Page 84 of Drive

“Jon Jon.”

Nate barked out a laugh as I glanced at him over my shoulder with a raised brow.

Nate and I shared a conspiratorial smile.

Eat him alive, Stella.

He’s so screwed.

Still, I knew better than to judge a person by their appearance. I’d been enlightened more than I cared to admit, especially in the past few months.

“Now you two kids have fun. I have shit to do,” Nate said as he plugged his earbud back in and started to type.JJducked out of the office, and I turned to face him. Thank you didn’t seem like enough, and as usual, whenever I tried to think of something clever, it never came.

“Shut the door,” Nate said with a budding twist of his lips.

I stood there awkwardly until I had no choice but to do his bidding.

“Where can I read you?”

I jumped as the question was barked at my back by none other than my new partner.

“I’m not published yet,” I said boldly. “I’m in the journalism program atUT.”

“You’re a student?”

“Shut the fuck up, Jon Jon,” Nate barked through the door. I bit my lips to hide my smile.

“Really,”JJsaid with pure contempt. “Never workedanywhere?”

“No.”

His head dropped. “Intern?”

“No,” I said with a sigh.

JJraised his brows. He wore too much gel in his caramel-brown hair, and way too much body spray. His khakis looked ironed. I decided to heed Nate’s advice.

“Let’s go to a show tonight,” I suggested. “Let’s start that way.”

He looked me over skeptically before nodding his head. “Fine, but I’m covering movies.”

“Jon Jon, benice,” Nate scolded behind the door.

Jon Jon rolled his eyes as I pulled him away from the office door with my offer. “Tonight, you pick the place. Give me your number.” I programmed it into my phone and texted him. “Text me where and what time.”

JJscrutinized me again and smiled when he got to my shoes. “I’ll text you.”

Half of the staff was staring at me like I needed to be trapped, and I was fine with that because I’d just became a colleague and threat. I held my head high as I walked back to Sierra.

Just as I suspected, it was the music that broughtJJand me together. That night, he took me to a see a band called Score. We spent hours talking over coffee to sober up from the abundance of beers we had. Engaged in conversation, it was the first time I felt like I may be okay since my heart hit the pavement.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Wonderwall”

Oasis

ONE MONTH LATER