Page 59 of I Don't Need Your Protection

“I don’t get what you’re so jealous of. You’re much smarter than him and way more good-looking—” I snap my lips shut when my brain realizes what my mouth just uttered. Why the heck did I just say that?

Caleb stares at me with nothing but surprise on his face. Then he pushes off the wall and moves closer to me. “You think I’m jealous of him?”

“Well, maybe not jealous, exactly. I just don’t get why you hate him so much. Is it only because he’s trying to get close to me? Because you said you want me to live a normal life at this school. Yet, you’re trying to stop me from pursuing a relationship with him? Make it make sense, oh wise bodyguard of mine.”

He keeps his eyes on me for a few seconds, opening his mouth like he wants to retort with something. Then he says, “Why do you always drag me into everything?”

“I’mdraggingyou? You’re the one who’s involving yourself in every aspect of my life—”

“Hey, gorgeous.”

I twist around and come face-to-face with Warner.

“Warner, hi!”

He beams. “I hope you didn’t wait long. Who are you talking to?” He moves closer and peers behind the wall. Calebhas vanished from sight. Warner raises a confused brow.

“Um…I wasn’t talking to anyone,” I start to babble. “I was just, um—”

“Talking to yourself?” he teases with a boyish smile.

“Yes! I mean, no. I mean…maybe.”

I wish I could disappear to where Caleb vanished to.

Warner chuckles. “It’s all good. Ready to land investors?”

“Totally.”

He leads me toward the student parking lot. He passes by all the rich cars (which are basically all of them) and walks further along until the cars seem to get fancier. I know nothing about cars, especially rich ones, so I have no idea what any of them are. But I can tell these must be some of the most expensive ones out there. And Warner leads me to one of the fanciest ones in the entire lot.

I just gape at it. The thing looks like it belongs in some sci-fi movie. Seriously, do cars like this actually exist?

“Isn’t she a beauty?” Warner asks with pride in his eyes. “A gift from my dad to make up for being a lousy father.”

“Are we really going to ride in this?” I croak.

“Of course,” he says with a laugh.

“I might…break it.”

He laughs again. “Of course you won’t.” He unlocks the car and rushes to the driver’s side. “Get in, Nelson.”

I carefully open the door and slide inside. Oh my gosh, the seats are so comfortable. The dashboard looks like it’s from the future. Is it possible this is secretly a spaceship and Warner is taking me to his alien home planet?

He once again laughs as he does his seatbelt. “Your reaction is really cute.”

I’m speechless as I click my seatbelt. If this is the life I’m supposed to live once I’m no longer in hiding, I don’t think I could handle it. Warner’s family is rich, but my grandfather is the richest man in America. He might have an even fancier car than this.

Warner pulls out of the lot and heads toward town. The drive shouldn’t take that long, maybe around twenty minutes.

“What music are you into?” he asks as he turns on the radio.

I shrug. “All kinds. I don’t mind what you put on.”

“All right, then.” He puts on some rock music.

I once again glance at the mirrors to see if Caleb’s car is trailing us. There are a few behind us, but I have no idea if any of them are Caleb’s. But I’m sure he’s one of them. I’m tempted to ask Warner to speed up and lose the cars that are behind us, because I know his car can go very, very fast, but the last thing I need is for him to get a ticket. Not to mention, Caleb would be super ticked off if he were to lose me, and I don’t need that kind of drama right now.