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He nodded to indicate he was listening, but his eyes were calculating as he watched me, and I could tell he already had his comeback prepared.

“I understand,” he said. “But I think you too need to understand, Madi. The audience needs someone to root for, and at the moment they are rooting for you. I thought I could help make you the star of this show—the sweetheart of the True Love contest. I’m beginning to wonder if I was wrong though. It seems you’re just going to let them down.”

I frowned at him, completely lost for words. On what Earth did Angus ever believe that I wanted that sort of attention and pressure? I was meant to be eliminated on Monday, and I was hoping and expecting to be gone by next week.

As he watched my reaction, he nodded once more. “Yes, I can see that maybe Teagan would be a better choice. Well, anyway, I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

With that, he turned and left the restaurant, and I was left standing by the door wondering what the hell had just happened. He’d been talking with me calmly enough, but his words had felt threatening. What he was threatening exactly had me confused though. Was he trying to tell me he was going to manipulate the audience to vote for Teagan if I didn’t start to do whatever he asked?

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to figure out the answer to that, so I returned to work, trying to push my talk with Angus as far as possible from my mind.

The rest of my shift flew by afterward, and I was let off early when the restaurant quietened down for the evening. I said my goodbyes to Jazz and the kitchen guys and made my way outside. The evening was cool, and I put my jacket on as I left the restaurant. It was dark outside, and I stood by the front window bathed in the restaurant’s warm light as I pulled out my phone to call my mom.

“Need a lift?” a voice called.

I practically jumped out of my skin, dropping my phone as I looked up. Cole stood there, leaning against his truck, which was parked by the curb a little way down the road from me.

“Dammit, Cole!” I exclaimed as I bent down to pick my phone up. Thankfully the screen wasn’t cracked. “You nearly scared me half to death.”

He pushed off the car and walked toward me. I half expected to find the film club following closely, but the street behind him was empty and it looked like he was alone.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. He came to stand in front of me and I caught a whiff of his cologne. It was subtle but enticing, and nothing like the cheap spray can scents most of the boys at school wore. It was bad enough that he was unfairly hot; why did he also have to smell good?

“I thought you might like a ride home,” he said.

I frowned. “How did you know when I would finish work?”

“I didn’t,” he replied with a shrug.

“So you’ve been waiting out here in the dark like a total weirdo?”

He laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck like he was suddenly uncomfortable. “I’d been going more for chivalrous knight in shining armor, but when you put it like that…”

I smiled. “I’m only joking. I would love a ride. Mom’s always so busy driving Lucas around, I don’t really like asking her unless I’m desperate.”

“Is that why you walked home in the rain when Jake forgot to pick you up from work a couple of weekends ago?” he asked.

“You heard about that, huh?” I asked, receiving a nod in response. “Mom and Dad were at an away game that night with Lucas. There was no way they’d have been able to get back in time to pick me up.”

“Oh,” he replied. There was a flicker of concern in his eyes, like he was worried about me even though the incident had been nearly two weeks ago.

We started walking to his truck, his arm brushing lightly against mine as he kept pace beside me. When we reached the car, he opened the door for me and I jumped in, giving him a small smile in thanks.

Cole’s scent seemed to fill the cab, and as I breathed it in I found myself wondering what Willow had thought of it. Had he even given her a lift home or had they arrived at the restaurant separately. I immediately pushed the thoughts from my mind. What had happened between them tonight was none of my business.

“Why don’t you have your license?” Cole asked as he got in and started the car.

“I do,” I said. “But I’m saving up for my own car.”

“Your parents won’t buy you one?” he asked.

“No,” I replied. “I mean, they probably would if I hounded them enough. But I think they want me to learn to save. I don’t mind my job, and it feels good to know I’m saving my money for something important. I’ve always managed okay without a car anyways.”

He gave me a warm smile. “I think that’s great you’re going to buy your own car.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling in return. It was such a small thing to say, but it meant the world to me. Hayley thought the whole thing was crazy. My parents could easily afford to buy me a car. She didn’t seem to understand how important it had become that I did it myself.

“I hope tonight didn’t feel too awkward for you,” Cole said, interrupting my train of thought.