Chapter 12

I continued to gnaw on my lip, the metallic tang of blood hitting my taste buds. I had never been in a guy's car, and certainly didn't expect it to be Dante's. A pang of anxiety struck me, imagining how livid Jasmine would be about this. Although I was lowkey freaking out, a comfortable silence filled the car as he maneuvered through traffic. I hadn't even shared my address, so I was uncertain where Dante was driving. Breaking the quiet, he asked, "Were you really going to walk home?" His voice carried a subtle edge, as if he were trying to contain his anger.

"Yeah... my dad was supposed to pick me up, but he bailed." I sighed, the weight of frustration evident in my voice.

Tensing his jaw, he asks sternly, "You have my number, why didn't you text me?"

My eyes widened at his question. "We just met, there's no way I would've done that. I'd rather walk than become someone's else's burden-"

"Burden? You'd never be a burden to me, Princess," he grits out. "You said we could