"Don't worry. Justin'll be fine." A small smile teased on Tyler's lips, and damn it, the way his eyelashes swept up was sexy as hell while he gauged my reaction. "I got you covered, and I'll have you back to school in no time."

"You better not be lying." I narrowed my brow, trying not to analyze the way his teeth sank into his bottom lip.

"Lying isn't in my vocabulary." Tyler waved me toward the front entrance.

"Whatever. I just can't miss more than first period." I rushed to keep up with his long stride as he led me into the parking lot.

Tyler sent me a tight grin. "Rule follower, huh? Never would've guessed that."

"Yeah, so?" I examined the parking lot for his car. "Which one?"

"The Challenger." Tyler stopped next to a black Challenger with silver stripes. Of course, he drove the frigging car of my dreams.

"This is yours?" I stopped next to the passenger side, forcing down the desire to run my hand over the car's perfection.

"Yep. Hope you like black." Tyler unlocked the car remotely and made his way to the passenger side, surprising the hell out of me when he opened the door for me.

"Thanks." I climbed in. "And by the way, everyone loves black."

"Not everyone." He said under his breath before he shut the door.

The black leather interior smelled terrific. It really was the car of my dreams. I had it all mapped out in my journal down to the silver stripes. Not every vehicle had leather seats, but this one did, and I was in heaven.

Tyler climbed in, starting up the car with a rumble. "You good? Air conditioning?"

Snapping my seatbelt, I shook my head. "I'm fine. Let's just get this over with."

Tyler threw me a quick glance before pulling out of his parking spot. "So, what's your deal, anyway?"

His question reminded me of when he was practically swallowing Jenny's entire face, making my nose wrinkle in disgust. "Nothing. I'm just not a morning person, and I don't understand why people are such assholes."

"Really?" Tyler let out a deep laugh. "You should put yourself in that category too."

I glanced at him before studying the passing road. "Where's your house?"

"That's it? You're not even gonna argue with me?" Tyler slowed at the stop sign.

"I know I'm a bitch. I don't mean to be, but evidently speaking your mind is frowned upon in society. So, yeah, you can classify me as an asshole or a stone-cold bitch. Take your pick. It doesn't really matter, I've heard it all." I rolled down my window and stuck my hand out, letting the wind stream through my fingers.

The heat of Tyler's gaze was on me. "I don't know. It's kinda refreshing."

My brow knotted. "That's the first time I've ever heard that. Most people can't wait to tell me to keep my big mouth shut."

Tyler braked at a red light as he leaned his head back, studying me from under his curved lashes. "Well, I'm not most people."

"Yeah, you are. I don't even know why I'm here with you. This was a bad idea. Your girlfriend will be pissed when she finds out about this." The thought of Jenny crying alone in the bathroom made me feel sorry for her.

"Girlfriend?" Tyler sped forward when the light turned green. "I don't do girlfriends. Ever."

"Oh, so you just makeout with random girls at seven a.m. for the hell of it? That's disgusting." My lip curled.

Tyler lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I do a lot of things that could be labeled as disgusting. Really, I just do whatever I want."

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Crossing my arms, I stared down at my shoes, and why did they suddenly feel too tight?

It was suffocating being in such close quarters with this dude and his egotistical moral standards. I'd bet anything that Jenny believed they were a lot more than early morning suck-face buddies.

Why in the hell had I given in to this awful plan? I should've just asked him to take me home so I could have a do-over day tomorrow.

"The dumbest thing you've ever heard? You're kidding, right? What about you at your locker earlier?" Tyler's chest rumbled in laughter. "We all have our moments, wouldn't you say?"

My jaw opened to speak, but I didn't know what to say. He had a point, but that was a jerk way for him to say it.

"What? Nothing to say about that?" Tyler pulled into a neighborhood.

"No. You're pissing me off, and I don't want to talk anymore." I wiggled my toes, trying to figure out why he was helping me at all. If he was trying to lighten the mood, he frigging sucked at it.

"Hey, don't be pissed. I was just speaking my mind. You did have a spaced-out moment, right?" Tyler grabbed my thigh, trying to tickle me. "And you couldn't open your locker."

Revolted, I yanked my leg away from him. "Don't. I didn't agree to come here for that. Do you really have a shirt for me, or are you just trying to add me to your list?"

"My list?" Tyler's brow pinched.

"Your sex list." I shrugged.

"My sex list?" Tyler's laughter filled the car. "Shit. You really don't hold anything back, do you?"

"No, and if you're not really helping me, just take me home and drop me off. It's obvious that having your pick of all the girls gave you a dumb complex, and for whatever reason, you think I want you too, but I have a boyfriend, and before you ask, no, I'm not attracted to you. At all."

"Boyfriend, huh?" Tyler's smile fell flat before he turned into a driveway. "Don't worry. I'm not trying to have sex with you, but I'm not against it. I'm just trying to help you get cleaned up without upsetting your parents."

"Parents?" I scoffed.

"What?" Tyler's sky-blue eyes roamed over my face with something that possibly resembled concern.

"I moved in with Missy yesterday for a reason." I crossed my arms, glaring at the white garage door. "I'm here because they don't give a flying fuck about me."

Tyler frowned. "That must suck."

Not wanting to talk about it anymore, I shrugged. "It's whatever. Should I wait here or what?"

Tyler took off his seatbelt. "Everyone's gone. You can come in and change."

"Okay." I must've been lost in my thoughts because somehow we were in the middle of a super cute neighborhood with large brick homes and pristine, manicured lawns.

Following Tyler inside, the aroma of lemon pledge and something pungently metallic and earthy floated in the air, bringing back a distant foggy memory from my childhood. Suddenly, I recalled a moment when I'd been sobbing and screaming on a cold cement floor, but I couldn't seem to remember anything else. What the hell?

"Upstairs." Tyler ran up the carpeted beige steps, taking them two at a time.

Upstairs? No way. If he got me alone, he would most definitely try to talk me into doing something I'd regret. "I'll wait here."

Tyler glanced around like he was sensing something strange before he sent me a tight grin. "I'll be right back. It might take me a minute to find that shirt. Stay there."

"No problem." I had no idea where in the hell he thought I would go. This wasn't my house, and I wasn't a snoop.

A sound caught my attention from someplace deeper in the house, and I could swear it was growling.

The hair on my arms shot straight up as fear coursed through me. Dogs did not like me.

"Um..." I fidgeted in the foyer before yelling up the stairs. "Do you have a dog?"

"Yeah, but they're locked up." Tyler hollered from upstairs. "Just give me a minute."

That didn't make me feel any better. Locked up didn't mean shit. Dogs broke leashes to come after me.

I zeroed in a door under the stairs, hoping to put another wall between me and the fanged beasts. Relieved to discover it was a small bathroom, I locked the door behind me.

I was an absolute mess. Fixing my sticky hair was nearly impossible, but I still tried. Using the pump soap, I cleaned up the best I could. Once I finished scrubbing, I looked worse than before, but hey, at least, I'd gotten the sticky off.

A hard knock came at the door.

"One minute." I dried myself with the hand towel and left the bathroom precisely as I found it. Well, except for the soaked hand towel, but that couldn't be avoided.

A harder knock came this time.

I whipped open the door to yell at Tyler and jerked back when I found a middle-aged man standing there instead. He looked a lot like Tyler. Was this his father?

He was dressed for the office in black slacks and a striped button-up. His face was freshly shaved as he straightened his tie. His light brown hair was immaculately groomed above what I found to be angry blue eyes.

Yeah, he was not happy to see me here. His pupils noticeably dilated as he took me in fully.

I swallowed, inching out of the bathroom.

"Well, hello there. Would you like to explain what it is you're doing here?" His tone was straight up cruel as his gaze narrowed.

"Uh..." I shifted uncomfortably, glancing around for Tyler, who had pulled a disappearing act. "I'm so sorry, Sir. I know I shouldn't be here. I had an accident at school and spilled soda all over myself. Tyler was kind enough to offer me a clean shirt."

"You're not telling me the truth, young lady." His lips thinned as he leaned in and audibly sniffed me. His eyes appeared to light up as he sneered. "And I don't take kindly to liars."

He took a step forward, and I backed up, bouncing off the wall. "It's n-not a lie, Sir. I'm sorry. I'll leave right now."

His face lit up with a wicked grin as he reached for my wrist. "No need. I have something I'd like to show you. Come with me."

I had no idea what the hell he was implying, but the way this man eyed me like a prime piece of meat screamed 'stranger danger!'

Snatching my arm out of his reach, I nearly fell to my knees as I darted toward the front door.

"I couldn't remember where it was. These should work." Tyler appeared at the top of the stairs as I reached for the knob on the front door. "Uncle Mike? I thought you were out of town."

Thanking my lucky stars that I made it to the front door, I raced out. I didn't want to be anywhere near Tyler's family ever again.

I was instantly puzzled how someone like that man could maintain his cool in professional life because I'd been alone with him for less than a minute, and he scared me shitless. Anyone that had 'come fuck me eyes' combined with that evil look was a huge red flag in my book.

Tyler's uncle literally looked liked he wanted to wine me, dine me, sixty-nine me, and toss me into a wood chipper when he was done. My stomach twisted at the thought. Fuck. Can we say worst day ever?

I ran down the road, trying to remember how to get the hell out of this neighborhood. Damn it. I just wanted to get back to my aunt's house.

When I finally made it to the main road, I released a loud sound of relief. At least I wasn't lost, because with how the day was going, I'd become a magnet for everything horrible. Veering toward home, I kept up a decent running speed as my lungs began to ache.

Less than a block later, a familiar black Challenger passed me and pulled over on the shoulder, blocking my path.

"Fuck off, asshole!" I yelled at Tyler through his open window as I ran by.

His car door slammed behind me, forcing me to run faster. Shit.

Tyler moved like a cheetah because he was next to me in seconds. "What did he say to you?"

"It wasn't what he said, Tyler! Just leave and keep your psycho family away from me." I hollered over heavy breaths. My tongue and throat were dry. I never ran like this. Just ask my lungs since they were screaming the horrid tale.

"I'm sorry! I had no idea he was there." Tyler yelled over the passing cars as I tried to speed up but failed.

"I don't care. I should've never been there to begin with." I stopped abruptly, grasping my side as a cramp took over. I bent at the waist, breathing hard.

Tyler stopped next to me and cocked his head to the side, studying me and breathing normally like he was on a nifty stroll through the park. "I said I'm fucking sorry. I know he's intense. He only stays with us when he comes to town."

I stuck up one finger, telling him to wait until my cramp passed.

Tyler stuck his hands in his hoodie, examining me. "You should think about working out more. You didn't even run a mile, and you're cramping up."

What the fuck? My brows slammed down as I whipped my head up to glare at him. "I do fucking work out. I dance every day! I just hate running, asshole. Running full throttle like this sucks ass."

"You dance?" Tyler's blue gaze took on an intense glow as it slid over every contour of my body. "I knew you had a dancer's body."

"I have nothing else to say to you." I turned and marched away. Okay, I didn't march, but I walked as fast as I could.

"Hey, I got a shirt and a hoodie for you. You can change in the bathroom at the gas station." Tyler was right on my damn heels. When I didn't answer, he sighed angrily. "Come on. I'll buy you anything you want. You look like a Redbull girl to me."

Damn him! Was he trying to bribe me with caffeine? How did he know that was my Achilles' heel? I needed caffeine and I wanted a dry shirt.

I spun to walk backward and made a loud buzzer sound. "Guess again."

"Monster?" He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his messy hair.

Continuing to walk backward, I shook my head and made the buzzer sound.

"Coffee?" His lips tugged up into a smirk as he put his hat on backward.

"Warmer. What kind?" I stumbled over a large piece of loose asphalt, falling backward.

Tyler rushed forward, grabbed my arm, and yanked me into him. "Mocha?"

"Thanks," I grunted before I buzzed loudly and backed out of his grip.

Thank goodness he caught me because that would've hurt. Luckily, I had my sleeves pulled down to protect my bare skin from touching his. Usually, it only happened once with rare people, but damn, he and his friends were new territory. I had no idea what to expect.

"Oh, I know what you are. You're a cold coffee lover." Tyler chuckled as if he'd known the answer all along. "And I bet you love French vanilla, don't you?"

"Finally." I huffed, starting toward his car. "Just to be clear, you're taking me to the gas station and then back to school. That's it. If you try anything, I'll karate chop you in the fucking dick. Got that?"

Tyler smirked at my threat. "You got it."

"Good answer." Walking back to his car, the horrible events of what just happened resurfaced. "What the fuck is wrong with your uncle?"

Tyler shook his head, staring off in the distance. "Honestly? I have no idea. He's always a prick, but I've never seen him act like that before. He usually just keeps to himself. He was asking all sorts of questions about you, but since I just met you, I had nothing to tell him. Thank God his phone rang and gave me the chance to dip out. That's when I realized you ran off. Why in the hell did you leave?"

"Why do you think? Your pervy uncle freaked me out! He told me I was lying about why I was at your house. I'm mean, who in the hell breaks into someone's home to use a bathroom?" I threw my hands out. "No one. So, what the fuck?"

Tyler's lips pressed into a thin line as he opened the door for me. "I didn't know he would be there. He won't say anything to your aunt, so don't worry about that. I told him you were new, and that I was just trying to help you out. That's all he knows."

I plopped into the leather seat. "I don't care about my aunt finding out. This isn't some stupid secret. I'll just tell her what happened. But I'm never going back to your house, or riding with you again."

"Never say never," Tyler said before he slammed my door.

What the hell? Never means never. Damn it. It was official. I was definitely going to karate chop this dude in the dick.

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