Page 75 of Save Me

“Because I’m worried he’d be disappointed in me.”

I put my hand in his and laid my head on his shoulder. “Your dad?”

He nodded.

“He’d want you to be happy, Creed. That’s what all parents want for their kids.” I squeezed his hand. “Now, he probably wouldn’t be happy with what I’m about to ask you.”

“What’s that?”

“Have you ever ditched school before?” I asked.

He snorted. “Yeah, why?”

“Will you ditch school with me and take me to get ice cream?”

He finally looked at me, surprise lifting his brows. “Right now?”

“Please?”

“What about Colt?”

“Of course, I always want him around, but would it be alright if you and I had some time to ourselves?”

Without letting go of my hand, he stood. “Let’s go.”

Creed called Colt once we were in his truck. As I sent a quick text to my uncle saying that he wouldn’t need to pick me up, I listened to Creed tell Colt about how he’d quit the team and that we were leaving for the day.

“No, I’m not taking her on a date,” he said into the phone. “I know you won the bet. We’re getting ice cream and going home.”

I smiled. I had forgotten about the bets they had made the last time we had raced. Colt had won the honor of taking me on a date first.

“Tell him he can take me on that date this weekend,” I told Creed.

He passed on the message and they said goodbye to each other after that. Creed tossed his phone in the cupholder and pulled out of the school’s parking lot.

“Was he upset?” I asked.

“Not at all,” Creed assured. “He said to have fun and reminded me about the bet when I told him I was taking you for ice cream.”

“Have you two decided what you want me to dress as for the Halloween party?” Because I had lost the race, they got to pick whatever I wore.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea to have a Halloween party, Shi. I don’t want to put you in a situation that will cause you distress.”

I loved that he wanted to put my needs first. They all did that. “What does a Halloween party entail?”

“It’ll be like Ethan’s party, but with costumes,” he answered.

Halloween was two weeks away. “I want you to have it and I want to go.”

Creed glanced at me, looking unsure. “What if something triggers an episode?”

I looked out the window. “I’m working on fixing that.”

“You went through something very traumatic that you still have difficulty talking about. I know you’re feeling better, but healing isn’t going to happen overnight.”

“I know that!” I snapped. Creed went quiet and I felt guilty for snapping. “I’m sorry.”

He removed one of his hands from the steering wheel and grabbed mine. “It’s alright.”