Page 34 of Drive

In a split second, I didn’t want to know her, and I didn’t want her eating Reid’s eggs. I didn’t want her in his apartment. And I didn’t want to think about why.

“Yum,” she complimented. “Thank God, I’m starving.” She gave me a sincere smile and then motioned me forward as if I were on trial. “So, tell me about you.”

I shrugged. “Nothing to tell. I’m going toUTthis fall for journalism. I just started at The Plate Bar with this guy.” Reid stood in the hall, completely clueless as to how to navigate two women gabbing in his kitchen. He made his exit to his bedroom and left us to it.

“The Plate Bar,” she chuckled. “Is that what it means?”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a fake smile. I felt my resolve to befriend Reid wilt as I watched her.

“Wow, what a bunch of dumbasses,” she mumbled around a mouthful. “So, what will you write about?”

“Music. That food is kind of a bribe to get Reid to take me around and introduce me to people.”

He appeared a second later, dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt. His eyes found mine. “Going to take more than eggs for me to babysit.”

Lia rolled her eyes. “Stop being such an ass. What could it hurt to show her around a little? You knoweveryonein this city.”

“I’m kind of a pain in the ass,” I admitted with a grin in Reid’s direction.

He returned my smile, and for the second time since I met him, it reached his eyes. “No arguing that.”

Lia looked between us with a smile that slowly faded. I saw her neck redden, and then her hesitance right before she took another hearty bite of Reid’s breakfast.

Why was she there? And why would he let her in? Hadn’t she hurt him? My sister said she’d left him high and dry. It became apparent she had been in the accident with him. I could see it in his eyes as he looked at her, and feel the guilt when his eyes stopped at the pink scar on her forehead. In that moment, I felt like I was intruding. And in the next moment, I felt nauseated. My chest burned at the thought of him touching her, kissing her.

“I’m going to go.”

“You stay,” she said carefully as she pushed the plate away from her. “I’ll go. Nice meeting you, and thanks for breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.”

Reid furrowed his brows as Lia gathered her clothes at the foot of the mattress and walked into his bedroom before slamming the door.

His eyes found mine and he let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry. I’ll just go. I didn’t mean to do, whatever . . . I did.”

Without a word, he followed her and shut the door behind him.

Paralyzed and uncomfortable by the drastic turn of events, I heard the start of a heated exchange quickly escalate.

“What am I doing here?” Lia yelled as I made quick work of covering the plate and putting it in his empty fridge. I didn’t hear Reid’s response and didn’t understand why she was upset. But a second later, she made it abundantly clear.

“Got a thing for Paige’s sister, asshole? So, again, why did you call me?”

I heard the sharp edge to his voice, but he kept his response low.

“I saw it, Reid. I saw the way you just looked at her. And you fucked me last night like you hated me! I’m not an idiot!”

Chest pounding with the drama unfolding, I slowed my footsteps and strained to hear his words.

But it was Lia’s voice that echoed through the empty apartment. “I’m ridiculous? You’re ridiculous! We’ve been doing this for four years! This relationship is a circus. I was an idiot to think you had some grand epiphany. I told you not to call me until you were serious. So now what am I? I’m a fucking booty call? A piece of ass to take the edge off? I won’t let you reduce me to that.”

I heard more mumbling as my heart began to pound. Something inside me began to hope there was truth in her words. Four years? She knew him well enough. I tiptoed to the front door, hoping for more, and was rewarded just as I opened it.

“I’m done. Completely done with you.”

The bedroom door opened as I pulled the front door shut. I raced down the steps and hid behind the side of the building just as Lia came out, guns blazing.