Page 58 of Drive

I stood one step above so we were eye level.

He pushed a piece of hair from my lips and brushed it past my shoulders. “And who do you think I am, Stella?”

“You’re the band nerd who grew up to be a rock star. This is just the in between.”

I got a smirk.

“And who are you?”

“I’m the woman who’s going to watch it happen. I’m the woman with a hugeI told you soon the edge of her tongue.”

Reid hoisted me over his shoulder, and I yelped as he slapped my ass. “Enough with the pep talk I didn’t ask for, Grenade.”

“I’m starting to love that nickname.”Love you. Starting to love you, Reid.

Later that night, I peeked over my laptop to watch Reid pace his apartment and smoke like he was about to get on an overseas flight. He’d gotten off the phone with his mother an hour before the march started and refused to talk to me. From what I gathered, his dad was getting worse. I was too afraid to push. Far too unsure of what my place was, if I had any at all. Reid hadn’t said a word about the fact that I’d been there for days. He knew it was just a matter of time before I got my own apartment. Still, he was quiet when the pacing stopped. He scribbled in his notebooks and chain-smoked on his balcony. I wondered if we hadn’t gotten busted by Paige if I would even be here, if I would be welcome. But then his dark eyes would find mine in the space between us and he’d give me that smirk, and I just knew. We were okay. It was okay.

“When are you going to let me look at your music?” I asked as he sat on the concrete on his balcony, boots crossed, cigarette in his mouth, pen in hand.

He shrugged and kept writing.

“You’re probably drawing puppies anyway.”

He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. Even though he was blatantly ignoring me so I would shut up, I couldn’t help it. I smiled. And then I found someone else to pester.

Hey, Ben’s bitch! What’s the good word?

Lexi: I’m nobody’s bitch. Days. I’ll be there in days!

Ten!

Lexi: Days sounds better. How is it going?

I feel weird being here. It’s like he has to keep me because we had sex. How screwed up is this? I’ll never forgive Paige. Seriously, I hate her right now. I’m setting out on foot tomorrow to find a place and it will be done. I have two places in mind.

Lexi: Is he worth it?

He’s sad and he’s beautiful. I’m done with musicians. That’s what I said, remember? And you didn’t bother to remind me of that. I’m sitting on a floor staring at him. That’s how it’s going.

Lexi: You are so going to fall for him.

Maybe. But Ben’s waiting on you to get here and you are looking pretty screwed yourself.

Lexi: Are we groupies?

No. We are music enthusiasts who occasionally sleep with musicians. We aren’t quite Meg Ryan playing Pam Courson giving Jim Morrison head in the sound booth.

Lexi: I would totally do that.

You’re a groupie. No doubt.

Lexi: Tomorrow makes nine days.

Love you, bitch.

Lexi: X

“Now let me see what you just texted,” Reid said, standing above me.