Page 66 of The Fractured

“Why not?”

I laughed in bemusement, running my eyes over the sleek lines of the vintage car. From its glossy, emerald-green exterior to its silver hub caps and detailing. “I don’t think you understood what I meant when I said anxiety prevented me from learning to drive. I almost crashed each instructor’s car. And my parents’ cars.”

“Key word being almost.” He pulled back from the car, slid on his shades, and flashed a smile as he opened his door. “Get in.”

That smile.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach as I grinned wider and climbed into the passenger seat.

Chapter 24

Dean

Lily sitting in the driver’s seat of my car was one of the best things I had ever witnessed. She was so focused and serious, biting her lip with every turn of the wheel as we cruised around an empty grocery store parking lot, but looked equally beautiful.

I couldn’t help but sit closer than I needed to be, with my arm slung along the back of the Cadillac’s bench seat as I pointed to the gas and brakes, the gears, and what to look for on the dash. She was a fast learner, and soon my thoughts of teaching her how to drive were drifting to a reward for later.

“That’s it. Nice and easy,” I commented as she took a left turn.

She blushed but kept her eyes ahead. “You’re making it so hard to focus right now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, fighting a smile. She took another wide turn before I spoke in a lower tone. “Good girl.”

She shook her head in disbelief, huffing a laugh as she shifted in her seat, and then took a steadying breath. “I think I’m getting the hang of it.”

“Great.” My attention went to the exit of the parking lot. “Now we try the street.”

“What?”

I smirked at her. “You heard me.”

Her eyebrows furrowed with worry. “Are you sure?”

“I trust you.”

“Ha,” she barked nervously, glancing at the street.

I gently took her chin, directing her eyes back to me as I toned down on the nonchalance. “I promise you, nothin’ is gonna happen. You’ve got this. Just do one trip around this block.”

Her throat bobbed, but she nodded with determination.

I sat back, giving her space as she checked her mirrors and blind spots, tucked her hair behind her ears, and gently pressed the accelerator. The car moved to the exit, where she stopped to look left and right. The engine rumbled idly beneath us.

“Okay,” she breathed. “Okay. This is fine. I’m just going for a drive on the road. In a very large car.”

Another breath later, her fingers flicked the turn signal to go right, and she turned the wheel, keeping her head on a swivel and double-checking mirrors as we peeled out onto the mostly empty street. For a moment, we were in complete silence.

She seemed to be anticipating something happening.

I slowly tugged the sleeves of my hoodie up my forearms and rested back in my seat. One arm draped on the back of the seat, and the other angled on the open window while I lightly drummed my fingers on the roof.

Lily stole a glance at me. “I’m doing it.”

“You are.”

The corners of her lips curved into a radiant smile.

I reached for the dash and flicked the switch to put the top down, which only made her smile more as the sun poured in and a light breeze tugged gently at her hair. Each light brown strand glowed golden in the light.