“Definitely has the cool factor,” I answered, buttoning up my jacket to ward off the sudden chill in the air.
“Thanks for bringing me here. Today was fun,” I admitted as we left the park.
“Day’s not over yet. It’s time for some grub.”
“Again? We just ate,” I said, checking the time on my phone.
“Like four hours ago. Besides, by the time we eat it’ll be closer to five hours.”
“Where are we going?”
“Another favorite place of mine.”
“You seem to have a lot of those.”
“When I like something, I don’t have any qualms about stating my feelings,” he answered in a voice that made me wonder if it held a double meaning.
“Are you cold?” Justin asked as we piled into his jeep.
“Not too bad now, but I’m sure I’ll be a Popsicle once we start moving.”
“Here,” he said, reaching behind my seat and extracting an oversized fleece blanket. “Don’t worry, it’s clean. I keep it in here for when my kid sister is in the jeep with me.”
“Your sister?”
“Yes, my sister. Are you always this distrustful?”
“No, but with your reputation I’m just trying to stay on my toes.”
“What reputation?” he asked, popping open the glove compartment and pulling out a skullcap. “You’ve got some pretty funked-up views about me.”
“Please. Melissa told me you’ve dated enough girls to fill a sorority house.”
“Whatever. Talk about people in glass houses.”
“Are you insinuating that I’ve gone out with as many people as you?” I sputtered indignantly.
“Insinuating? Hell no. I’m stating a fact. You’re no different than me, sister.”
“It’s not the same thing,” I replied.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he said loudly over the wind that was whipping through the vehicle.
I fought the childish urge to stick out my tongue at him. His dating life and mine were worlds apart, considering the fact that I didn’t fall into bed with every guy I dated. I kept that piece of information to myself, though. No reason to discuss my sex life with someone I hardly knew. Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if loose-lips Melissa had already filled him in on my stats in that category. Her ass was mine when I got back to the dorm. Revenge would be swift and just.
We drove in silence for close to thirty minutes and despite my misgivings about the blanket on my lap, I ended up burrowing my face in it when the wind became almost painful. With the warm fleece against my sore face, the ride was bearable and I could enjoy it despite my watery eyes.
I began to have misgivings about more than the blanket as the city and businesses faded behind us and were replaced by suburbs. Justin made a left turn, and a right, and a left again. Not that it mattered. All the house-lined streets looked the same. There were no restaurants in sight, which left me with only one sadistic thought. Please don’t let him be a weirdo who is dragging me to his dungeon or something.
My heart sank when he pulled into a circular driveway and parked behind an oversized SUV that screamed family vehicle.
“Please, for the love of all things holy, tell me you’re not some crazy stalker. That this isn’t your secret residence and you plan on chaining me up in your basement or something,” I said, eyeing the brightly lit house with trepidation.
He looked at me like I had sprung an extra head before laughing loudly. “Sorry. I’m fresh out of chains. This is my mom’s house.”
“Fuck me,” I mumbled as he jumped down from the vehicle.
He laughed at my colorful choice of words, but I could have sworn I heard him mutter something along the lines that he’d like to do just that.