I’m supposed to uphold. Honestly, I expect Jack is responsible for my sudden floating spirit, but I’ll take it, relish in it for one wild, uninhibited night. I want to soar above the expectations until I reach the stars.

Battle’s head tilts my way. His lips curl before he opens his mouth to say something, but stops. His smile grows as he fires up the engine.

The car comes to life with a throaty roar. Battle revs the engine a few times before turning to me, his expression serious. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? I don’t know what the hell I’m doin’ with you, but I guarantee it’s only for tonight.”

I don’t know what I’m doing with him, either, but I smile and say, “I’m sure.”

It’s when we pull out of the parking lot that panic finally sets in. I’m in a car with a complete stranger. I’ve told no one who I’m with or where I’m going. Surely the girls will know I left with Battle. For several blocks, I stare out the window, my thoughts in a hundred places—my friends, Wyatt, my parents.

“Second thoughts?” Battle asks.

I point with my thumb in the direction of the bar. “I’m my friends ride home.”

“JT will take them home,” he laughs. “It may be to his home, but they’ll get a ride.”

“You’re sure?”

“JT sent me a text.” Battle holds his phone up. The letters blur when I try to read them. I decide to trust his word. “It’s all good. I can be an ass, but I’m somewhat responsible.”

I smile and relax.