Page 27 of Drive Me Wild (Owl Creek #2)

I finish polishing my truck and toss a couple of blankets behind the seat. Even though the sun is out, the air is crisp and downright cold in the shade.

There are a few people walking around downtown with their coats bundled up, and I spot Mrs. Treadwell, the high school principal, walking a dog. I give her a wave, and she smiles and waves back.

That might be the first time in my life Mrs. Treadwell smiled at me.

I take a quick shower and drive to pick up Zoe, my freshly shaven face stretched in a grin. It feels good to have people look at you with respect.

When I knock on Zoe’s door, she doesn’t answer, so I try again. Nothing. I text her and wait, but still, there’s nothing.

I walk over to the main house and see Cole and Renée sitting outside on the patio, cozied under a wool blanket, drinking from steaming hot mugs.

“Have you two seen Zoe? She’s not answering her door or text messages.”

Renée shakes her head, and Cole shrugs.

“Want some cocoa? There’s still some on the stove.”

“It’s October.”

“What’s your point?”

“Cocoa is a December drink.”

“Here he goes.”

Renée suppresses a giggle. “Do you have rules about beverages, Caleb?”

“Only the hot ones. So, no sign of Zoe, huh?”

“Nope.” Renée pulls out her phone. I assume she’s looking for text messages from Zoe. “What are you up to today?”

“She wants to go to the racetrack. My buddy Tommy is racing one of my cars today.”

“You sold him a car? I’m surprised he hasn’t totaled it yet.”

Cole never liked Tommy or any of my racing buddies. Looking back, I can’t say I blame him. Most of them are shit starters that encouraged me to do dangerous things.

“Yeah, the Barracuda.”

Renée perks up. “You had a Barracuda? Those are beautiful cars.”

“Says the woman with a mint Mustang.”

“What are you guys talking about?”

I startle at the sound of Zoe’s voice and whip around. Her hair is tangled like a bird’s nest, and she has lines on her face from her pillow. She sidles up next to me and wraps her arm around my waist.

“I take it you stayed up late last night.”

“Four-thirty.”

“Still want to go to the racetrack?”

“Oh shit. I’m sorry. I got so wrapped up in my business plan I forgot.”

Cole holds up his mug of cocoa. “Want some hot cocoa, Zoe? Some of us drink it year round.”

Her head quirks to the side. “Um, yes? But why would you not drink it year-round?”

Cole laughs as he stands to get her some cocoa. “So you haven’t learned about your new boyfriend’s hot beverage rules?”

Zoe buries her head in my chest and mumbles. “It’s too early for my brain to work.”

“Sweetheart, it’s 11:30.”

Her eyes grow wide.

“Crap. I’m sorry. Is it okay if we’re late? I want to go. I just need a minute to wake up.”

“Did you finish your business plan?”

“Almost.” She pulls me into one of the chairs on the patio and crawls in my lap. I instantly warm where we’re touching.

“I think I need some letters of recommendation.”

Renée and I both offer to write one.

“Actually, no offense, but I think it would be stronger for my application if I got some from people who’ve worked with me professionally. I’m going to reach out to the teacher I worked with as a paraeducator in Downsville and that woman who ordered a custom curriculum from my website.”

Cole came out of the house with two steaming mugs—one coffee for me and a mug of cocoa for Zoe.

I bit my tongue when she took a sip of hers, not wanting to explain why today wasn’t the right day for cocoa.

An hour later, we were on the road. I turned on some music, and we drove without talking for a few minutes while Zoe sent emails on her phone asking for letters of recommendation.

The sun was out but low in the sky, its rays not reaching over the tops of the tallest cedars.

One side of the road was still sparkling with frost, and I mentally calculated how many more days before the streets stayed frosted all day.

That’s when I’ll need to make sure I’m fully staffed with someone trained on the tow truck. My last guy left in the spring, and I haven’t bothered to replace him.

“Thanks for the pep talk last night.”

Zoe’s voice breaks through the wailing sounds of guitars. I turn the music down and steal a glance at her.

“Do you feel better?”

“Mmm…yes and sort of no. I’m still worried that no matter how well I write this, I’m too much of a credit risk. Those books you brought me were helpful but filled me with doubt.”

“Shit. Sorry.”

“No, Caleb. I don’t mean it like that. I mean, they are full of helpful information. But the way the authors discuss how the bank views you as a risk… is messing with my confidence. That’s why I was up so late last night. Trying to align all the data and my plans with the advice they give.”

“Sure you’re up for this? We can turn around.”

She reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “I want to know this part of you.”

I feel my chest open up as if a balloon is expanding inside.

“I don’t race anymore.”

“I know, but it’s still a big part of you. How many years did you spend building and racing cars?”

“Ten.”

“So that’s ten years of history and—”

“It means a lot to me that you want to know me.”

“I don’t…I don’t understand.” She pulls her hand off my thigh, and I instantly feel cold where she was touching me. “We’re in a relationship, aren’t we?”

“Yes. That’s…wait…I didn’t mean…crap, I’m not good at this.”

She shifts away from me in her seat. “Good at what?”

“Talking about relationship stuff. I’ve never done this before.”

“So you really haven’t ever been in a relationship?”

“Not as an adult. I had a few girlfriends in high school, but those were childish, short-term things. Nothing real. Not like this.” I steal a glance her way.

“What do you mean about getting to know you?”

“That’s the thing. I got labeled early on as a player. So if someone wanted a good time, they tried to hang out with me, but girls…women who were interested in something more…they avoided me.

And then I suppose I accepted it. That’s who I am. Everyone must see something in me that made it so I wasn’t the guy you have a relationship with. I wasn’t the guy you get to know. No one has ever gotten to know me, Zoe. And all summer, I’ve been getting to know myself.”

“So, who are you? Who is the guy driving me to the racetrack?”

The balloon in my chest expands, and I feel lighter than I have felt for years.

“I like figuring out how things work. And I like that in some ways, by working on something, maybe it’s a machine or even a plant…” I run my hand over my face. “This is embarrassing.”

“Hey,” she reaches over and puts her hand back on my thigh. “I want to know. And it’s only embarrassing because you’re forgetting that I’m not going to shame you for it.”

She’s right. She’s the person who always makes me feel like it’s okay to be myself—my true self.

“Okay. When I work on something, I feel like I become part of it. Like I…fuse with it. Not like I’m a cyborg or anything. I mean, there is a connection.”

I glance at her again, and she’s smiling—not in a condescending way, but with a warm, open look.

She is listening to me, giving me all her attention, and it opens something up in me.

Like that balloon that’s been expanding in my chest blew up even bigger, and now it’s popped, and there’s just space.

“The connection is similar to a friendship. Do you know what I mean? Take my robots, for instance, or the kinetic sculptures. It’s almost as if I’ve created life.

And the plants in my apartment? When my brother Cody gave me my first last spring, I swear it was as if it responded when I talked to it.

I’m not saying it talked back. I just mean, I felt like it was… ”

“Sentient?”

“Is that the word?”

“Yeah. It means they are able to perceive you. There’s some books about that.” She leans forward, kisses my cheek, and whispers in my ear. “If Mabel doesn’t already carry them in the bookstore, I will.”

“I can’t talk about this with anyone.”

“I’m someone.”

“I know. I mean I can’t talk about it with anyone but you.”

“Not Cody?”

“Maybe about the plants. But…don’t get me wrong, Cody and I are thick as thieves. But when it comes to things like plants, he gets very scientific. I think he might not be able to see past his training to talk about plants in that way.”

“Or maybe he’d love to have someone else to talk to about it. You should give it a try.”

“Here we are.”

I pull down the dusty dirt road leading to the race track. The brown grass edging the road and parking lots is cut short, making it look like a desert landscape.

Cars and trucks fill the first four rows on both sides of the entrance, so I find a spot near the edge and park.

A few people arrive after us, pulling out blankets and coolers.

I walk around and open the door for Zoe, helping her out of the truck.

Though she’s perfectly capable, it’s an opportunity to wrap my arms around her.

I’ll take any chance I can to touch her.