She had the grace to look a little uneasy.
Which she should, since the pantsing had been at her directive. Right after he’d found her alone and crying in the locker room before her crowning as homecoming queen. He’d actually felt bad for her and apologized for interrupting her, before leaving her to her privacy—thinking just maybe she had a heart after all.
It had been a sorry lesson for him to learn.
A leopard didn’t change its spots. Meredith was and always would be the mean girl whose only interests were her own.
And anyone who believed differently, that people could change, was just fooling himself.
Chapter Three
He was being an ass and trying to prove a point. All the same, it didn’t sit particularly well with Meredith to realize that his point might be valid.
She had been unnecessarily cruel to him.
She made an effort to swallow back any distaste or remorse she might have for the humiliation he had suffered that day. It was over. In the past. He’d probably grown from the experience into the man he was now.
“I found it,” Allie said, returning to the room. “The family’s home address and phone.”
Travis stood and took the slip from her hands. “Thanks, Allie. And it was good seeing you. Still beautiful as always.”
Meredith barely restrained the urge to gag.
“Will you let me know the moment you hear anything?” Allie said as Meredith started to follow Travis out. “And if there’s anything more I can do, please, let me—”
“Yes, we got it, Al,” Meredith said. “I’m sure everything will work out, and I will see you at the gala Saturday night.”
She could hope.
Unwilling to have this woman see her at her most vulnerable any longer, Meredith stepped out into the blinding sunshine to find Travis almost to his car door. Was he even going to wait for her?
She picked up her pace and reached him just as he shut the door and strapped himself in. Standing outside the driver’s side, she waited for him to roll down the window.
He stared at her through the glass, looking like the cat that ate the canary.
Because he had the address. And she didn’t.
There was no way in hell he was going without her. She glared at him and knocked on the window.
He started the engine.
That’s it.
She grabbed the handle, ready to wrench the car door open if necessary, and he smiled as he reached over and pushed a button.
Thank God he was only rolling down the window, because if he’d pressed the door lock she’d have throttled him with her own ha—
“Can I help you with anything, Meredith?”
She leaned in. “Just want to be clear that you’re going to wait for me to get to my car. And you’re not going to try and peel out of here and leave me behind the first chance you get. I’m going with you when you interview the kid.”
“Oh?” He put his sunglasses on and looked over at her. “Are you an expert at questioning hostile witnesses? At getting detailed confessions in high-tension situations? What? Are you going to glare him into talking?” He actually chuckled.
“That’s it. I’m riding with you.” She looked up to find Allie staring at them from the doorway. Was that a smug smile on her mouth, too?
Damn it. She was in control here.
“I’m going to get a ride with Travis,” she announced calmly. “Can I leave my car here for a couple of hours?”