The Silent Drive

DEREK

I don't have all day, and her standing there like a drowned cat is not exactly time management.

She's just staring at me. Mouth slightly open. Rain running down her face. Her white shirt is completely see-through now and I can see the outline of her bra and I definitely do not look. I look at her eyes. Her stupid, familiar eyes.

"Bean sprout. Car. Now."

She blinks. Then she moves. Grabs her bag, hunches her shoulders, and walks around to the passenger side. She opens the door and climbs in.

Water pours off her. Onto my leather seats. Onto my floor mats. Everything she touches becomes instantly wet.

Wonderful.

She slams the door and sits there shivering, clutching her bag to her chest like a shield. Water drips from her hair onto my armrest. I pretend not to notice.

"When did you get back?" she asks. Her voice is shaky. From cold or shock, I don't know. Don't care.

"Yesterday."

"So Marcus knew." She processes this. Her jaw tightens. "No wonder he said 'someone.' That asshole."

I don't respond. I put the car in drive and pull out of the parking lot. The rain slams against the windshield. Wipers work hard.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her shift in the seat. Water runs down her neck. Her shirt is plastered to her skin. I can see—

She actually grew boobs.

Not that I'm looking. I'm not looking. I'm focused on the road. Jaw set. Eyes forward.

I didn't plan on seeing her. Not today. Not ever, if I'm being honest. But Marcus had to be busy. Busy fucking that new blonde of his, probably. So now I'm stuck here. Driving his sister home. Bro code and bullshit.

She's talking again. I missed the first part.

"—you called me bean sprout. Seriously? I thought maybe you'd changed. But you're obviously still an ass."

I don't say anything. Just keep driving.

The silence stretches. I can feel her glaring at me from the passenger seat. She hates being ignored. She always did.

"Fine," she huffs. "I'll be quiet too."

As if.

She shifts again. Water drips. Her legs cross. Uncross. Cross again. She's nervous. Or cold. Or both. I notice everything. Every movement. Every breath. The way her wet hair sticks to her cheek. The way her fingers grip her bag.

She has grown. Definitely.

I can't unsee it. The curve of her hip. The shape of her legs. The way her shirt clings to her waist. I force my eyes back to the road. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel.

She shivers violently. Then she leans forward and turns on the heater without asking. Hot air blasts through the vents. She sighs and sinks back into the seat.

Five minutes. That's all it took. Five minutes and I'm already trying to please her.

How inconvenient.

I pull into the driveway and cut the engine. Rain drums on the roof. I don't get out of the car. Instead, I reach over and unlock her door from my side. Then I sit still. Rest my head on the steering wheel. The leather is cold against my forehead.

She doesn't move.

I count. Thirty seconds. A minute. Nothing. Just the sound of rain and her breathing.

"Get out," I say into the silence.

"Hmm?" She didn't hear me. Or she's pretending not to.

I sit up straight. Turn my head just enough to see her in my peripheral vision. She's still hugging that damn bag. Still dripping on my seats.

"Get out," I say again. Louder this time.

She flips me off. Middle finger right in my face. "Hope being an ass pays well," she says. Then she opens the door, climbs out, and slams it shut so hard the whole car shakes.

I watch her walk to the front door. Her wet clothes cling to every curve. She doesn't look back.

I sigh and drop my head against the seat.

What the fuck is my problem?

I start the car and drive. Not far. Just to the next building. The penthouse I procured last week. Brand new. Still smells like paint and fresh carpet. I park in the underground garage and cut the engine again.

Sit there in the dark.

I had to buy this place. Not because I wanted it. Because I have a favor to fulfill. Marcus asked. Marcus never asks for anything. So I said yes. Didn't think about what it would mean. Didn't think about her.

Now I'm living across the street from Jade Murphy.

Fucking fantastic.

I grab my phone from the cupholder. No messages. No missed calls. Just the way I like it.

I get out of the car. Take the elevator up to the penthouse. Change into dry clothes. Stand at the window and stare at Marcus's house. Her light is on. Second floor. She's moving around behind the curtain.

I look away.

An hour passes. Maybe more. I don't check the time. I just grab my keys and head back out. Walk across the street. Rain has slowed to a drizzle. I climb the steps to the front door.

Knock.

No answer.

Knock again.

Nothing.

I try the handle. Unlocked. Of course it's unlocked. Marcus never locks the door. Jade never thinks about danger.

I push the door open and step inside.

Something flies past my face. A vase. It shatters against the wall behind me. I don't flinch.

"Are you fucking kidding?" Jade screams. She's standing in the middle of the living room in dry clothes now. Hair still wet. Eyes blazing.

Marcus is on the couch. He looks at me. Then at Jade. Then back at me.

"It's not babysitting," Marcus says, calm as always. "It's common watching."